UPDATE: After THR's story was published, Warner Bros. issued a statement:

"While no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films, we’ve always had great respect for and a great relationship with Henry Cavill, and that remains unchanged."

Original post:

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ... curtains for Cavill?

The Hollywood Reporter just dropped a superheroic bombshell saying Henry Cavill is leaving the DC Extended Universe as Superman. His film "Man of Steel" launched the DCEU as we know it. Cavill returned as Clark Kent for "Batman v Superman" and "Justice League."

But that may be it for him. Sources told THR that Henry Cavill "is parting ways with Warner Bros." They added that "neither side is confirming," but Cavill is "said to be hanging up the red cape." He's out. Done. Gone.

Apparently Warner Bros. had been trying to get the "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" star to sign on for a cameo in the upcoming DC movie "Shazam!" Contract talks broke down, at least in part because of scheduling conflicts with "Fallout." (Plus, Cavill just signed on for a new Netflix series, "The Witcher.")

So "the door is now closing on other potential Superman appearances." Part of that reasoning comes from the DCEU turning its focus to a "Supergirl" origin movie starring a teen superhero, and in that timeline Superman was still an infant.

Plus, a studio source compared Superman to James Bond in that "after a certain run you have to look at new actors." (So much for that "Man of Steel" sequel.) The same is apparently true for Batman, since Ben Affleck may or may not reprise his role in the upcoming Batman standalone.

So, none of this is confirmed yet, but it sounds like DC/WB may be cleaning house -- out with the old, in with the new.

At least Gal Gadot is staying as Wonder Woman for her sequel. And the other "Justice League" stars also seem to be pretty solid. "Aquaman" opens in theaters this December 21. "Shazam!" is scheduled to open April 5th, 2019.

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