After Superman, We Need Henry Cavill As The Boys’ Version Of Wolverine
With Henry Cavill officially out as Superman, a Wolverine-like role on The Boys could offer a hilarious meta commentary on his experience with superhero films. Following Justice League in 2017, the state of Cavill’s return as Superman and the original Snyderverse plans were a mess for years. The beloved actor received overwhelming online support to return as the character, until it was finally announced in 2022 that he would appear in a cameo in Black Adam. This allowed him to reprise the role for a brief moment before the hierarchy of power at Warner Bros. changed.
With James Gunn taking over DC Studios, Cavill officially announced he was finished as Superman. Black Adam bombing at the box office halted any future for storylines the film established, and David Corenswet was cast as a new Superman. During the limbo period between Justice League and Black Adam, buzz surrounded Cavill as fans decided he’d fare better as Wolverine in the MCU. Unfortunately, that ship seems to have sailed as well. The 40-year-old actor might be beyond the age Marvel desires for one of its premiere superheros. The whole situation is bleak, and The Boys could be the perfect show to poke fun at it.
The Boys’ Version Of Wolverine Would Be A Great Anti-Superman
Many of the supes on The Boys parody well-known Marvel and DC characters. Homelander clearly occupies the position of The Boys’ Superman, but the show has no character who truly bears similarities to Wolverine. In The Boys comics, a character named Ground Hawk exists. He’s shaped similarly to Wolverine but has hammers for hands. Some adaptation of this character would be hilarious, particularly if The Boys casts Cavill in the role. This would be a great opportunity for both the show and Cavill to poke fun at the drama of his real-life superhero casting.
If Cavill did join The Boys, it wouldn’t be the first time the show poked fun at a Hollywood story with a character. Jensen Ackles, the Supernatural star who stole the show as Soldier Boy in The Boys season 3, was rumored to have been in the running for Captain America. The actor has stated officially that this wasn’t the case, but he and Chris Evans often competed for the same roles early in their careers. This added a meta joke to his time as the twisted Captain America parody of Soldier Boy.
The Boys Casting Henry Cavill Pays Off A Great MCU Casting That Can’t Happen
Fans have desperately wanted Cavill to appear in the MCU since his fallout as Superman, and Wolverine has always been the top choice for the actor. Appearance-wise, a bearded Cavill is easy to imagine as Wolverine. The actor also has the physique to remain consistent with Hugh Jackman’s standard. On top of that, Cavill’s performance in Mission: Impossible – Fallout showcased the actor’s ability to play a darker character. While Wolverine is obviously not a villain like August Walker, he definitely has a more cynical nature than Superman. (Cavill’s Superman was the darkest adaptation of the character yet.)
Geralt of Rivia might be the best comparison for what a Cavill Wolverine would feel like, as the two characters have serious similarities. However, it doesn’t seem like Cavill will be the MCU’s choice for Wolverine. It’s likely the X-Men won’t appear in the MCU until phase 7, at which point Cavill will be well into his 40s. Wolverine is such a prominent hero that the studio will want him around for quite some time. He’d also be a highly physical role to play, so the studio is likely to cast a younger actor as the character. If Cavill were to return to the superhero world any time soon, The Boys might be his best bet.