Henry Cavill was ready to don the cape again — then just two months later, it was ripped away in one of Hollywood’s biggest superhero shake-ups! With no written deal, a leadership overhaul at DC Studios, and a new vision for a younger Superman, Cavill’s sudden exit left fans stunned and furious. So why did James Gunn say Cavill was “never cast” in the first place? Dive into the full behind-the-scenes drama here — you won’t believe how it all unfolded!

On Wednesday, Henry Cavill announced that he would no longer play Superman.

May be an image of 8 people and Superman

The shocking news comes two months after he announced his return to the role.

“I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,” Cavill said in an Instagram post.

“After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” he added.

Shortly after Cavill posted his statement on Instagram, DC Films chief Gunn headed to Twitter to explain his decision and what he had in mind for the future of the Superman character, saying they would be focusing on Superman’s early life.

While Cavill may now be deemed too old to portray the superhero, Gunn mentioned that there was still a possibility that they would be working together in the future.

Throughout his time as Superman, Cavill made over $13 million for his role in Man of Steel and has played Superman in three DC movies since.

While losing Superman is a big deal, things are looking up. Today, the actor announced an exciting new project via Instagram. Cavill will be collaborating with his TV executive girlfriend Natalie Viscuso, on a TV adaptation of the video game Warhammer 40,000. “For 30 years I have dreamt of seeing a Warhammer universe in live action,” Cavill said.