Development on a sequel to theDC Extended Universe (DCEU) filmMan of Steel (2013) began by October 2014, withHenry Cavill set to return asSuperman. Plans changed afterthe troubled production ofJustice League (2017), and theMan of Steel sequel was no longer moving forward by May 2020. Gunn began work on a new Superman film around August 2022. In October, he became co-CEO of DC Studios with Safran, and they began work on a new DC Universe. Gunn was publicly revealed to be writing the film in December. The titleSuperman: Legacy was announced the next month; Gunn was confirmed to direct in March 2023; and Corenswet and Brosnahan (Lois Lane) were cast that June. The subtitle was dropped by the end of February 2024, when filming began inSvalbard, Norway. Production primarily took place atTrilith Studios inAtlanta,Georgia, with location filming around Georgia andOhio. Filmingwrapped in July. The film's influences include the comic bookAll-Star Superman (2005–2008) byGrant Morrison andFrank Quitely.
Superman premiered at theTCL Chinese Theater on July 7, 2025, and was released byWarner Bros. Pictures in the United States on July 11. It is the first film in the DCU'sChapter One: Gods and Monsters. The film grossed $616.7 million worldwide, making it theeighth-highest-grossing film of 2025, and received mostly positive reviews. Critics found it to be fun, colorful, and earnest, although some felt it was overstuffed, while the performances of Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult were praised. A follow-up film,Man of Tomorrow, is scheduled for release on July 9, 2027, while a spin-off television series featuring supporting characters from the film, includingSkyler Gisondo'sJimmy Olsen, is in development forHBO Max.
Plot
Clark Kent / Superman stops the nation ofBoravia from invading the neighboring country ofJarhanpur and warns Boravian president Vasil Ghurkos to leave Jarhanpur alone. InMetropolis, Superman is defeated for the first time by ametahuman called the "Hammer of Boravia" and flees to hisFortress of Solitude inAntarctica with the help of the superpowered dogKrypto. They are followed byAngela Spica / The Engineer, an ally of tech billionaireLex Luthor.Superman's robots use concentratedsolar radiation to heal him and comfort Superman with a message from his birth parents,Jor-El andLara Lor-Van, who sent him to Earth to save him from the destruction of their planetKrypton. The message was damaged during the journey, so only the first half can be played. Superman returns to Metropolis and is again beaten by the Hammer, who is secretly Luthor's metahumanUltraman.
Superman agrees to be interviewed byLois Lane, his girlfriend and reporter colleague at theDaily Planet, leading to an argument when Lois presses him on the legal and ethical implications of his actions in Boravia. Luthor unleashes akaiju on Metropolis as a distraction while he infiltrates the Fortress with Ultraman and the Engineer. They overpower the robots, capture Krypto, and discover the Kryptonian message; the Engineer restores the damaged portion. Superman rescues civilians while fighting the kaiju with the "Justice Gang", a team composed of heroesGreen Lantern,Mister Terrific, andHawkgirl. Despite Superman's wanting to take the creature alive, Mister Terrific kills it. Luthor broadcasts the Kryptonian message and Superman is shocked to hear the second half, in which his parents urge him to conquer Earth and take many wives to restore the Kryptonian race.
Public opinion turns against Superman, especially when he angrily confronts Luthor, looking for Krypto. Lois reassures Superman that she believes he is good, and he confesses his love for her before surrendering himself to the U.S. government. They hand him over to Luthor for detainment and questioning inside an artificialpocket universe where Luthor secretly holds his enemies, including Krypto. Superman is imprisoned with the metahumanMetamorpho. Luthor uses Metamorpho's infant son Joey as leverage to force him to transmute one of his hands intoKryptonite, rendering Superman powerless. During questioning, Luthor murders one of Superman's supporters, Mali. A horrified Metamorpho agrees to help Superman escape, and they free Joey and Krypto. Lois convinces Mister Terrific to help find Superman and they enter the pocket universe, rescuing the others. Lois takes Superman to recuperate with his adoptive human parents,Jonathan andMartha Kent. Jonathan tells the demoralized Superman that his choices and actions determine who he is, not the message from his birth parents.
Luthor's girlfriendEve Teschmacher, who is infatuated withDaily Planet photographerJimmy Olsen, provides him evidence that Luthor is aiding Boravia in return for half of Jarhanpur's territory. Luthor imprisons her and lures Superman back to Metropolis by opening an unstable portal to the pocket universe, creating a rift in reality that splits the city in half. Superman sends Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho to stop Boravia from invading Jarhanpur again. Hawkgirl kills Ghurkos and Green Lantern invites Metamorpho to join the Justice Gang. In Metropolis, Superman and Mister Terrific fight the Engineer and Ultraman. After Superman defeats the Engineer, he learns that Ultraman is a clone of himself created by Luthor. With Krypto's help, Superman defeats Ultraman and knocks him into ablack hole beneath the rift. At Luthor's headquarters, Mister Terrific closes the rift. Luthor says he orchestrated the Jarhanpur conflict as an excuse to implicate Superman, driven by envy of his public admiration despite being an alien. Superman challenges his ideology, but Luthor remains defiant and is subdued by Krypto.
Lois and Jimmy expose Luthor's schemes to the public, clearing Superman's name. Luthor and his associates are arrested, and those trapped in his pocket universe, including Eve, are freed. Lois confesses that she loves Clark, too. As Superman recovers at the Fortress, his cousinKara Zor-El drunkenly arrives to pick up Krypto. The robots comfort Superman with footage of his childhood on Earth with his human parents.
