Welcome to LRM’s Barside Buzz, the column where we dive deep into the latest rumors from across the internet. We then decide just how many grains of salt we should be taking with that rumor cocktail. Today, we’re talking Superman!

That’s right, the Man of Steel himself that kicked off the DC Extended Universe. While many agree that Henry Cavill is quite the amazing actor, most also agree that the DC Universe wasn’t kicked off in an ideal fashion. Over the course of the past few years, Warner Bros. has corrected course, resulting in better-received movies…but at what cost?

Shazam and Birds of Prey

These were two movies that really stand out to me within the DC Extended Universe. The tones of these movies vary wildly from everything that came before them, really leaning into the visions of the directors. In the case of Shazam!, we were given a fun, kid-friendly wish-fulfillment story. In the case of Birds of Prey, we were given a foul-mouthed and funny girl gang action flick. 

The other reason they stand out? They both seem to go out of their way to muddle to waters that are the DCEU connections. In the case of Birds of Prey, they only showed the Joker from the back of the head, making fans wonder if Jared Leto’s future is done at Warners. Similarly, Shazam! featured a Superman cameo…but only showed Superman from the neck down, bringing into question if we’ll ever see Henry Cavill back.

Now, don’t get me wrong. This isn’t inherently a bad thing. It allows creatives to be…creative. They can tell the stories they want without feeling constricted to what’s come before. But what’s resulted is a universe with its continuity riddled with bullet holes. Well, what if one of those movies could be…rectified?

Shazam 2

There’s a new rumor that comes courtesy of Mikey Sutton. According to him, Henry Cavill is in talks to return Shazam 2. Sutton goes on to state that Superman would go head-to-head with Captain Marvel himself while under control of Mister Mind, who was teased at the very end of the first movie. The role will supposedly not be huge, but it would be a cool way to bring Supes back into the overall mix.

So, who do we have to thank for this? Well, assuming this is correct, we may have to pray at the altar of Dwayne Johnson. The rumor states that Johnson wants a connected universe. Given that he’s playing the role of Black Adam, I could only imagine he wants to go head-to-head with Cavill himself at some point. Again, this is all assuming the rumor is correct. And even it is correct, it’s still very possible that talks could fall through.

So, Is It True?

Well, let’s think about this for a second. First off, let’s dissect how likely this is from a film perspective. Superman was originally supposed to have a speaking role in the movie, but things ultimately fell through due to scheduling with Cavill. Following this event, it was reported that the studio was closing the door on any other future Superman appearances.

But time has passed, and with that well over a year in our rear view mirrors, I can imagine Warners would be more open to this idea — especially if it could lead to bigger box office sales for Shazam 2. And then there’s Dwayne Johnson. He’s another box office draw, and if he throws down a stipulation that this universe should be re-connected, it could be in their best interest to do so. 

We then have Mikey Sutton. Like all scoopers, he’s had plenty of misses, but he’s called at least one big story past: Disney and Sony working out a Spider-Man deal. I’d rate his credibility at maybe two out of five stars. He’s no Cosmic Book News, but he has a lot more proving to do before we can fully trust him. 

RELATED – Shazam! Sequel To Begin Shooting This Summer

All in all, this is a move that is definitely possible due to the cogs in the machine. Yes, Mister Mind was set up already. Yes, Henry Cavill has already had talks to join the Shazam franchise. Yes, Henry Cavill has expressed his interest to return in the past. Yes, I can see Dwayne Johnson throwing his weight around as needed, as he tends to be a very hands-on producer. However, Sutton’s credibility is a bit spotty, to say the least. 

With that in mind, I’d rate this scoop as three out of five grains of salt — with five being the least likely. So, it’s possible, but given the source, I’d be at least a little skeptical.

Why is my scale backwards, you ask? Well, if the scoop we are getting is a cocktail, and its B.S.-ness could be viewed as poison, we’d need more and more salt in order to counteract its negative effects. Hence, more grains of salt. Is it confusing? Maybe. Am I sticking with it? Probably. 

But what do you think of this rumor? Do you buy that we’ll be seeing Henry Cavill in Shazam 2? Let us know your thoughts down below!

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SOURCE: Mikey Sutton (via Lords of the Long Box)