British actor Henry Cavil is playing Superman in the next installment of the movie franchise. Warner Bros. Pictures made the announcement early this week, adding that the latest Superman film is set to be released in December 2012. It will be directed by Zack Snyder who also handled “300” starred by Scot Gerard Butler.

Snyder, according to the Associated Press, described Cavill in a statement as “the perfect choice to don the cape and ‘S’ shield”. AP noted that the 28-year-old from the Channel Islands, England is relatively unknown but he had already been previously eyed to play the lead role in Superman and screen-tested in other major roles for blockbuster films, including Batman and James Bond.

Cavill’s first film appearance was in the highly acclaimed adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) followed by other successful Hollywood films including Capture the Castle (2003); Red Riding Hood (2004); Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005). The actor also landed a supporting role in Tristan & Isolde, that featured James Franco. Cavill’s most recent appearance was with Showtime’s, The Tudors, where he co-starred from 2007 to 2010.

Though not finalized yet, the 2012 superhero movie is entitled Superman: The Man of Steel by the Warner Bros. Pictures.