DWINDLING numbers of participants and rising costs are the reasons why Durrell’s running challenge has been brought to an end after “nine brilliant years”.

Organisers announced on Tuesday that the Durrell Challenge, a 13km road run from Victoria Park to Jersey Zoo, would “no longer be held” from this year onward.

Henry Cavill taking part in the race in 2019 Picture: JON GUEGAN. (37542333)

The event, which raised funds for wildlife conservation, took place every May and regularly attracted hundreds of runners.

But in a statement, organisers said that since 2020, when the world was gripped by a global pandemic, participant numbers had “dwindled” and “costs to put on an event of this kind” had risen.

Alexandra Shears, director of communications and fundraising at Durrell, said: “After nine brilliant years of the Durrell Challenge, we’ve made the tough decision to stop holding this event.

“This will allow us to put more energy and focus towards our other fundraising efforts, including the Durrell Dash, our other long-standing running event.

“Sadly, since 2020, participant numbers for the Durrell Challenge have dwindled, and with rising costs to put on an event of this kind, we felt it was the right time for the challenge to end.”

She continued: “We are extremely grateful to everyone who took part, fundraised, and donated towards our mission of saving species from extinction over the past nine years. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved along with our supporters through these fantastic events.”

The organisers have also encouraged Islanders to sign up for the Durrell Dash, a festive run which is due to take place on 1 December.

Henry Cavill could end up being the most perfect Doctor Doom -- here are 5 reasons why.

Henry Cavill has aced every single acting gig he has taken on to date, irrespective of the character being heroic or villainous. With a professional acting career as vast as his, Cavill has proved just how worthy of an actor he is through all his roles that span multiple genres including action, comedy, drama, mystery, fantasy, and even thrillers.

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel

But while fans are used to mostly seeing him in heroic roles, recent rumors swirling around are suggesting that Cavill just may step into the shoes of Fantastic Four saga’s merciless villain, Doctor Doom. Though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it would be no harm to discuss the possible merits of having Henry Cavill as the Marvel supervillain, would it?

5 Reasons Why Henry Cavill Could Be The Perfect Doctor Doom

Marvel’s Doctor Doom

Considering how he has mostly played heroic roles before, having Henry Cavill play a supervillain like Doctor Doom isn’t a thought that is being gladly entertained by quite a few fans.

However, if these rumors are indeed true, then here are five reasons why he could absolutely nail his performance as Dr. Victor Von Doom.

5. He has the Most Ideally Demanding Presence that Doctor Doom Carries

Henry Cavill in The Tudors

If there is something Doctor Doom is most renowned for, it is his commanding voice and dominating presence. Not only is he regarded as one of the most ferocious villains of all time, but even his mere presence is enough to bring anyone to his knees from the Fantastic Four world.

Good for him, Henry Cavill can perfectly channel that demeanor. Thanks to his hunkiness and a physique that is very well overpowering, Cavill can enter the room and leave his audiences absolutely baffled — just like Dr. Victor Von Doom.

4. He has a Perfectly Diverse Acting Range

Henry Cavill in Immortals

As fans already know, Henry Cavill has worked in numerous different genres and has done an immaculate job at channeling all the different characters he takes on. What’s more, is that he can jump from different genres rather effortlessly and makes sure to add the depth and intensity required for each.

Just like recently, after playing someone like the Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series, Cavill displayed excellence as he embodied the role of the spy Argylle in Argylle.

Because of this, channeling his inside Doom doesn’t seem like that hard of a task for someone like Henry Cavill, regardless of how complex the supervillain’s character may be.

3. His “Going by the Book” Habit Just Might Make his Doctor Doom Portrayal Flawless

Henry Cavill in Enola Holmes 2

Henry Cavill has been all too vocal about how he likes to do his roles “by the book.” In an appearance on the Empire Magazine podcast, he expressed the same as he said:

“By nature, I’m a loyalist, and I can be a bit of a psychopath when it comes to law, and when it comes to doing things just as it says in the book.”
Because of this very trait of his, if Cavill does get cast in the role of Doctor Doom, he will make sure to portray the character right, just as he is portrayed in the comics.

This is good news, really, and gives Henry Cavill an edge over other actors contesting to play the Fantastic Four villain. This is because fans absolutely love it when the actors stick to the original material and do justice to the characters from comic books.

2. Henry Cavill Knows How to Handle Dark Roles

Henry Cavill in The Witcher

As immaculate as he is in embodying characters, Henry Cavill is equally well familiarized with the dark and grounded themes and genres. If anything, he has played dark and broody characters like the Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series and even DCEU’s Superman, who was a darker version than the more cheerful one in the books.

Since he is well acquainted with how such grounded characters are played and isn’t afraid of shedding some blood on the way, Cavill could very well embody Dr. Victor Von Doom in the most immaculately dark yet appealing manner possible.

1. Henry Cavill has Perfectly Embodied a Ruthless Villain Before

Henry Cavill as August Walker in Mission: Impossible – Fallout

In case fans have forgotten, Henry Cavill has already given a beyond-immersing performance as the villainous August Walker in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Not only did he have spitefulness and bloodthirstiness in his eyes throughout the film, but even critics couldn’t stop commending just how perfect of a villain he looked.

Then in DCEU’s Justice League, when Superman turned evil, Cavill made sure not to leave any stone unturned as he channeled all of his monstrosity to become the most villainous version of Superman. This version is literally the last straw and leaves no doubt about just how immaculately Henry Cavill could embody Doctor Doom’s character.

Henry Cavill as Evil Superman in Justice League

All these above-mentioned reasons are more than enough to convince fans that Cavill as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Fantastic Four could be their golden ticket to finally getting to see the version of Victor Von Doom that they have been longing for.

Moreover, if the Immortals star does get to portray this respective character, it would be the perfect chance to redeem the character of Doctor Doom after the critically panned disaster that was 2015’s Fantastic Four reboot.

Yet, there hasn’t been any official confirmation from Marvel as of yet. Thus, nothing can be said for sure about whether fans will actually get to see a glorious performance by Henry Cavill as Doom, or not.