How Russell Crowe Led the Reigning Superman off the Field

Can’t remember seeing Russell Crowe on a football field? Well, in 2000, while playing rugby, Henry Cavill (Superman) met with Crowe who was filming Proof of Life on a location at Stowe. The star shared some acting tips with Cavill and later sent him an acting package to his boarding school. Cavill was born in Jersey, England in 1983, one of five children.

Early Acting Career
In 2001 Henry Cavill started his acting career, appearing in Laguna, and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). However, he made a solid impression on the movie world when he appeared in the Showtime TV Series, The Tudors, from 2007 to 2010.

Cavil interpreted the role of Charles Brandon, which won many nominations, including a Golden Globe, and earned an Emmy award.  He has credited this series with most of his acting success.

“It’s done the most for me to date. Now that there’s an audience somewhere in America that’s aware of who I am, I have more sell-ability, because of The Tudors.”

Career Setbacks
Cavill was set to interpret Superman in Superman: Flyby (2004), however, when the director was changed, another person was given the role. Things would continue to sour, as he also lost the role in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (2005), later he was considered the perfect fit for a Twilight character, Edward Cullen, but by the time they got around to filming, he had grown too old.

Things refused to pick up and once again he was denied another role. In 2005 Henry Cavill was one of two final choices for the main role in Casino Royale, although there was reported conflict between the producers and the director, Daniel Craig was eventually awarded the role. Fifteen years later, the AI selection system elected Cavill to replace Craig who resigned from the Bond franchise.

Stardom Alongside Crowe
On January 30, 2011, Warner Brothers Studio announced Henry Cavill as its new Superman. Director Zack Snyder complemented Cavill, describing him as “the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”

Cavill was also impressed by the role and declared “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen.”

Man of Steel was released in 2013 to commercial and critical success. It is amusing to see how Russell Crowe would appear in the same movie with the rugby player that he literally escorted off the field onto the screen.

Henry Cavill has bounced back and is now on the path to success. He has appeared as Superman in the other films from the DC Extended Universe including Batman Versus Superman, Justice League, and The Flash.  He has appeared in other major screen movies such as Mission Impossible -The Fallout (2018) and Night Hunter.

Sometimes fame can start anywhere, for some, it is on the audition stage, for others, it runs in the family, but for Henry Cavill, it all started on a rugby field in Stowe.