The Challenge for DC’s New Superman: Rectifying Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent Oversight
While Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman is widely loved, there’s one problem with Clark Kent that Superman: Legacy will likely fix when it releases in 2025. While Cavill didn’t get much time to establish Superman’s secret identity as Clark Kent, there was notably something missing compared to past depictions of the Daily Planet reporter. As such, there’s now an opportunity for the next Superman actor to improve upon Clark Kent for the new DCU. Having first appeared in 2013’s Man of Steel, Henry Cavill was the DCEU’s Superman up until 2022, his final appearance being a post-credits cameo in Black Adam. However, actor David Corenswet will soon don the red cape in 2025’s Superman: Legacy, the first move in the new DC Universe envisioned by James Gunn and Peter Safran. However, this will also include a new Clark Kent which should be stronger than Cavill’s was.
Henry Cavill Never Quite Sold Clark Kent As A Disguise
In all his DCEU appearances, there’s virtually nothing in Cavill’s performance that distinguishes Clark Kent from his superhero alter ego. While this isn’t the most obvious issue considering the DCEU films focus on Superman, Clark Kent’s clear characterization is important for the character trying to keep his life a secret. his man of steel to the vast majority of the public. After all, just wearing glasses is an incredible disguise.What truly sells the Clark Kent persona both in the original comics and in the movies is how different Kal-El acts as Clark Kent than he does as Superman. Clark Kent is intentionally clumsy, seemingly absent-minded, and more timid. He’s practically the antithesis of what people think of when it comes to Superman with his confidence and incredible powers. This is what helps keep Kal-El anonymous when he’s not actively saving the world from dark forces. It’s not just the glasses alone, though they seem to be the only difference when it comes to Henry Cavill’s Superman and Clark Kent (that and the cape).
David Corenswet Must Channel Christopher Reeve’s Perfect Disguise
David Corenswet should look beyond Cavil and go back to Christopher Reeve and Clark Kent’s take on Superman for inspiration. This includes Brandon Routh’s Kent in Superman Returns, who portrays the same Superman in the same continuity. Both actors play Clark Kent, who nervously stumbles over his words, constantly bumps into people and even sags to appear smaller than the more imposing Man of Steel. This certainly helped create the necessary distinction between Kal-El’s two identities and worlds. Reeve, in particular, is largely dissimilar in and out of costume in his Superman films, a strength that Superman: Legacy’s Corenswet should do his best to emulate.