“Never give up, never surrender”: Henry Cavill’s stunning comeback 9 years after being told he was too old, becoming the Man of Steel in 2013.

Henry Cavill’s journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars is a powerful case study in the mantra: “Never give up, never surrender.” Before he fully embodied the Man of Steel, Cavill endured a crushing rejection that nearly derailed his career, yet ultimately delivered him a profound lesson about the industry: “99% of a career is rejection.”

The Initial Crushing Blow: Superman: Flyby

In the mid-2000s, an ambitious film project titled Superman: Flyby was in development, aiming to reboot the iconic hero. The film was written by J.J. Abrams and, at one point, had director McG (Joseph McGinty Nichol) attached.

In 2004, a young Henry Cavill, then just 21 years old (born May 5, 1983), was cast in the coveted role of Superman/Clark Kent. However, the dream evaporated as quickly as it materialized. The production underwent significant shifts, including the departure of the directors. The role, which Cavill had secured, was ultimately dropped. One reason cited for the initial dropping of the role was that Cavill was deemed “too big” or too old for the planned younger direction of the character’s narrative under the various creative teams involved.

The failure was a devastating blow to the burgeoning actor, leaving him grappling with depression and uncertainty about his professional future.

The Resilience of Steel: Earning the Title ‘Unluckiest Man’

Instead of retreating from the brutal reality of Hollywood, Cavill adopted a strategy of persistent training and auditioning, viewing the Superman: Flyby experience not as an ending, but as a “lesson in patience.”

This early rejection was not the last time Cavill would narrowly miss a massive role, famously leading to him being dubbed “the unluckiest man in Hollywood” by Empire Magazine in 2005. Other near-miss roles included:

• James Bond in Casino Royale (2006), a role that ultimately went to Daniel Craig. Cavill was reportedly the final choice before producers decided he was too young (at 22) for the rebooted 007.
• Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), a role that went to Robert Pattinson.
• Edward Cullen in the film adaptation of the Twilight series (2008). Author Stephenie Meyer publicly stated that Cavill was her first choice for the character.

The Triumphant Return: Man of Steel

Cavill’s faith in his persistence paid off in a spectacular fashion nine years later. In 2013, he finally donned the cape and suit for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) reboot, Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder.

Data Point: When Man of Steel premiered on June 14, 2013, Henry Cavill was 30 years old—a testament to the nine-year journey of waiting and working after his initial casting attempt.

His critically and commercially successful performance as Superman/Clark Kent in the film—which earned over $668 million at the worldwide box office—launched him into global superstardom. The actor’s success story proves that perseverance transforms major professional failures into the mental fortitude required for long-term triumph, ultimately delivering him his dream role in a definitive, better, and bigger cinematic iteration.