Despite Henry Cavill’s unexpected resemblance to Christopher Reeve in Man of Steel, Zack Snyder’s film received mixed reviews.

In the wake of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie starring David Corenswet, fans are once again taken back to the time when Henry Cavill first donned the iconic suit of Kal-El in Man of Steel. Although Zack Snyder’s 2013 movie initially received a lot of hate and criticism, it seems netizens are now addressing the collective talent of both Cavill and Snyder.

A determined Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel by Zack SnyderHenry Cavill as Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel | image: DC Studios

More than anything, people got surprisingly fixated over a key scene, late in the film, where Henry Cavill’s face morphed into the iconic Superman look of Christopher Reeve. While it was initially considered a flawless act of CGI, Zack Snyder’s clarification later revealed how it was Cavill’s original face that appeared similar to Reeve’s.

Uncanny Likeness Between Henry Cavill and Christopher Reeve Without CGI 

With people currently awaiting David Corenswet’s Superman in James Gunn‘s upcoming reboot, netizens were taken back to the good old days when Henry Cavill had first donned the superhero suit for modern audiences. Reminiscing about the time when Cavill appeared in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, fans recalled how the actor had paid a surprising homage to the phenomenal Christopher Reeve.

According to a recollection post shared on X by @SnyderVerseFR, the user highlighted a key scene in the movie where Superman destroyed the World Engine. In that particular sequence, Henry Cavill somehow morphed into the appearance of the quintessential Superman from the 1970s, Christopher Reeve. Surprisingly, another user, @ItsJustN1ck, heightened the excitement by informing us how the scene lacked CGI.

Well, the latter cited Zack Snyder‘s interview posted by Cines Argentinos, where the filmmaker clarified that the homage to the old Fleischer cartoons, where audiences witnessed a distortion of Cavill’s face that looked like Reeve was devoid of digital manipulation. While people initially thought the similarity was a clever trick of CGI, Snyder noted, “if it looks like that, that’s the gods, not me.”

Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978) | image: DC Studios

So it seems that the uncanny resemblance between Henry Cavill‘s face and that of Christopher Reeve’s was a genuine, natural similarity that emerged from Cavill’s own features. It was not the result of sophisticated CGI or special effects; it was merely coincidental. Well, this unplanned likeness, although shocking, added a layer of depth to Cavill’s performance, connecting a modern Superman with his iconic predecessor subtly and profoundly.

Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel Garnered Criticism Despite Henry Cavill’s Efforts 

Surprisingly, despite the striking resemblance and Henry Cavill’s earnest performance, the actor had faced a wave of criticism, following the release of Man of Steel. Thereafter, with skeptic fans slamming the actor’s take on the otherworldly DC superhero, even the film suffered quite a bit with its reviews. Although Man of Steel sought to reintroduce Superman to a contemporary audience, Cavill wasn’t well accepted by moviegoers.

The film was criticized for its dark tone and departure from the more hopeful narratives of the past, while Henry Cavill received criticism for his grim version of Superman who lacked the emotional resonance that defined Reeve’s portrayal. Yet, in retrospect, there appeared a growing appreciation for Cavill’s nuanced performance and Zack Snyder’s bold choices. What was once seen as a flawed reimagining is now being reevaluated as a complex and daring take on the Superman mythos.

David Corenswet as SupermanDavid Corenswet as Kal-El in Superman (2025) | image: Instagram/@jamesgunn

Now, with James Gunn reintroducing David Corenswet as the new face of Superman, there appeared another wave of skepticism from fans who initially appeared enraged about how Gunn planned on handling Superman’s character. Further, fans expressed dissatisfaction with the revamped Superman suit and even pleaded with the filmmaker to bring back Henry Cavill. But only time will tell if Corenswet would face the same fate as Cavill during his DC inception.

Man of Steel is currently available to watch on Max. 

Superman is set to release on July 11, 2025.