Henry Cavill Talks 'Superman'

Henry Cavill EW Superman Henry Cavill, Hollywood's newest Superman, covers the new issue of Entertainment Weekly. The magazine has the first interview with Cavill (The Tudors) since director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) cast him as the Man of Steel. Among the topics of discussion: Cavill's audition, which included shooting a screen test wearing a replica of Christopher Reeve's Superman suit.

"If you can put on that suit and pull it off," says Snyder, 'that's an awesome achievement."

Cavill was feeling less than super in the moment, at least about his ability to fill out the costume: He had just finished shooting a film with Bruce Willis called The Cold Light Of Day, and the part required to him to shed the impressive abs of steel and muscle tone he had put on for the movie he made right before that, the forthcoming mythic fantasy Immortals.

As an assistant helped to him put on the Super-suit, Cavill recalls: "All I could think was: Oh, god. They're going to look at me and go 'He's not Superman. Not a chance.' The actor inside me was going: You're not ready! You're not ready!"

Snyder saw something — or rather someone — different. "He walked out, and no one laughed," says the director. "Other actors put that suit on, and it's a joke, even if they're great actors. Henry put it on, and he exuded this kind of crazy-calm confidence that just made me go 'Wow.' Okay: This was Superman.'"