David Corenswet asClark Kent / Superman: A survivor from the destroyed planetKrypton who lives onEarth as a superhero. He maintains a separate identity at his day job, working as ajournalist for theDaily Planet inMetropolis.[5][6] DirectorJames Gunn said Corenswet's Superman is around 25 years old, making him more established thanTom Welling'sversion fromthe CW seriesSmallville (2001–2011) but younger thanHenry Cavill'sversion in theDC Extended Universe (DCEU).[7] ProducerPeter Safran described the film's take on the character for theDC Universe (DCU) as "the embodiment of truth, justice and theAmerican way" and "kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned".[8] Gunn said Clark is becoming successful as both a journalist and a superhero in the film, but new elements in his life leave him unbalanced. These include being "madly in love" with his colleague Lois Lane and making friends with other superheroes who think he is naive. The film shows how these elements impact Clark's values and choices,[9] which are flawed and put him on a personal journey. Corenswet differentiated Clark's roles in his interactions with his parents, his job at theDaily Planet, and as Superman. He described Superman as a "public facing character" who wants to present himself as calm yet authoritative. Corenswet drew inspiration for Clark from the comic bookAll-Star Superman (2005–2008) byGrant Morrison andFrank Quitely and the posture ofChristopher Reeve'sportrayal from the1978–87Superman film series. He was also inspired for Clark's voice and demeanor by his brother-in-law, whom he described as the "quietest, most wonderful man" despite his tall 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 metres) height and weighing 270 pounds, and described Clark as a "big presence" who is "desperately trying to be as small as possible and as quiet as possible".[10] Gunn consulted DC Comics writerTom King in relation to other characters' "suspension of disbelief" regarding Clark's dual identity, which was attributed to the use of hypnotic glasses to subtly distort his appearance. Gunn included this in the film, noting that it had "kind of been forgotten" from the comic book canon.[11] Corenswet also portraysUltraman, an armored clone of Superman created by Lex Luthor who masquerades as the "Hammer of Boravia" and is controlled via drones and voice prompts.[12] Oliver Diego Silva portrays Clark at age two.[13]
Rachel Brosnahan asLois Lane: A reporter for theDaily Planet who is a colleague of Clark,[6][14] and "isn't so sure about him" and needs to be convinced about being in a relationship with him.[9][10] Brosnahan described Lois as "fiercely intelligent" and feisty.[15] She consulted with several journalists to help her portray Lois as a modern reporter, contrasting with the character's original comics appearances and previous screen portrayals.[16]
Nicholas Hoult asLex Luthor: TheCEO ofLuthorCorp and the arch-nemesis of Superman,[14][17][18] who hates Superman for having the power to do everything but not aligning with Luthor's own beliefs.[19][20] Hoult described Luthor as obsessive, determined, and relentless, and wanted the character to feel like a credible threat to Superman. He has his end goal in sight and is motivated by many emotions, including a need to be recognized for his scientific genius.[20] Hoult was inspired byMichael Rosenbaum'sLex Luthor inSmallville and by billionaireSteve Jobs for Luthor's uniform, choosing to work out for the role based on the depiction of Luthor inAll-Star Superman.[20][21] Hoult's head was shaved by his son Joaquin in preparation for the role.[22] Gunn took inspiration for the character fromBrian Azzarello's limited comic book seriesLex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005) as well asJerry Siegel's "reckless scientific genius" version of Luthor in comic books from the 1950s and 1960s.[23]
Edi Gathegi asMichael Holt / Mister Terrific: A superhero and inventor who uses a variety of high-tech gadgets to fight crime,[14][24] and is a member of the Justice Gang sponsored byMaxwell Lord.[25] Gathegi described his character as an "atheist who believes in justice", and said Mister Terrific found meaning in "knowledge" after experiencing the death of his wife.[25]
Anthony Carrigan asRex Mason / Metamorpho: Anarchaeologist and superhero who can "transmute elements in his body into various forms".[26] He becomes a member of the Justice Gang.[27] Carrigan said it was refreshing to play a superhero after previously portraying theBatman villainVictor Zsasz in the television seriesGotham (2014–2019). He felt that he could bring some "authenticity and truth" to the role by comparing Metamorpho's concerns about his abilities to Carrigan's ownalopecia.[28]
Nathan Fillion asGuy Gardner / Green Lantern: An abrasive galactic peacekeeper in theGreen Lantern Corps,[24] and a Justice Gang member,[25] whom Fillion described as a fearless, overconfident jerk.[29] Fillion drew inspiration for Guy speaking his mind with no filter fromEstelle Getty'sSophia Petrillo in the sitcomThe Golden Girls (1985–1992). Fillion referred back to the character'sorigin story, in which Guy was hit by a bus and sent into a coma as what "flipped the switch" for his personality, making him "off a little bit".[30] The film retains the character's "iconicbowl cut haircut" from the comics,[24] which Fillion insisted on having despite some discussions about changing his hairstyle.[30]
Isabela Merced asKendra Saunders / Hawkgirl: A superhero with wings and various melee weapons who is a Justice Gang member. She isreincarnated from analien, retaining her memories and past trauma with a grumpy demeanor.[31][24] Merced felt the self-awareness and comedic aspects of the film helped Hawkgirl "make light of [her] trauma".[31] Merced's short 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 metres) height differentiates her from other DCU heroes.[24] Merced felt that her role asAnya Corazón in theSony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) filmMadame Web (2024) helped prepare her to play Hawkgirl, though she did not tell theSuperman filmmakers about that role in case they did not want her to play both.[32]
In 2012,Warner Bros. Pictures was planning for the filmMan of Steel (2013), based on theDC Comics characterSuperman, to start ashared universe,[67] which became known as the "DC Extended Universe" (DCEU).[68][69] They announced a full slate of DC films in October 2014,[70] prioritizingBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as the second DCEU film afterMan of Steel failed to meet the studio's financial expectations.[71] Despite this, they said an undated sequel toMan of Steel was in development withHenry Cavill set to reprise his role asClark Kent / Superman.[70]Man of Steel directorZack Snyder said they had been considering the imprisonedKryptonians from the first film and the characterBrainiac as antagonists for the sequel before work began onBatman v Superman.[71] AMan of Steel sequel was in active development as a top priority for the studio in August 2016,[72] which Cavill's managerDany Garcia confirmed the following month.[73]Amy Adams, who portrayedLois Lane inMan of Steel, said in November that the studio was working on the screenplay.[74]Matthew Vaughn was Warner Bros.'s top choice to direct the film and had preliminary conversations about it by March 2017.[75] Vaughn and comic book writerMark Millar previouslypitched a new Superman trilogy prior to the development ofMan of Steel, in which the destruction of the planetKrypton would not occur until after Superman had already grown up on the planet.[76] Afterthe troubled production of the DCEU filmJustice League (2017), Warner Bros. reevaluated its approach to DC projects.[77] By the end of 2017, aMan of Steel sequel was not coming "anytime soon, if at all".Justice League producerCharles Roven said story ideas had been discussed but there was no script.[78]
Before the release ofMission: Impossible – Fallout in July 2018, directorChristopher McQuarrie and co-star Cavill pitched their take on a new Superman film, partially inspired by the animated filmUp (2009), but Warner Bros. did not pursue the idea.[79][80] Later in 2018, the studio askedJames Gunn to write and direct a Superman film, but he was uncertain if he wanted to take on the character.[81][82] He did not have a clear vision, especially since Superman is a well-known character unlike theGuardians of the Galaxy whom he adapted forMarvel Studios in the filmGuardians of the Galaxy (2014).[83] Gunn chose to makeThe Suicide Squad (2021) instead,[81][82] calling it "the easier path".[84] In September, negotiations for Cavill to reprise his role for acameo appearance inShazam! (2019) ended due to contract issues,[85] as well as a scheduling conflict with Cavill'sMission: Impossible commitments.[85][86] Cavill was reported to be parting ways with the studio, with no plans for him to reprise his role in future projects,[85] but Cavill said in November 2019 that he had not given up on the character and still wanted to do the role justice.[86] At that time, Warner Bros. was unsure which direction to take the character and was talking to "high-profile talent" about the property, includingJ. J. Abrams—whose companyBad Robot signed an overall deal with Warner Bros.'s parent companyWarnerMedia—andMichael B. Jordan, who pitched himself as a Black version of the character.[87] By May 2020, Warner Bros. was no longer developing aMan of Steel sequel, but Cavill was in talks to appear in a different DC film.[88][89] In February 2021,Ta-Nehisi Coates was revealed to be writing a new Superman film that Abrams was producing.[90] The film was expected to feature a Black actor portraying Superman, with the potential for Jordan to take on the role.[91]
Development
Writer and directorJames Gunn, pictured during filming in June 2024, began work on a new Superman film in August 2022.
