Zack Snyder's take on Superman was a lot darker than what we're used to seeing in the comic books, and for a lot of fans, that just didn't work. While the filmmaker did take some bold strides in exploring the Man of Steel in new and exciting ways, the sight of him killing General Zod or falling under Darkseid's spell proved to be a hard pill to swallow.
While Joss Whedon's Justice League was an undeniable mess, it also portrayed Superman in a light that felt more in line with what people wanted from Kal-El.
Now, as we look to the future following Cavill's return as the Man of Tomorrow in Black Adam, the actor himself has shared his hopes for where the hero goes next in the new DCU.
"There is so much in the way of conversations to be had. Obviously, I have a very close connection to the character," he tells Screen Rant. "And there is something extraordinarily special about him; extraordinarily special about his capacity to give and to love."
"I don't mean romantically; I mean his love for Earth and for the people who live here, and to make people feel powerful - to make people feel like Superman themselves."
As for how that could translate to what we see on screen, Cavill explained that he hopes to use this iconic DC Comics character to inspire people. "I have plenty of desires for this, of course, which will be discussed more in time. But the most important thing, which I will be aiming for, is for the audience to leave the cinema and to feel like they can fly, to feel like they can protect, and to feel like they want to give to everyone else. That would be my goal."
It's clear the Justice League star just gets what needs to happen next with Superman, and we're assuming that means a movie that's less Man of Steel and more Superman: The Movie.
What Clark Kent's next adventure will look like very much remains to be seen. There's no word on a writer or director at this stage, and we have no clue whether he will battle Black Adam, one of his classic comic book villains, or even team up with another hero. We just hope the movie avoids Superman Returns' mistakes by relying too heavily on nostalgia.
What do you hope comes next for Superman in the DCU?