In the long list of controversial moments in superhero movies that really riled up comic book fans, the ending of Man of Steel has to be right at the top.
You’ll no doubt remember that Superman’s forced to snap General Zod’s neck to stop him from frying an innocent family with his heat vision. Though this was the only option open to Supes in the movie’s storyline, fans of the character have come to hate the moment and see the violent murder as diametrically opposed to what the hero stands for.
It seems Superman himself, Henry Cavill, has some problems with the scene, too. Or rather, the way the aftermath of Zod’s death was handled. According to the star, killing the Kryptonian criminal would have seen the birth of the traditional Superman who never kills in the original vision for Man of Steel 2, before the fast forward button was pressed on the DCEU and the project became Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice instead.
“The killing of Zod would have led to a wonderful reason why Superman never kills. Not, he never kills just because his dad said so one day. He made the decision himself because of an impossible scenario, to which he then said, ‘I don’t care if it’s impossible again, I’m gonna find a way to make it possible in the impossible.’”
Cavill went on to say that there was no opportunity in BvS to properly explore the evolution of the character into a figure of hope for the world and someone who has a “sense of warmth” and “joy and glee.” He admitted this was a shame, too, as it would’ve made for an interesting comparison with the gloomier tone of Man of Steel.
“We didn’t get the opportunity to show the other side of it, the ‘I’m ready to be Superman now and I’m ready to show the world the best examples’. That’s where the joy and glee comes from, and that sense of warmth from the character, which is his real superpower – he makes people believe in themselves. It was a shame because it would’ve been nice, and it would have been a lovely coupling with the seriousness and the depth of Man of Steel.”
As it was, BvS instead explored the distrust humanity had for Superman after the destruction he and Zod wrought in Metropolis and only really established him as a beacon of hope after he perished during his climactic fight with Doomsday. A more classic version of the Big Blue Boy Scout then finally appeared in Justice League, once he was resurrected with the Mother Box.
Of course, every DC fan has their own opinion on Man of Steel‘s ending, so what’s yours? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section down below.