In April 2022,Discovery, Inc. and WarnerMedia merged to becomeWarner Bros. Discovery (WBD), led by president and CEODavid Zaslav. The new company was expected to restructureDC Entertainment and Zaslav began searching for an equivalent to Marvel Studios presidentKevin Feige to lead the new subsidiary. Zaslav and WBD felt DC lacked a "coherent creative and brand strategy" and were underusing Superman.[92] Over the years, Gunn considered how he would approach Superman if he were ever given another opportunity,[84] and around late August 2022 he was hired to work on a Superman film that was not a sequel toMan of Steel and would be standalone from the DCEU.[93][94] Zaslav spent time with Gunn while he was writing the script.[95]
Cavill made a cameo appearance in thepost-credits scene of the DCEU filmBlack Adam, released in October 2022, and Warner Bros. was reportedly pursuing a Cavill-ledMan of Steel sequel once again. Roven was producing and the studio was searching for writers. They wanted McQuarrie to direct, but he was unlikely to be available due to his commitments to theMission: Impossible franchise. Coates's film was still in development. Cavill's role inBlack Adam was approved by Warner Bros. film chiefsMichael De Luca andPamela Abdy when they were approached directly byBlack Adam starDwayne Johnson, who began promoting the idea of co-starring with Cavill in aBlack Adam vs. Superman film.[96] Cavill signed a one-off deal forBlack Adam and only received a verbal agreement that he would continue playing the character in the DCEU.[97][98] Cavill publicly announced that he would return as Superman for future projects,[98][99] and said hisBlack Adam cameo was a "very small taste" of future plans.[99] He said Superman would be "enormously joyful" moving forward.[100]Steven Knight wrote a script treatment for the sequel around that time,[101] which reportedly included Brainiac as the antagonist,[98] but Warner Bros. executives were not thrilled with his take.[101]Michael Bay was eyed to potentially direct the film.[2]
Gunn andThe Suicide Squad producerPeter Safran were announced as the co-chairs and co-CEOs of the newly formedDC Studios at the end of October 2022.[102] A week after starting their new roles, the pair had begun developing an eight-to-ten-year plan for a newDC Universe (DCU) that would be a "soft reboot" of the DCEU.[103][104][105] In mid-November, Gunn was publicly revealed to be writing a new DC film.[106]Andy Muschietti, director of the DCEU filmThe Flash (2023), expressed interest in directing a Superman project with a similar tone to directorRichard Donner's filmSuperman (1978).[107] In early November, Cavill expressed interest in a future project that explored Superman's "capacity to give and to love" the people of Earth and to inspire others,[108] and said he was looking forward to meeting with Gunn to discuss future opportunities.[109] Work on theMan of Steel sequel stalled later that month while Gunn and Safran were developing their plans.[110]
In December 2022, Gunn said Superman was a big priority, if not the biggest, for DC Studios,[111] before publicly announcing that he was writing a new Superman film. The film was set to focus on ayounger version of the character and would therefore not star Cavill. There was potential for Gunn to direct the film as well.[5] It would not retell theorigin of Superman,[112] and would focus on him as a young reporter interacting with key characters such asLois Lane.[113] Gunn and Safran met with Cavill to explain their decision and discuss potentially working with him for a different role in the future.[5][113] In January 2023, Gunn and Safran unveiled the first projects from their DCU slate, which began withChapter One: Gods and Monsters. Their Superman film was the first film in that chapter and was officially titledSuperman: Legacy. It was given a release date of July 11, 2025,[114] which coincides with the birthday of Gunn's late father.[115] Safran wanted Gunn to direct the film.[114] Gunn saidSuperman: Legacy would take specific inspiration from the comic bookAll-Star Superman (2005–2008) byGrant Morrison andFrank Quitely.[7] The film was also inspired by theSuperman animated shorts (1941–1943) andSuperman: The Animated Series (1996–2000),[116] and by other comics books such as:Superman: Birthright (2003–04); the "Brainiac" story arc (2008);Superman: Ending Battle (2002);[117]Superman for All Seasons (1998);[118]Kingdom Come (1996); Morrison'sAction Comics run; and "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" (1986).[116] Gunn considered using Brainiac as the antagonist for the film.[119] Gunn also cited thekaiju film,Godzilla Minus One (2023) as an inspiration in regards to the humanity of the characters as well as the depiction of the giant monster that attacks Metropolis.[116]
DCU writerTom King said in March 2023 that Gunn was also directing the film,[120] which Gunn confirmed later that month.[121] At that time, Safran was confirmed to be producing the film,[115] doing so through his production company the Safran Company, with Gunn also producing through his production company Troll Court Entertainment.[122] Gunn was hesitant to direct the film, despite encouragement from Safran and others, until he realized how focusing on Superman's heritage with his aristocraticKryptonian parents and adoptive farmer parents fromSmallville, Kansas, would inform the characterization. Gunn felt emotionally connected to this aspect of the film because of his late father.[115] He said in April that the film's tone would differ from hisGuardians of the Galaxy films (2014–2023),[123] and he suggested that Superman's dogKrypto could appear.[123][124][125]
Pre-production
Before and during the 2023 labor strikes
Production design, costume design, and casting began in April 2023.[83][126] Production designer Beth Mickle and costume designerJudianna Makovsky returned fromThe Suicide Squad and Gunn'sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).[127][128] Filming was set to begin in January 2024.[83] Gunn said the characterJimmy Olsen would appear.[129] He did not intend for the film to be a comedy and intended for it to differ from previousSuperman films while respecting what came before.[83] Gunn completed the first draft of the script at the end of April. Production was not expected to be impacted by the2023 Writers Guild of America strike when it began in early May.[130]
Promotional image which revealed starDavid Corenswet in costume as Superman for the first time
