Zack Snyder posted nostalgic photos of Henry Cavill in the original Superman suit on Christmas Day. The images, from early test shoots, highlight the actor's debut preparation for the role. This comes years after Cavill stepped away from the character.
Zack Snyder, director of the DC Extended Universe films featuring Superman, shared two photos on December 26, 2025, showing Henry Cavill in what he described as "the original Superman suit." The post evoked the beginnings of Cavill's tenure as the Man of Steel, which started with the 2013 film Man of Steel.
The first image depicts Cavill standing on a concrete pad under a clear blue sky, gazing into the distance while wearing the suit. Snyder captioned it, “The original Superman suit,” and added, “This photo. It was undeniable.” The second is a close-up of the same setting, revealing details like the traditional yellow belt and red shorts. Snyder reflected, “With the last image I shared, and this one we showed WB everyone agreed: Henry Cavill was Superman. That’s where the journey began. -Merry Christmas.”
This suit differs from the one used in Man of Steel, which had a form-fitting design with scaled texture, darkened colors, and omitted the belt and shorts. Cavill's portrayal in Man of Steel grossed over $668 million worldwide, followed by reprises in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017), with the trilogy earning nearly $2.2 billion combined.
In 2022, Cavill briefly returned to the suit for a cameo in Black Adam. Speaking at the 92nd Street Y, he said, “I went to Warner Bros.’ studio in the UK and got back in the suit... It was a very powerful moment for me... That is one of the top moments in my career.” However, weeks later, James Gunn announced a new Superman project focused on the character's younger years, excluding Cavill. The actor responded gracefully on social media: “My turn to wear the cape has passed, but what Superman stands for never will.”
Snyder's post underscores the enduring legacy of Cavill's Superman amid DC's evolving cinematic direction.
