For many actors, the trail to stardom entails smaller, much less important roles earlier than lastly reaching that breakout half. Henry Cavill was no exception to this. Earlier than turning into the DCU’s Superman, he was nonetheless attempting to ascertain himself as a number one actor. And considered one of his earliest alternatives got here in a film that, on the time, had completely nothing to do with DC Comics. Wanting again now, although, there’s one thing virtually amusing about what Cavill was doing on display screen simply earlier than Hollywood handed him considered one of its most well-known superheroes.
The film arrived at an attention-grabbing second for Cavill. He had already constructed up tv expertise, however he hadn’t but grow to be the worldwide star audiences would acknowledge. Then he landed a task that required him to hold an enormous fantasy journey, swing a sword, battle monsters, and get into frankly ridiculous form. Followers of the actor may already know the movie being mentioned right here. However the enjoyable half goes into extra element about this Superman’s origin story—a minimum of for the massive display screen.
Henry Cavill Was Theseus Earlier than He Was Superman
Within the film Immortals, Cavill performed Theseus, a mortal warrior who finds himself caught in a battle towards King Hyperion. The 2011 movie was directed by Tarsem Singh and had precisely the visible type the director was identified for. There was loads of stylized Greek mythology, huge units, slow-motion carnage, and warriors who seemed like that they had been carved out of marble. Cavill had already been working for a number of years, most notably on The Tudors, however Immortals was his first main main function in a theatrical movie. That alone made it an essential second in his profession. He wasn’t simply one other man within the forged anymore. He was the man carrying the sword, getting thrown into the center of the motion, and anticipated to hold the film.
And Cavill definitely seemed the half. He educated extensively for Theseus, with Singh reportedly wanting him to have an eight-pack fairly than settling for the usual Hollywood six. Cavill put within the work, and watching the film now, it’s arduous to not discover how acquainted the entire thing feels. Right here’s Cavill enjoying a heroic determine, wanting like a comic-book character come to life, and carrying himself like somebody who might in all probability raise a automotive if the script known as for it. However on the time, he was simply Theseus. Then Hollywood got here calling with a way more well-known hero.
Immortals Got here Proper Earlier than Cavill Turned Superman
The timing is what makes Immortals particularly enjoyable for Cavill followers. He was forged as Superman for Zack Snyder’s Man of Metal in January 2011, the identical 12 months Immortals was launched. This meant audiences would quickly see him in a single main heroic function simply earlier than he grew to become one of the vital recognizable superheroes on the planet. That makes watching Immortals right this moment really feel a bit totally different than it in all probability did in 2011. You’re not taking a look at Superman earlier than Superman anymore; you’re wanting on the actor who was about to grow to be Superman.
And immediately, the similarities are arduous to overlook. Cavill had the construct, the presence, and the power to promote the straight-faced heroics. He undoubtedly seemed like any person who spends most of his time being requested to avoid wasting the world. Immortals clearly wasn’t a secret audition for the function of Clark Kent, and Theseus isn’t Superman with a sword, however it was a fairly helpful preview of what Cavill might do with a number one function. A number of years later, he’d be standing within the crimson cape. Earlier than that occurred, he was already combating his method via historical Greece. Now, with the DCU presumably dealing with a reboot post-merger, something is feasible for the Man of Tomorrow.
And actually, that’s what makes Henry Cavill’s journey so attention-grabbing to look again on. Earlier than he ever donned the cape, he was already exhibiting the form of display screen presence that might flip a very good fantasy journey into one thing memorable. Seeing these early performances now looks like recognizing Superman earlier than he discovered to fly. Cavill didn’t simply arrive because the Man of Metal—he constructed towards it, one function at a time. And if that isn’t an excellent option to begin a profession, I don’t know what’s. Discuss a robust origin story. Do you suppose Cavill needs to be recast within the DCU—or dare I ask—the MCU? Tell us within the feedback what your ideas are!