Gunn was looking for an actor to play Superman who possessed the character's humanity, kindness, and compassion, and was "somebody who you want to give a hug".[131] Audition tapes for the main roles of Superman, Lois Lane, andLex Luthor were submitted by early May. Gunn began watching them later that month,[132] while he wasstoryboarding the film.[133] At this point, Gunn watched the filmPearl (2022) andDavid Corenswet's performance in it stood out to him. Corenswet had previously expressed his desire to portray Superman and his audition was one of the first Gunn saw.[10] Corenswet became a top contender for Superman and was set to do a screen test by early June.Jacob Elordi,Tom Brittney, and Andrew Richardson were also in consideration,[18][132] though Elordi declined to read for the role.[134]Patrick Schwarzenegger, theArrowverse seriesSupergirl (2015–2021) guest starPierson Fodé, andJack Quaid—the voice of Superman in the animated seriesMy Adventures with Superman (2023–present)—all submittedself-tapes for Superman.[135][136][137]Emma Mackey,Rachel Brosnahan,Samara Weaving, andPhoebe Dynevor tested for Lane;[18][132] Dynevor was one of the final contenders.[138] Brosnahan made an audition tape with her husbandJason Ralph, who read Superman's lines.[139]Nicholas Hoult, the runner-up to playBruce Wayne / Batman in the standalone DC filmThe Batman (2022),[18] was eyed for Luthor but chose to pursue the role of Superman instead,[55] because he felt while he could play Luthor well, he insisted himself to focus on auditioning for Superman.[20] Gunn considered A-list actors he had already worked with for Luthor and discussed the role with aGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 actor that was reported to beBradley Cooper.[18][140][141] Black actors were also being considered for Luthor.[142] Testing took place using the label "Apex", a reference to a comic version of Luthor calledApex Luthor.[132][142] Other superheroes were expected to be established in the film's setting,[18] with casting underway for a Black actor to playMichael Holt / Mister Terrific and for an Asian or Latina actress to portray a character labeled "Blitz".[143][144]
In-person screen tests took place at theWarner Bros. Studios lot inBurbank, California, with Gunn and Safran in mid-June 2023. The actors tested in makeup and costume as Kent and Lane in the following pairs: Hoult and Brosnahan, Brittney and Dynevor, and Corenswet and Mackey.[55][145] The Kent contenders then tested in costume as Superman against Mackey.[55] One of Cavill's original DCEUSuperman suits, which was in poor condition, was used for the tests. Gunn said Brittney "messed it up" and then it was "torn to shreds" by Corenswet, who was too tall.[146] Gunn edited the tests together to be played for a deciding committee that included Zaslav,[55] and the casting of Corenswet as Superman and Brosnahan as Lane was announced on June 27.[6] Gunn personally contacted the actors to inform them of their castings,[9][139] and he offered the role of Superman to Corenswet while he was filmingTwisters (2024) on the condition that he treat everyone involved in the film with kindness and respect, citing his experiences withChris Pratt (Peter Quill / Star-Lord in theMarvel Cinematic Universe) andJohn Cena (Christopher Smith / Peacemaker in the DCEU) doing the same.[9] Casting for other roles was set to follow, including for members of the superhero teamthe Authority who were expected to be introduced inSuperman: Legacy ahead ofa planned film about the team.[55][147] BrothersAlexander andBill Skarsgård were on the shortlist for Luthor. It was unclear whether Hoult would return to try for Luthor again,[55] but Gunn later contacted Hoult about playing Luthor, which he accepted after realizing he was better suited for the role.[20] Corenswet and Brosnahan each earned $750,000 for their roles, while Hoult was the highest-paid actor inSuperman, earning $2 million. They were all eligible for bonuses based on the film's box office performance. Gunn was paid $15 million for his work onSuperman, in addition to his seven-figure salary for his role at DC Studios.[148][149]
On July 11, 2023, two years before the film's scheduled release date,[150] the casting ofIsabela Merced,Edi Gathegi, andNathan Fillion, respectively, as the superheroesKendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, andGuy Gardner / Green Lantern was announced.[24] Merced tested asBarbara Gordon / Batgirl for the unreleased DCEU filmBatgirl,[151] while Fillion starred in several of Gunn's earlier films including asCory Pitzner / T.D.K. inThe Suicide Squad and had previously voiced fellow Green LanternHal Jordan in several animated projects.[24][152] Gathegi was cast over 200 other actors.[153]Anthony Carrigan, who expressed interest in playing Luthor, was cast as the superheroRex Mason / Metamorpho the next day.[26][154] Gunn chose some of these actors some time earlier but had been waiting until Superman and Lane were cast before negotiating further actor deals, leaving little time to complete negotiations before the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike began on July 14.[26][155] In response to concerns that other superheroes would take away from the story of Superman and Lane, Gunn said those two characters remained the film's focus and the other actors were being cast for multiple DCU projects.[150] He later elaborated that a large cast of characters was included in the film because he wanted to explore Clark Kent's interactions with his colleagues and Superman's interactions with other superheroes,[156] and show how those groups impact the character's values and choices.[9]
When the WGA strike ended in September 2023,Superman: Legacy was expected to begin filming in early-to-mid 2024.[157]Jason Momoa, who portrayedAquaman in the DCEU, was reported the following month to have discussed portraying the characterLobo in either this film or a solo film;[158] he was later cast in that role for the DCU filmSupergirl (2026), originally titledSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.[159] The SAG-AFTRA strike ended on November 9, and filming was clarified to be beginning in March 2024.[160][161] Gunn said the film would still make its July 2025 release date.[162]María Gabriela de Faría was revealed to be cast asAngela Spica / The Engineer, one of the film's antagonists and a member of the Authority, in mid-November.[54]Madison Beer said she submitted a self-tape and unsuccessfully auditioned for a role, as didO'Shea Jackson Jr.[163][164] Hoult was in talks to portray Luthor prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, and negotiations for the role were continuing in November,[165][166] whenSkyler Gisondo andSara Sampaio were revealed to have been respectively cast as Jimmy Olsen and Luthor's assistantEve Teschmacher.[33][51] Gunn said Gisondo, Sampaio, and de Faría had been cast prior to the strike,[167] and the roles of Mister Terrific and Teschmacher were particularly difficult to cast and required many auditions.[168]
