Why Henry Cavill Thought He Was Too Fat To Play Superman

Henry Cavill has opened up about his own fears playing Superman. Specifically, that he thought he may have been too fat for the role. Here's what he had to say.

By Charlene Badasie | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

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Henry Cavill recently revealed that he thought he was too fat to play the Man of Steel the first time he saw the iconic Superman suit. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the DC star said he wasn’t confident during the first costume fitting. “If I’m going to be honest, what was going through my mind was, Lord, I’m too fat to be wearing this suit right now.”

The Witcher star also recalled his mixed emotions at the time saying there was a sense of excitement, achievement, and nervousness. Because he couldn’t believe he was “actually doing this.” While Henry Cavill may have been anxious about being Superman, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder said everyone on the movie studio lot was “heart attack serious” when they saw him in the suit. Everyone was in awe of how great he looked and how he effortlessly gave off just the right energy.

His anxieties may have been in part because of the time he auditioned for James Bond. At the time, he was told that he was too fat to take on the role. This is something Henry Cavill has said that he was grateful for. He reports that he appreciates bluntness. However, that may have given him some anxieties as he puts on the tight-fitting Superman suit for DC.

Sadly, there aren’t any plans for Henry Cavill to return as Superman in the DC Extended Universe. Interestingly, Eternals director Chloé Zhao recently revealed that Richard Madden’s portrayal of Ikaris in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was heavily inspired by Cavill’s interpretation of the Last Son of Krypton. So even if he never returns to the role, he’s definitely made a lasting impression in the realm of big-screen superheroes.

superman black suit henry cavill

Meanwhile, Henry Cavill will reprise his role as Sherlock Holmes opposite Millie Bobby Brown in the highly anticipated Enola Holmes sequel. The actor’s other projects include a Highlander reboot, Matthew Vaughn’s new spy franchise Argylle, and Steve Falk’s The Rosie Project which is based on Graeme Simsion’s book of the same name.

Additionally, Henry Cavill has expressed interest in taking over as James Bond following Daniel Craig’s retirement from the role. Interestingly, the Justice League star had been a contender for the coveted James Bond role before. He auditioned for 2006’s Casino Royale, but the director ended up choosing Craig instead.

After all this time, Henry Cavill would still be thrilled to take up the James Bond mantle. According to Page Six, Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page is still the favorite to take over from Daniel Craig. But Cavill and 1917 actor George MacKay are still in the running. While nothing has been confirmed yet, the role would be a great opportunity for Cavill to flex his impressive acting skills.

For now, fans can catch Henry Cavill in the second season of The Witcher which premieres on Netflix on December 17th. The first season ended with Geralt and Ciri (Freya Allen) discovering that they are linked by destiny.

In season two, the story is said to begin with Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) taking Princess Cirilla to the safest place he knows, his childhood home of Kaer Morhen, where he will strive to protect Ciri from the mysterious power she possesses inside while the Continent’s kings, elves, humans, and demons strive for supremacy outside the walls of the castle, located within the Kingdom of Kaedwen. Netflix is also developing The Witcher: Blood Origin, a six-part prequel series set 1200 years before Geralt walked the lands of the Northern Kingdoms, and The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, an anime feature film centered around Vesemir, Geralt’s close friend and mentor.