David Corenswet has earned $750,000 for portraying Superman in the latest DC Universe film, exceeding Henry Cavill’s reported $300,000 paycheck for his role in Man of Steel back in 2013. Despite this higher figure, Corenswet’s salary remains surprisingly modest given the movie’s massive $225 million budget and Hollywood pay scales.
Comparing Henry Cavill’s Initial Superman Earnings to David Corenswet’s
Henry Cavill first donned the iconic Superman suit in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, where his salary was reportedly around $300,000, along with potential back-end bonuses tied to the film’s box office success. This amount is significantly less than what Corenswet received for his debut as Superman, marking an increase in base pay for the role.
Initially, some reports suggested Cavill made as much as $14 million for Man of Steel. However, industry experts and credible sources widely rejected this claim, clarifying that the figure was exaggerated. Following his debut, Cavill’s compensation grew with subsequent appearances; for example, he earned approximately $250,000 for a cameo in the 2022 film Black Adam.
It is expected that his paychecks for other Zack Snyder-directed projects, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017), were substantially higher than his first Superman film. Given the strong reviews for the new Superman film, Corenswet may anticipate similar increases in future installments.
Salaries of Other Leading Cast Members in Superman
While Corenswet’s earnings are notable, the salaries of his co-stars add further context to the pay structure on this project. Rachel Brosnahan, who portrayed Lois Lane in Superman, reportedly received the same $750,000 as Corenswet. This parity suggests progress toward addressing gender pay gaps within Hollywood’s high-profile productions.
In stark contrast, Nicholas Hoult, who took on the role of Lex Luthor, commanded a salary of $2 million—a sum nearly three times larger than what Corenswet earned. Hoult’s extensive experience in the industry, including his involvement in major franchises like the X-Men within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, grants him greater leverage in salary negotiations.
All three principal actors are also set to receive potential bonuses if the film succeeds at the global box office, offering the possibility of increased compensation based on the movie’s financial performance.
Contextualizing the Salary Figures Within Hollywood’s Framework
Given Superman’s status as one of the most iconic superheroes and the substantial budget invested in the film, Corenswet’s base salary appears surprisingly low when compared to typical Hollywood standards for similar blockbuster roles. The relatively modest initial pay highlights ongoing salary disparities affecting rising stars, even in high-profile productions.
While Corenswet’s earnings are a significant increase over Cavill’s first Superman paycheck, they still fall short of expectations for such a marquee role. The upcoming performance of Superman at the box office will likely determine if Corenswet and his co-stars receive the anticipated bonuses that could bring their overall compensation closer to industry norms.
This shift in pay dynamics also raises questions about how studios allocate salaries among lead actors, and whether experience, star power, and franchise history heavily influence negotiation outcomes, as seen with Hoult’s higher remuneration.
As Superman continues its theatrical run, audiences and industry watchers alike will be attentive to how these salary figures develop, and what they reveal about Hollywood’s evolving approach to pay equity and contract negotiations for major franchise talent.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What religion is Henry Cavill?
A. Henry Cavill was born on May 5, 1983, as the fourth of five brothers in a Catholic family from Saint Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. His mom, Marianne Dalgliesh, comes from Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry and had a job as a bank secretary.
Q. Is Henry Cavill heterochromia?
A. You can add heterochromia to Henry Cavill’s (also known as Superman) list of superpowers. His eyes are mostly teal, but the left eye has a special brown spot.
Q. What is the religion of Henry Cavill?
A. Henry Cavill was born on May 5, 1983, and was the fourth of five brothers in a Catholic family. He was born in Saint Helier, Jersey, which is located in the Channel Islands. His mother, Marianne Dalgliesh, was born in Jersey and has Scottish, English, and Irish roots. She worked as a secretary at a bank.