In December 2023, Gunn's brotherSean was cast asMaxwell Lord for future DCU projects, afterPedro Pascal played the role in the DCEU filmWonder Woman 1984 (2020). The character was expected to be referenced inSuperman: Legacy but it was unknown if he would appear in the film.[169] James Gunn confirmed that Hoult had finalized a deal to portray Luthor,[17] andMiriam Shor entered negotiations for an undisclosed role after appearing inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.[170]The Hollywood Reporter also said the cast included Sean Gunn andPom Klementieff, who starred in theGuardians of the Galaxy films, before James Gunn stated that Klementieff was not involved in the film and Shor had not been cast.[170][171][172] He added that the film's script had been mostly completed before the writers' strike.[173] Gunn said in January that work on the sets, prosthetics, and visual effects models were underway, the costumes were being completed, and most of the actors had been cast.[174] Brosnahan said the film was being made with a lot of love for the source material, as many cast and crew members had grown up watchingSuperman films and reading the comics.[15] At the end of the month,Milly Alcock was cast as Superman's cousinKara Zor-El / Supergirl. The character was reported to be making her debut inSuperman: Legacy ahead of starring in her own DCU film,Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.[175][176][177][178] Alcock had performed auditions and screen tests in costume on theSuperman: Legacy set inAtlanta,Georgia, earlier in January.[178][179]
Pre-production work inOhio began in early February 2024,[180] with theOhio Department of Development announcing thatSuperman: Legacy would be partially filmed inCleveland andCincinnati. The film was awarded over $11 million through the state's tax credit program,[180][181] based on a $37 million spend in the state out of the film's reported total gross production budget of $363.8 million;[182][183] Gunn disputed the accuracy of this budget, which would have made it one of the most expensive superhero films ever made.[184][183] The film was later reported to have a net production budget of $225 million with incentives and tax breaks factored in.[183][2] Also in February,Bassem Youssef said he had been cast in the film—reportedly as Rumaan Harjadi, the leader of a fictional Middle Eastern country—but his character was removed from the script. He believed this was potentially due to comments he made in October 2023 criticizing theIsraeli government during theGaza war. Gunn disputed this, explaining that he discussed a role with Youssef before the WGA strike but the actor had not been formally offered the part, and the character was removed after the strike ended and before Youssef's comments were made.[185][186][187] Atable read with the cast was held on February 22, and Gunn revealed that Terence Rosemore was portraying Luthor's henchmanOtis Berg after having small roles in some of Gunn's prior films.[56] Zaslav said filming would begin the following week,[188] when Gunn announced that he had shortened the film's title toSuperman.[189] He had come to feel while writing the film that it was about looking forward while theLegacy subtitle was about looking backward.[189][190]
A police car and buildings decorated withMetropolis decal (left) and theLeader Building decorated as the entrance to theDaily Planet (right) during location filming in Cleveland in June 2024
Wendell Pierce was cast asPerry White at the start of March.[34] Filming atTrilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, had begun by March 8 and was expected to last until August 2.[193][201] Filming in Cleveland and Cincinnati was set to take 37 days between April 1 and August 23.[180][181] Filming was also expected to take place inMacon, Georgia.[202] In April,Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell were cast asJonathan andMartha Kent,[39][40] whileBeck Bennett,Mikaela Hoover, and newcomer Christopher McDonald were cast asDaily Planet employeesSteve Lombard,[37][203]Cat Grant, andRon Troupe in June. Hoover previously appeared in several of Gunn's films.[38] Corenswet and Brosnahan filmed a 12-minute interview scene together, which Gunn described as ten percent of the film shot in two days, and highlighted their chemistry as "palpable".[9] The 1940 filmHis Girl Friday was a major reference for depicting their relationship as "equal match[es]" for each other with a "longing romance" and witty comedy inspired by the works ofPreston Sturges.[10] Characters from the animated DCU seriesCreature Commandos (2024–present) were expected to appear in the film, and Gunn and Safran intended for the same actors to portray characters across animation and live-action in the DCU;[204][205] set photos revealed thatFrank Grillo was reprising his role asRick Flag Sr. from that series.[61]
In August 2024, Sean Gunn confirmed his casting as Maxwell Lord for the film.[65] The following month,Alan Tudyk was revealed to have a role in the film after voicing several characters inCreature Commandos; Tudyk voices theSuperman robot "Four".[215][44] Comic book writerMark Waid revealed that Krypto was appearing in the film,[216] which Gunn officially confirmed in October. He explained that the character's portrayal was inspired by his dog Ozu, who was adopted soon after Gunn began writingSuperman, and said Ozu was at first "problematic to say the least... I remember thinking, 'Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?'—and thus Krypto came into the script and changed the shape of the story".[49]
"'How can you take a character like this, who's perceived as old-fashioned by many? There have been so many different permutations of the character throughout the years, so how could you do it for a modern audience?' I knew what I wanted to do in creating a story that was both utterly human and utterly fantastic... It [has] all the fantastic elements that we've never really seen in a Superman movie:the flying dog, the giantKaiju, pocket universes, science and sorcery, and all these things that were in the oldMax Fleischer cartoons."
