2001–2010: Career beginnings and The Tudors Cavill began his film career with a role in
Laguna (2001) and
Kevin Reynolds' adaptation of
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). He continued with appearances in
BBC's
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002), the television film
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (2002) and the television series
Midsomer Murders (2003). In 2003, he had a supporting role in
I Capture the Castle, followed by
Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005),
Red Riding Hood (2006) and
Tristan & Isolde (2006). He had a minor role in
Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of
Stardust (2007). '' at the 2009
Tribeca Film Festival From 2007 to 2010, Cavill had a leading role in
Showtime's television series
The Tudors, as
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. The series was commercially well-received and it went on to be nominated for a
Golden Globe in 2007 and won an
Emmy in 2008. Cavill gave the show credit for bolstering his career: "It's done the most for me to date. [...] Now that there's an audience somewhere in America that's aware of who I am, I have more sell-ability, because of The Tudors."
Entertainment Weekly named him the "Most Dashing Duke" and praised his work on
The Tudors for displaying "charm, depth and a killer bod". Cavill had been set to play
Superman in
McG's 2004 film,
Superman: Flyby. McG pulled out of the project and direction was taken over by director
Bryan Singer, who recast
Brandon Routh as the lead in
Superman Returns. Cavill was also the cause of a write-in effort from fans to see him cast as
Cedric Diggory in
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). The role eventually went to
Robert Pattinson.
Stephenie Meyer, the author of the
Twilight series, was outspoken in favour of Cavill playing the character of
Edward Cullen in the
Twilight film, calling him her "perfect Edward". However, by the time production of the film began, Cavill was too old to play the character, and again the role went to Pattinson. Despite reports that he was a contender for
Batman in
Batman Begins, Cavill confirmed that he never auditioned for, nor was offered, the role. The producers and director
Martin Campbell were torn between him and
Daniel Craig; reportedly Campbell supported Cavill but the producers preferred an older Bond, and Craig ultimately landed the role. While appearing in
The Tudors, Cavill starred in director
Joel Schumacher's horror film,
Blood Creek (2008), and had a supporting role in
Woody Allen's comedy film
Whatever Works (2009). He went on to play the lead role of
Theseus in
Tarsem Singh's mythological film,
Immortals, released 11 November 2011, and starred, alongside
Bruce Willis, in
The Cold Light of Day released in 2012.
2011–2023: Superman and mainstream success at the 2013
Man of Steel movie premiere in Sydney On 30 January 2011, it was announced that Cavill had been cast in the role of
Clark Kent /
Superman in director
Zack Snyder's
Man of Steel. Snyder called Cavill "the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield." Entertainment media applauded Henry Cavill on his road to success. On being chosen for the role, Cavill commented, "In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honoured to be a part of his return to the big screen." Cavill reprised the role of Superman in
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a 2016 sequel which featured a crossover with
Batman and
Wonder Woman. He attended
San Diego Comic-Con in disguise to surprise the cast of
Suicide Squad. Cavill returned as Superman in the 2017 theatrical version of
Justice League, which had been reworked by director
Joss Whedon after Snyder left the project due to a family tragedy. He appeared again in ''
Zack Snyder's Justice League which premiered on HBO Max in March 2021 after an intense fan campaign to see the Snyder cut. His manager Dany Garcia said in 2016 that he was working on a new standalone Superman film. Directors Matthew Vaughn and Christopher McQuarrie were reportedly interested. Shortly after the release of Justice League'', Cavill revealed he was under contract to play Superman in one more film. In 2015, he co-starred with
Armie Hammer in the film version of spy series
The Man from U.N.C.L.E, directed by
Guy Ritchie. In 2018, Cavill co-starred as August Walker in the action spy film
Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the sixth installment of the
film series. Later that year, he starred in the psychological thriller
Night Hunter (originally titled
Nomis). Cavill has expressed interest in taking over the role of
James Bond after
Daniel Craig leaves the role. From 2019 to 2023, Cavill portrayed the mutant monster hunter
Geralt of Rivia in the hit
Netflix fantasy drama
The Witcher, an adaptation of
the book series of the same name by Polish author
Andrzej Sapkowski. The series premiered on 20 December 2019 and had its early premiere on Służewiec Racetrack in Warsaw on 18 December 2019. In late October 2022, Cavill and Netflix announced that he would exit from
The Witcher after the third season released in 2023, and would be replaced by
Liam Hemsworth. In 2020, Cavill portrayed
Sherlock Holmes in
Legendary Entertainment's
film adaptation of
The Enola Holmes Mysteries, with
Millie Bobby Brown starring in the eponymous role as the younger sister of the famous detective. In 2022, Cavill reprised his role as Sherlock in
Enola Holmes 2. On 7 November 2023,
Collider reported that Netflix was developing a screenplay for
Enola Holmes 3. In May 2021, it was announced that Cavill would portray
Connor MacLeod in the reboot of
Highlander. In July 2021, it was also announced that Cavill would join an all-star cast for director Matthew Vaughn's new spy film
Argylle. The same month, an article by
Deadline reported that he would star in
The Rosie Project, directed by Steve Falk and based on the
book of the same name, written by Australian author
Graeme Simsion. Despite previously departing the role, and appeared in the mid-credit scene of the film. Cavill then took to his instagram to announce his resumed involvement in the DCEU and confirmed his long term involvement for future films, having been told by the studio to do so. Due to a number of circumstances, the cameo in Black Adam ultimately became Cavill's final portrayal as Superman.
2024–present: Post-Superman career In April 2024, Cavill reunited with director
Guy Ritchie on the
World War II spy action film
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, with
Jerry Bruckheimer producing. The film is based on a true story by British author
Damien Lewis. In July 2024, he made a surprise cameo appearance in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe film
Deadpool & Wolverine as a variant of
Wolverine dubbed "
Cavillrine". Cavill is slated to reunite with Ritchie in the director's action thriller film
In The Grey. Cavill is set to executive produce and star in projects related to the
Warhammer 40,000 universe after
Games Workshop finalized their deal with
Amazon Studios in December 2024, having nailed down creative guidelines to bring the universe to screens big and small. Amazon Studios had earlier acquired global rights to the franchise in December 2022. ==Philanthropy ==