The re-casting of Superman for the Zack Snyder lead reboot has come to an end, and Tudors star Heny Cavill will officially be donning the red and blue.

EOnline reports:

Zack Snyder, who will be directing the Super reboot, says in a statement: “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. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”

Seems the recent story with Joe Manganiello leading the rumour list might have been a bit off base as days later we get the official announcement that Cavill has the gig.

Joe Manganiello, and even left field longshot rumours that sounded like fans just hoping for some wank with Orlando Bloom, Wrestler John Cena and Dwayne Johnson rumoured for the role. Those were just dreams and fabricated buzz - wasn’t going to happen.

Of the names I was kind of curious about Joe Maganiello caught my eye, but also Patrick Wilson and even Glee’s Matthew Morrison might have made for a very different Superman that I would be curious to see. Didn’t happen.

Tom Welling was never in consideration, mostly because of his decade long presence as an alternate Superman in Smallville. If they made him Superman, it would have to be in a Smallville movie, which this is not. Smallville has its own following and its own take on Superman that sort of paralells Snyder’s proposed story of discovery for the Man of Steel, wihc Welling’s Clark Kent has already taken.

Fan favourite Jon Hamm was never in real consideration, and of course while they said they would give him a shot, I honestly didnt think they were going to get Brandon Routh back in the blue pajamas. His audition was just a courtesy that despite playing an amazing Kent and Superman, the reboot was pulling the carpet out from under his feet.

But as for Cavill, I can say I do like him up for the role. Especially after seeing this image of him:

This image was not from the casting for Superman, or at all related to this project. Perhaps someone saw it and said “Now THERE is our Clark Kent” - or they should have.

Cavill is a diverse and capable actor who has taken on a number of roles and while I have yet to get around to The Tudors, I did enjoy him in The Count of Monte Cristo, and even in Stardust, each in smaller supporting roles. This is good news.

Now the debates will rage on about who the villain will be.

Superman Man of Steel is slated for a December 2012 release.