Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder and written by David S. Goyer, from a story by Goyer and Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Superman, it is a reboot of the Superman film series and the first film of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Man of Steel was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, DC Entertainment, and Syncopy Inc.. It stars Henry Cavill as Kal-el / Clark Kent / Superman, with Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni, and Russell Crowe in supporting roles. The film depicts Superman's origin story, covering his infancy on the planet Krypton, his childhood in Smallville, and his emergence as a superhero to battle General Zod.