One 2020 movie is having a Man of Steel reunion of sorts, as Superman’s parents are the leads of a story about a big family drama, though with no superpowered kids this time. Back in 2013, the DC Extended Universe began with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, which told the origin story of Clark Kent/Superman, with Henry Cavill as the famous superhero and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as his adoptive parents Martha and Jonathan Kent, while Russell Crowe played Clark’s biological father, Jor-El.
In an attempt to make a more grounded universe of superheroes, Man of Steel changed the Superman fans knew and made him darker, with the biggest surprise being him killing General Zod at the end. Of course, Man of Steel wasn’t safe from tragedy, and Clark saw Jonathan die in a tornado after refusing to let him rescue him as that would have revealed his true nature before time. Superman’s journey in the DCEU continued in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, with Diane Lane also returning as Martha (who was at the core of a very controversial and endlessly mocked scene) and Kevin Costner as a vision of Jonathan. Lane returned to the DCEU one more time in Justice League, and that was the last time fans saw Martha Kent. Now, Jonathan and Martha Kent are reuniting, though outside the DCEU and in a very different genre.
The coronavirus pandemic has been forcing studios to reschedule their releases, with some of them going through constant delays or ending up on streaming platforms. Among the few that are still getting a theatrical release is Let Him Go, a neo-western drama directed by Thomas Bezucha (Monte Carlo). Let Him Go is based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Larry Watson, and stars Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as a couple who after the death of their son fight to rescue their daughter-in-law, Lorna (Kayli Carter), and young grandson from the dangerous family of Lorna’s new husband, Donnie Weboy (Will Brittain). This is the first time Diane Lane and Kevin Costner play husband and wife since Man of Steel, though this time in a full-on drama story and with no superheroes to look out for.
Lane’s and Costner’s time in the DCEU as Clark Kent’s parents was brief, so it was no impediment for them to take part in other projects between Superman movies. Diane Lane appeared in various movies, most notably Inside Out (where she voiced Riley’s mom), Trumbo, Tully, and Serenity, while Costner appeared in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Hidden Figures, and Molly’s Game. With Henry Cavill’s future as Superman in DCEU currently unknown, and with this universe going through big changes, the future of Martha Kent also remains a mystery, though Justice League gave some closure to her arc by reuniting her with her son and Bruce Wayne helping her keep her farm, though she will probably be best remembered for the infamous “Martha moment” in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Diane Lane and Kevin Costner (mostly the latter) are not necessarily attached to the DCEU anymore, unless the multiverse comes into play and they make an appearance in a future movie, though that seems unlikely as their roles are linked to Cavill’s. The bright side of that is that they are free to take on any roles they want, and can even reunite on the big screen in new and different stories.
