The Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill has drawn severe criticism for comments about the #MeToo movement and rape in a new interview.

Cavill, who is currently promoting the forthcoming action film Mission: Impossible – Fallout, was speaking to GQ Australia when the interviewer asked how #MeToo had affected him.

“Stuff has to change, absolutely,” Cavill said, before adding: “There’s something wonderful about a man chasing a woman … I think a woman should be wooed and chased, but maybe I’m old-fashioned for thinking that.”

“It’s very difficult to do that if there are certain rules in place. Because then it’s like: ‘Well, I don’t want to go up and talk to her, because I’m going to be called a rapist or something.’”

“Now? Now you really can’t pursue someone further than, ‘No’. It’s like, ‘OK, cool’. But then there’s the, ‘Oh why’d you give up?’ And it’s like, ‘Well, because I didn’t want to go to jail?’”

Social media users have been quick to castigate Cavill for his views. One Twitter user suggested Cavill was “absurd” and that “if he doesn’t want to be called a rapist then all he has to do is ... not rape anyone.” Another asked: “When did the notion that being chased is a pleasant feeling become so universally accepted?”