—Writer and directorJames Gunn discussing the film in April 2025[84]
Gunn begantest screening the film by the start of December.[217] A day-and-a-half of individualpick-up shots were scheduled to take place in Los Angeles shortly after, which Gunn said was to "enhance the film" rather than reshoot any scenes.[218] Alcock was confirmed to be appearing in the film in January 2025.[64] Three days of pick-ups had also taken place in Atlanta by the end of May,[219] and Gunn said the film was completed and received apicture lock on June 5.[220] Later that month,Michael Rooker and Klementieff were confirmed to have voiced two Superman robots alongside Cooper andAngela Sarafyan as Superman's Kryptonian parentsJor-El andLara Lor-Van.[46][43]William Hoy andCraig Alpert co-edited the film, after they respectively worked on the DC filmsThe Batman andBlue Beetle (2023).[122]
Much of the visual effects team fromGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 returned to work with Gunn onSuperman,[221] including visual effects supervisorStéphane Ceretti.[222] Visual effects were provided byFramestore,Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), andWētā FX.[223] The film features 1,766 visual effects shots. Framestore created Krypto and shared the asset with ILM and Wētā, because each studio had Krypto shots to deliver. Framestore also worked on the Fortress of Solitude. ILM scanned the practical build of the Hammer of Boravia, built by Legacy, and developed the full CG version. ILM created Metropolis withNew York City as the reference point for scale, style, and density, and used shots filmed in Cleveland to become part of Metropolis. Wētā created the kaiju creature and used ILM's asset of Metropolis for the kaiju fight sequence. The VFX team created a digital version ofCleveland Public Square so that Wētā could make shots that required extensive camera work that could not be achieved with drones, and also created all the interactions of the kaiju with the environment.[224]
In December 2023, Gunn said most of the film's score and major themes had been written, but the composer had not been announced because their deal had not been finalized.[225] In February 2024, he announced thatJohn Murphy was composing the score after doing so forThe Suicide Squad,The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022), andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.[226] In December, Gunn confirmed that Murphy was using a new version ofJohn Williams's "Superman March" theme from the 1978Superman film. Gunn considered Williams's score to be one of the greatest of all time and had associated his theme with Superman from the start of the film's development. He saw the theme's inclusion as one way for the film to harken back to past iterations. Unlike other projects by Gunn,Superman only features two licensed songs; "Punkrocker" byTeddybears &Iggy Pop, and "5 Years Time" byNoah and the Whale.[227][228][229] In April 2025,David Fleming was revealed to be contributing some music and sharing credit for the score with Murphy.[230][219] On the soundtrack, Safran's daughter Lou Lou performs "The Mighty Crabjoys Theme" with the American rock bandFoxy Shazam, with Lou Lou and the band's member Eric Nally on vocals, and written by Gunn and Nally.[231]: 2:33–2:45
Marketing
Writer and directorJames Gunn took specific inspiration from the comic book seriesAll-Star Superman (2005–2008) byGrant Morrison andFrank Quitely. He included the cover art for the comic's first issue (pictured) in the film's announcement.
For the January 2023 announcement, Gunn used the cover art ofAll-Star Superman's first issue to represent the film.[232] He also posted the cover on social media in March when confirming that he would direct the film.[233] Gunn marked the beginning of filming in February 2024 by posting a picture ofSuperman's logo,[189] which commentators noted for its visual similarity to the character's costume in theKingdom Come comic book, albeit with the classic yellow and red color scheme.[234][235] Safran promoted the film on-stage during Warner Bros.'sCinemaCon presentation in April, with Gunn, Corenswet, and Brosnahan appearing via video messages.[236] The panel unveiled a full look at the Superman emblem and Gunn said he planned to attend the following year's event in-person with the cast to initiate a "Summer of Superman".[237] Gunn released a first-look image of Corenswet in costume in early May, which depicts Superman suiting up while an alien-looking threat attacks in the background. Commentary on the image focused on the return of red briefs, which were absent from theMan of Steel design. Elements of the costume were also compared toJim Lee's design used in DC Comics' 2011New 52 initiative. The character's pose and the attack in the background sparked speculation about Superman's characterization in the film and the threats he may face.[233][238][239] A display inspired by the film's Fortress of Solitude was included at Warner Bros.'s Licensing Expo booth inLas Vegas later in May.[240]
Gunn released the first image of Krypto, alongside Corenswet's Superman, in October 2024 in honor of "Adopt a Shelter Dog" month.[49] Amotion poster was released on December 16 featuring a slowed-down rendition of John Williams's "Superman March" with an electric guitar opening.[241][242] Jordan Moreau atVariety described the poster as an homage toChristopher Reeve's portrayal ofSuperman in the 1978 film but with quieter, "more thoughtful" music. A teaser trailer was shown at a press screening that day ahead of a public release on December 19.[241] The trailer had over 250 million global views in its first 24 hours, making it the most-viewed and discussed trailer for a DC Comics or Warner Bros. film in that time period.[243]WaterTower Music released Murphy's music for the trailer as a single, titled "Theme from Superman (Trailer Version)", later that day.[242]Animal Planet'sPuppy Bowl XXI onSuper Bowl Sunday in February 2025 was co-sponsored by the film, with Gunn and Ozu appearing to introduce new footage. A "Krypto Super Play" award was presented to one of the puppies participating in the game.[244] At the end of the month, DC Studios hired Ricky Strauss, a former marketing executive atApple TV+ andDisney, to consult on the film's marketing following the exit of Warner Bros. global marketing chief Josh Goldstine the prior month.[245] Safran said Zaslav had "rallied the entire company" behind the film in a similar way to previous successful Warner Bros. films such asBarbie (2023).[246]
Gunn, Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult promoted the film during Warner Bros.'s CinemaCon panel in April 2025, where an extended sequence and new behind-the-scenes footage were shown.[247][248] The extended footage was later released online and shown before IMAX screenings for the Warner Bros. filmA Minecraft Movie,[249][250] while the behind-the-scenes footage was released on April 18 to coincide with the anniversary of Superman's debut inAction Comics #1 (1938).[251] Commentators highlighted the focus on Krypto and his relationship with Superman in the extended footage, and the behind-the-scenes footage's emphasis on Superman's hopefulness alongside the elaborate sets and costumes.[249][250][251] That May, DC Comics andMilk-Bone collaborated on the tie-in comicSuperman: A Friendship Unleashed featuring Superman and Krypto to cross-promote the film and the latter's dog biscuits.[252] The comic was also made available atSan Diego Comic Con that July.[253]
