Britannica Sources used in this answer

Who played Superman in Man of Steel and how did the film reboot the character?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Christopher Reeve as Superman in a blue suit with red cape and yellow belt, flying with one arm forward against a dark background in a publicity still from Superman: The Movie. — Superman Christopher Reeve in *Superman* (1978), directed by Richard Donner.

In the 2013 film Man of Steel, the role of Superman was played by Henry Cavill.1

To reboot the Superman film franchise, Warner Brothers enlisted director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter David S. Goyer—the creative team behind the successful relaunch of the Batman film series—to reconceive the saga. Directed by Zack Snyder, the film served as an origin story that launched the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).12