Henry Cavill’s departure as Superman happened due to a combination of organizational reshuffling at DC Studios and a shift in creative direction, rather than a simple on-set dispute or personal choice. After Cavill announced his return to the role in late 2022, DC Studios brought in new leadership—James Gunn and Peter Safran—as co-CEOs. In the weeks that followed, several previously announced projects were reassessed or canceled in service of a more cohesive overarching DCU plan. Cavill’s Superman was effectively put on hold, and later, Gunn and Safran announced a reboot of the character with David Corenswet as the new actor for the next film in the DCU. Cavill publicly moved on from the role in 2022–2023, with the formal replacement details and scheduling evolving as part of the broader reboot strategy. Key factors often cited in discussions:

• Leadership change at DC Studios in 2022 and a decision to pursue a unified DCU narrative rather than a carryover from the prior films. This created a transitional period for actors tied to earlier plans.

• A strategic reboot of the Superman franchise under Gunn and Safran, with a new casting approach aimed at aligning Superman’s arc with the updated cinematic universe. Cavill’s return was not continued into the new framework.

• Public statements from Gunn and others indicating the exit was part of a broader reimagining of DC film properties, rather than a singular contractual fallout.

If you’d like, I can pull up the latest statements or summarize each side’s view from specific sources, or lay out a timeline of the key announcements and project changes.