1. One of Hollywood’s most bankable actors when it comes to superhero films is Henry Cavill. While the actor is known for his good looks and physique, this one time, it was his mustache that caused massive trouble. So much so, that the actor and his ‘stache were caught in the middle of Mission: Impossible Fallout and Justice League.
2. In 2017, Henry Cavill was shooting for Mission: Impossible Fallout which dealt with a group of terrorists who wanted to execute a nuclear attack. Meanwhile, he also had to reshoot some scenes for Justice League, in which he played the iconic Superman.
3. While Cavill had to keep a mustache for his role in Fallout, he did not need one for his role in Justice League. To make matters worse, Paramount Pictures from Mission: Impossible, refused to let Cavill shave his mustache because of a contract.
4. While the internet quickly jumped on the bandwagon and started posting funny memes, there was some intense drama behind the scenes. Mission: Impossible Fallout director Christopher McQuarrie revealed the behind-the-scenes details about the mustache that locked the two studios in a tussle in an Empire Film Podcast interview.
5. Christopher McQuarrie stated that Justice League producer, Charles Roven called him for help over the matter and told him that Cavill’s mustache had to be shaved urgently for the reshoots as no one can imagine a Superman with a mustache.
6. McQuarrie revealed that he initially suggested to Cavill that he could shave it, regrow it, and then let CGI take over and do its magic. But this would cost a whopping $3 million to replace the shots! McQuarrie was all ready and even agreed to shut down the production of Mission: Impossible Fallout and wait for Cavill’s ‘stache to grow again.
7. But according to McQuarrie, someone from the studio was dead against it. Reportedly saying, “What are you even talking about? There’s no way we’re doing that. So, forget it.” This was a stern warning that Paramount Pictures was not going to let Cavill shave his ‘stache under any circumstance.
8. The Mission: Impossible Fallout director also said that the studio was not wrong as it was right for Cavill to keep the mustache. He reasoned that there is a lot of outdoor and stunt work in Mission: Impossible Fallout and a fake mustache would not withstand it.
9. McQuarrie added that it was cheaper for Warner Bros. to digitally remove the actor’s mustache so that he could reshoot his scenes as Superman than it would be for Paramount to digitally add a mustache. This is because it would be tough to keep the ‘stache stable in the various action scenes of the movie that have a constantly moving camera.
10. So, what happened ultimately? Paramount Pictures won and Cavill’s moustache stayed the same. Warner Bros. had to use CGI extensively to cover it up in post-production. Hilariously, the attempt was less-than-perfect and fans could see a blurry upper lip during the movie.
11. Justice League received mixed reviews upon opening and one major cause was director Zack Snyder’s departure and Joss Whedon’s entry as the next director. Whedon had a different vision for the movie in mind and his twist hampered the quality and flow of the film. So, while the movie was already going through troubles during production, the mustache only became an added burden for the studio.
12. Henry Cavill posted a hilarious Instagram post earlier this year as a tribute to his iconic mustache. During a session at Lionsgate CinemaCon, the actor funnily quipped how “a controversial mustache at one stage nearly ruined my career.”
3. While the two studios were in a tussle and the two directors had to await the outcome, people on the internet had ample fun during the whole situation. Plenty of internet jokes and videos were created by people imagining a new era of Superman with a mustache.
14. Henry Cavill had also joined in on the fun and posted a picture on the social media website, Facebook, joking that both Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. were developing a weapon to tackle his problematic mustache.
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15. While Justice League underperformed at the box office, the saga of the mustache gave ample visibility to both movies and is a joke that continues to carry on. We can only hope that another such incident doesn’t occur and cause distress to the actors, crew, and everyone involved.
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