The MCU has Zack Snyder to thank for implementing Man of Steel’s approach to one of its characters.

Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel was the first step in Zack Snyder’s vision for the DCU. The director brought it a unique and tonally dark film exploring Clark Kent’s evolution into becoming more human and his past catching up to haunt him. The dark and somber tone of the film left fans divided although Cavill’s impressive performance as Superman was praised.

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Henry Cavill as Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel
Over the years, the film has managed to find more love, and the deconstruction of the character by Snyder has been lauded. The admiration of Snyder’s work has seeped into the MCU with Chloe Zhao taking inspiration from it for how she approached Ikaris in Eternals.

Chloe Zhao Was Inspired By Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel While Developing Eternals

Chloe Zhao structured Ikaris’ arc in Eternals similar to Superman in Man of Steel
Chloe Zhao‘s Eternals introduced fans to a whole new group of cosmic team of superheroes into the MCU including Gemma Chan’s Sersi, Salma Hayek’s Ajax, Angelina Jolie’s Thena, and Richard Madden’s Ikaris among others. The latter has similar powers to DC’s Superman including the power of flight, heat vision, super strength, and near-invulnerability.

Based on that, it seems Zhao took major inspiration from on-screen incarnations of Superman especially Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel starring Henry Cavill as Superman for the role of Ikaris. The director told Films Actu that she was drawn by the fascinating way in which Snyder approached the mythic quality of Superman in a real and authentic way, calling Ikaris her interpretation of Superman. She said,

“Of all the modern interpretations of Superman, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel inspired me the most because he approached this myth in an authentic and very real way… this film left a strong impression on me. This film left a strong impression on me. But Ikaris is of course our own interpretation of Superman.”

The two characters share a similar arc of inner discovery and realization of what it takes to be human, coming to a cathartic realization by the end of the films. Zhao’s Ikaris also had the dark undertones that Cavill’s Superman had and the director knew that it would work for the film.

Henry Cavill Expects To Be Seen With Jake Gyllenhaal On-Screen Very Often

Jake Gyllenhaal previously worked with Guy Ritchie in 2023’s The Covenant
At CinemaCon, Henry Cavill teased three of his upcoming projects with Lionsgate including Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Chad Stahelski’s Highlander reboot, and another film with Ritchie. The title of the latter was announced as In the Grey, and Cavill will star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González, and Rosamund Pike in the film.

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The film will see Cavill, Gyllenhaal, and Gonzalez as a team tasked with bringing back a fortune worth of money that has been stolen. At the event, Cavill opened up about his working relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, calling him an incredible talent. He made an exciting tease that audiences can expect to see them on screen more often. He said (via Deadline),

“Jake is not only an incredible talent but what a wonderful man. I’m hoping we may see both of us on screen more often.”

Cavill seems to be indicating that the film is set up as a franchise moving forward. Fans are already excited about seeing Gyllenhaal and Cavill together on-screen and further adventures with them will be a treat. Guy Ritchie’s In The Grey will be released in theaters on January 17, 2025.

Fans can watch Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel on Max.

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Chloe Zhao’s Eternals is available to stream on Disney+.