An official trailer was released on May 14, which Ray Flook atBleeding Cool called a "banger", highlighting its action, humor, and supporting DC characters. He said the trailer proved that Superman was "in the right hands" with Gunn's interpretation and that it was "definitely the Superman we need in our lives, now more than ever".[254]IGN's Wesley Yin-Poole highlighted Kent and Lane's relationship, and felt the trailer's interview highlighted the ethics of Superman's intervention in a foreign war, whichPolygon's Michael McWhertor also commented upon, noting that the trailer questioned if Superman's actions represented American values.[255][256] A prequel junior novel,Superman: Welcome to Metropolis, was released in early June, and explores the early career of Clark and Lois at theDaily Planet, the Justice Gang members, and features the characterMetallo.[257] A final trailer was released on June 11, one month before the film's release. Germain Lussier ofGizmodo called it the "most revealing trailer to date" and highlighted the trailer's visual effects and action sequences and its depiction of Luthor's hatred for Superman.[258]Total Film's George Marston speculated that Superman would be working both with and against the Justice Gang based on scenes of him collaborating with Mister Terrific and Gardner being at "odds with Superman", while Ernesto Valenzuela fromMovieWeb felt Luthor's initial monologue being "superseded" by Superman's "optimism" was a "brilliant way to construct this trailer".[259][260]
Superman producerPeter Safran promoting the film in Manila in June 2025
The first 30 minutes of the film were shown atCineEurope in Barcelona on June 17,[261][262] and inManila on June 19, as the start of the "Superman World Tour", which took place in seven major international cities leading up to the film's release.[263][264] Veda Luna Zabala atNylon Manila described the footage as "fun, colorful, and hopeful", and highlighted Hoult's performance.[263] An 11 feet (3.4 m) tall Superman statue modeled after Corenswet was suspended at the top ofthe Shard in London on July 1, encouraging pedestrians to "Look Up". This was the largest public sculpture to be displayed in the United Kingdom, and it took four months to craft.[265] 25 pop-upDaily Planet newsstand kiosks were also installed at multiple locations throughout London.[266] Warner Bros. hosted a fan event forSuperman on July 2, atCineworld Leicester Square in London.[267] The film partnered withFandango andAmazon Prime for early access theatrical screenings on July 8, which became Fandango's best-selling first-day presale tickets for that year, surpassing the general presale tickets for Marvel'sThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, also releasing that month.[268] TheLola CarsFormula E team ran a special livery based on the film for the2025 Berlin ePrix.[269]Funko andMcFarlane Toys are set to release action figures based on the film.[270][271]The Hollywood Reporter reported that DC Studios and Warner Bros. could spend approximately $200 million on marketing for a total cost around $400 million with the production budget,[183] thoughVariety reported that marketing cost $125 million.[148]
Leading up to the film's release and amid themass deportations duringthe second presidency of U.S. presidentDonald Trump, Gunn said that "Superman is the story of America" and "an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost."[272] This received backlash from some supporters of Trump and members of theMAGA movement, with some pundits onFox News calling the film "Superwoke", Gunn responded thatSuperman was for "everyone", explaining that it was "about kindness and I think that's something everyone can relate to".[273]
In January 2025, the estate of Superman co-creatorJoe Shuster filed a lawsuit against WBD, asserting that the rights to distribute the film in some international territories had reverted to them based on different copyright laws: the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia in 2017, and Canada in 2021.[279] Two months later, WBD filed amotion to dismiss the lawsuit, citingprior copyright lawsuits being rejected,[280] and it was dismissed in April, due to a lack of jurisdiction.[281] The lawsuit was refiled with theNew York Supreme Court a month later, with aninjunction requested,[282] but the motion was denied in early June.[283]
Home media
The film was released fordigital download on August 15, 2025,[284] and was released on the Warner Bros. streaming serviceHBO Max on September 19,[285] after a respective 35-day and a 70-day theatrical window,[286] followed byUltra HD Blu-ray,Blu-ray, andDVD on September 23. The home media releases include deleted scenes, a making-of documentary, a commentary by Gunn, and various featurettes.[284] Gunn saidSuperman was released early on digital platforms to allow audiences to watch the film before thesecond season ofPeacemaker (2025), which connects to the film.[287] The film accumulated 13 million global viewers within its first ten days on HBO Max, which was the highest amount for that period for a "pay-one" film on that service sinceBarbie in December 2023.Superman's streaming release also prompted increased viewership for other Superman films around that time, including the documentarySuper/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024), the 1978Superman film,Superman Returns (2006), andMan of Steel.[286]
Reception
Box office
Superman grossed $354.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $262.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $616.7 million.[3][4] According toVariety, the film is expected to earn a theatrical profit of approximately $125 million.[288]
At the start of June 2025,TheWrap estimated thatSuperman needed to gross more than $500 million worldwide to become profitable at the box office, but that it would need to earn around $700 million to be considered a success.[2]The Hollywood Reporter estimated that the film could have a domestic opening weekend of around $175 million and a potential global total of over $1 billion, based on the first full trailer's engagement metrics, while noting its production and marketing costs accounted for a total of around $400 million.[183] Three weeks ahead of the film's release,Superman was projected to earn $125–145 million or approximately $135 million in its domestic opening weekend, which would be higher than the debut ofMan of Steel ($116 million). DC Studios and Warner Bros. estimated a more conservative debut of $90–125 million, while the potential $175 million debut remained projected, which would surpass the debut ofBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166 million) as the biggest opening for a DC film.[289][290] In the week of release,Deadline Hollywood projected the film's domestic opening gross to be around $115–130 million.[291]
