What if the DCEU started 12 years ago — we’d have an entirely different lineup of DC heroes that would make up the Justice League

NEW YORK – JUNE 27: “Superman Returns” star Brandon Routh unveils the new Superman wax figure at Madame Toussauds New York June 27, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images), DCEU

This news about Henry Cavil leaving the DCEU and broke the internet. Fans went crazy over his alleged departure. Cavill leaving the DCEU would change everything in the minds of fans. To think maybe there could have been another DCEU. What If Warner Bros. decided to launch their shared universe in 2006 with Bryan Singer’s Return of Superman?

Imagine if Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy was part of the plan. The Justice League would have looked totally different. It would have been Warner Bros., not Disney, who would have changed the complexity of comic book movies. We explore a mixed bag of actors who were rumored to play DC characters and those who actually starred in a DC movie. With that said, here’s what the DCEU could have been, a Justice League with the same heroes but different faces.

Superman – Brandon Routh

I’m one of the few who thoroughly enjoys Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns. Brandon Routh was excellent as Superman. Writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris teamed with Bryan Singer to tell a Superman story that was a continuation of the classic Superman franchise. Routh was very much like Christopher Reeves’ clumsy, charming, farm boy Superman.

Superman returned after a five-year absence. The story was great despite the movie lagging in action. And there’s no denying Routh’s convincing performance as Superman. Moreover, in his five-year absence more than just his son was born. Heroes from all over the world would have made it so that Lois’ Pulitzer winning article had merit. These heroes would have been why the world no longer needed Superman. One of those heroes being Batman.

Batman – Christian Bale

Of course, Batman would have been the next hero to join Superman. Imagine if Chris Nolan teamed with Bryan Singer to bring their two heroes together. The Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy is a classic Batman staple. All three movies were masterpieces that helped shape the foundation that Zack Snyder started with the DCEU.

While the story ended definitively with Batman “dying” we’d imagine Brandon Routh’s Superman saving Batman from the exploding Batplane. The heroic act would have undoubtedly changed Bruce Wayne. There’s no denying that Bruce would have wanted to know who the alien was that saved him. Where was he when he needed him before. It would also serve as the start of a new and odd friendship.