Henry Cavill isn’t letting an injury keep him down — or out of the gym.
The 42-year-old actor, best known for playing Superman and Geralt of Rivia, shared a physical update with fans this week after sustaining a leg injury while training for his upcoming role in the Highlander reboot. In a series of photos posted to Instagram on Oct. 1, Cavill is seen exercising with a large brace encasing most of his left leg, signaling both determination and recovery.
The British star, often admired for his discipline in fitness and gaming alike, kept the caption simple but poignant: “Endure. In enduring, grow strong.” He credited the line to Dak’kon, a character from the cult classic 1999 RPG Planescape: Torment, a fitting nod from one of Hollywood’s most openly geeky leading men.
Cavill Returns to the Gym — Carefully
In the newly posted images, Cavill is seen doing upper-body pull-ups and seated leg extensions, careful not to aggravate the injured limb. The final slide in his carousel appears to show his leg undergoing treatment, with part of the brace removed and medical equipment nearby.
View this post on Instagram
While the exact nature of his injury has not been publicly disclosed, it was first reported by Deadline on Sept. 11 that Cavill was hurt while preparing for Highlander. Days later, on Sept. 19, he broke his silence with an Instagram post featuring his leg elevated and wrapped, accompanied by the full text of the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley, a poem often associated with inner strength and defiance in the face of hardship.
“Out of the night that covers me / Black as the pit from pole to pole / I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul,” the post read.
What We Know About Highlander
The highly anticipated reboot of the 1986 fantasy-action classic Highlander is currently in pre-production. Cavill will take on the iconic role made famous by Christopher Lambert, stepping into a world of immortal sword fighters and ancient rivalries.
“If you thought you’d seen me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Cavill said at CinemaCon 2024, teasing a more intense physical transformation and combat training than even his work in The Witcher required.
Directed by John Wick creator Chad Stahelski and backed by Amazon MGM Studios, Highlander boasts a cast that includes Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Marisa Abela, Djimon Hounsou, and Max Zhang. Production is expected to ramp up in late 2025 or early 2026, depending on Cavill’s recovery timeline.
A Fighter in More Ways Than One
Cavill has long been admired not only for his striking on-screen presence but also for his grounded, often introspective off-screen persona. His response to injury, quoting existential RPG characters and Victorian poetry, is a glimpse into the star’s mental resolve. And while fans may know him as Superman or Geralt, Cavill is increasingly defining himself through roles that balance physicality with emotional depth.
His leg injury isn’t the first time he’s had to battle physical adversity on set. While filming The Witcher, Cavill suffered a hamstring tear in 2020, yet returned to finish out the season with intense rehab and modified stunts. The actor’s resilience in both cases reinforces his reputation as someone who doesn’t just “play” strong — he lives it.
What’s Next for Cavill?
Beyond Highlander, Cavill has several projects in the pipeline. He is set to reunite with director Guy Ritchie in the spy thriller In the Grey, his second film with the British filmmaker following The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
He also made a surprise cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine earlier this year, a move that reignited rumors about his potential return to superhero films, though not necessarily as Superman.
