WARNING: This article contains spoilers for The Flash movie.Henry Cavill appears as Superman briefly in The Flash movie, and with James Gunn currently recasting the role for Superman: Legacy, it begs the question if this is the actor's last appearance as the superhero. Cavill effectively launched the DC Extended Universe when he debuted as Superman in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, and has since starred in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2017's Justice League and Zack Snyder's Justice League. However, though Cavill's turn as Superman was beloved, his future in the DCEU had been in question for many years.
It seemed Cavill would get a chance to properly play Superman again after appearing in the Black Adam post-credits scene, but shortly after the film released, Warner Bros. Discovery launched DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn revealed he would be writing a new Superman movie and recasting the role with a younger actor to play Clark Kent. At the same time, Cavill announced his official exit as Superman, stating his for Gunn's vision. As part of DC Studios preparing for a soft relaunch of the DECU as the new DC Universe, a Cavill cameo as Superman was reportedly cut from The Flash. The actor still shows up twice in the latest DC movie, and these might be his final appearances as Superman.
Henry Cavill's Superman Has Two CGI Cameos In The Flash
As of this writing, it's unclear what Henry Cavill's cut Superman cameo in The Flash could have been, but the actor does still appear twice throughout the movie. Cavill is a notable part of The Flash's extensive and divisive VFX sequences. First, Superman is shown battling a volcano on one of the screens of the bat-cave where Alfred (Jeremy Irons) is directing Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) to help Batman (Ben Affleck). This shot is used as proof that Superman is occupied elsewhere and unable to help with the crisis in Gotham. However, the shot of Superman is clearly CGI, though is perhaps recreated using footage Cavill filmed for a previous movie appearance.
The second Cavill Superman appearance is definitely old footage as he's shown alongside the other of the Justice League. When Barry is using the chronobowl in the speed force in order to travel back in time, images from his life flash by, and a shot of Cavill's Superman is seen as part of the montage. After that, though, Cavill isn't seen on screen again in The Flash movie.
Will Henry Cavill Appear in Aquaman 2?
Henry Cavill is unlikely to appear in Aquaman 2, set to release in December under the title Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The actor was never rumored nor reported to be involved in the Aquaman sequel, unlike fellow Justice League stars Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot. Jason Momoa teased Affleck's involvement in Aquaman 2, though it's unlikely that cameo will remain in the movie considering The Flash movie ending. Gadot's possible appearance was spoiled by Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Jack Dylan Grazer, who said she visited the set of their movie after being on the set of Aquaman 2.
However, Cavill's Superman hasn't had any such connection to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. While it's still possible he could have a cameo in Aquaman 2, it seems unlikely considering he may have had a more significant cameo in The Flash and that was seemingly cut to pave the way for Gunn's recast Superman. For now, it seems The Flash movie will be Cavill's final appearance as Superman on screen.
Superman's The Flash Cameo Is A Weird End To Henry Cavill's DCEU Career
If The Flash movie is indeed Henry Cavill's final appearance as Superman in the DCEU, it sends off the actor in a strange fashion—more a whimper than a roar. Cavill launched the DCEU and though his future within the franchise was uncertain for many years, the actor seemed to have finally found a way forward after his appearance in Black Adam. In fact, it was the first time he'd properly donned the Superman costume since the infamous Justice League reshoots for the 2017 version of the film. That is, of course, unless he later filmed a cameo for The Flash that was cut.
Even though the Black Adam post-credits scene teased a showdown between Superman and Dwayne Johnson's anti-hero that will likely never happen, it was a more appropriate last appearance for Cavill since it was at least a proper scene. Superman's appearances in The Flash are only brief glimpses of the character and didn't require Cavill to film anything new, so it's an even stranger sendoff than Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, whose DC movie future is still unclear. While it would be a nice bookend to the DCEU for Cavill to have at least one more proper last appearance as Superman, that may not be the case. As such, The Flash would mark the end of Cavill's Superman career—barring any surprise future returns—though it's an odd way for the actor to make his exit.