On July 10,Deadline Hollywood reported the film earned $2.8million from Tuesday previews for an estimated total $21million including Thursday previews.[292] Final Thursday previews would see the film make $22.5million, when counting both theatrical and Tuesday Amazon Prime screenings ($2.8million). This was, at the time, the best preview box office for any film released in the year 2025 beforeThe Fantastic Four: First Steps surpassed it two weeks later, as well as a record for any film involving Gunn.[293][292] This was also higher than the previous preview box office record Warner Bros. achieved withBarbie.[292] The film was now projected to make $115–$121million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend, and over $210million worldwide during this time as well.[294][292] The film made $56.5million on its first day, the second-highest of 2025, behindA Minecraft Movie.[295] It ended up debuting to $125million, finishing atop the box office, and becoming the biggest opening weekend for a standaloneSuperman film ahead ofMan of Steel, as well as the second-biggest opening weekend for a film featuring Superman, behindBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It also scored the third-highest opening weekend for a 2025 film, behindA Minecraft Movie andLilo & Stitch.[292] In its second weekend, the film remained in first place, grossing $57 million.[296] This marked a 54% drop, which was deemed better than other superhero films of 2025 up until that point, such asCaptain America: Brave New World (68%) andThunderbolts* (56%),[297] attributed to positive word-of-mouth, withComscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian pointing out that the film's second-weekend drop is "indicative of a marketplace that's embracing the film".[296] In its third weekend, the film was dethroned by newcomerThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, finishing second, earning $24.9 million, a 57% drop.[298][299] By the end of July,Superman became the first DC film sinceThe Batman (2022) to earn over $300 million domestically,[300] and in late August, it became the first DC film, also sinceThe Batman, to earn $600 million globally.[301] While still earning over $1million domestically in an already reducedwide release of 1,187 theatres in week nine, the film was cut back to 390 theatres in week 10, and pulled from domestic theatres after week 12.[3]
In its opening weekend, the film made an estimated $95 million from international markets, for a total gross of $220 million. The film's highest-grossing territories include the United Kingdom ($9.8 million), Mexico ($8.8 million), China ($6.6 million), Brazil ($5.9 million), Australia ($5.3 million), France ($4.2 million), Korea ($4.2 million), India ($3.8 million), Spain ($2.9 million) and Japan ($2.5 million).[302] Its perceived underperformance outside of the United States and Canada, particularly in markets like China, where it debuted in fourth place,[303] was partially attributed to the character's American patriotic roots, with David A. Gross from the FranchiseRe movie consulting firm stating "Superman has always been identified as a quintessentially American character and story, and in some parts of the world, America is currently not enjoying its greatest popularity".[304]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 83% of 497 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Pulling off the heroic feat of fleshing out a dynamic new world while putting its champion's big, beating heart front and center, thisSuperman flies high as a Man of Tomorrow grounded in the here and now."[305]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 68 out of 100, based on 58 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[306] Critics found the film to be fun, colorful, and earnest, although some felt it was overstuffed with characters and ideas. The performances of Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult were praised.[307][308][309] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, the same asMan of Steel. Those surveyed byPostTrak gave it an 86% positive score and 74% said they would definitely recommend it.[292]
IGN rated the film 8/10, calling it "wonderfully entertaining and heartfelt".[310] Scott Phillips ofForbes praised its colorful visuals, humor and lighthearted tone.[311] Trace Sauveur ofAwardsWatch welcomed its no‑origin‑story, no‑crossover approach.[312] Jake Cole ofSlant Magazine argued the character endures because he transcends passing trends.[313] Cody Dericks ofNext Best Picture felt the casting is as pitch‑perfect as Christopher Reeve's was decades ago.[314] Writing forNPR,Glen Weldon gave the film a positive review, stating that it "delivers a Superman deeply in touch with his humanity, and perfectly representative of the essence of the character."[315]
Liz Shannon Miller ofConsequence called it: "A movie that doesn't sacrifice its titular character in service to franchise-building. Instead, it focuses on celebrating the values that Superman himself has embodied from the beginning."[316] William Bibbiani ofTheWrap wrote: "James Gunn tried to make a great Superman movie, one that embraces the wonder of the character as an action hero and a moral paragon, which derives its drama from how people react to his faith in us. He succeeded."[317] Nicholas Barber atBBC Culture gave the film three stars out of five, and wrote: "It takes some gall to make a zillion-dollar Hollywood blockbuster that feels so much like an eccentric sci-fi B-movie."[318] Alissa Wilkinson ofThe New York Times called it a goofy yet charming take and compared it toIron Man (2008).[319]Variety'sOwen Gleiberman praised the performances and gave it a positive review.[320] David Crow ofDen of Geek said the film achieves "true grace" when it narrows its focus to Lois and Clark.[321]
Among more negative reviews,Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian gave the film two stars out of five, criticizing its "pointless, cluttered backstory" and "yet another CGI city‑leveling finale".[322] In a 2 out of 5 review forEmpire, Sophie Butcher described it as "bold and bright and full of color and cosmic invention" but added that "the final act sinks into CGI chaos, with an unsatisfying climax, an eye-roll-inducing reveal, a restlessly intermittent tone, and an insistence on prioritizing things and people we don't really care about over core characters."[323] Erik Kain gave the film two out of five forForbes, writing that the "massive" cast finds itself in an "overstuffed, badly-paced plot" and that "the story moves from one action sequence to the next, racing forward at a breakneck pace that leaves little room for character development."[324]Mark Kermode described the film as "tonally all over the place" and "messy", but that the film was "unexpectedly good fun" and overall enjoyable.[325]
The film features a war between the fictional nations of Boravia—an aggressor backed by Luthor and the United States—and its neighbor Jarhanpur, which some critics argue mirrors the real-world dynamics of theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict, particularly theGaza war that began in 2023. Gunn has maintained that the script predated the war and was not intended as an allegory.[326]
In June 2025, Gunn said he had begun writing a follow-up toSuperman that would not be a direct sequel, but would feature Superman in a major role.[329][330] Corenswet and Brosnahan hadoptions for a potential sequel, but followingSuperman's release in July, a direct sequel was not expected to be imminently announced.[148] In August, Zaslav confirmed that Gunn was writing and directing the next film in the "Super-Family",[331] which Gunn said he had finished writing ascript treatment for. He described it as the next story in the "Superman Saga" and hoped to begin production soon.[332] Gunn announced in September that the film was titledMan of Tomorrow and was scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. Corenswet and Hoult were expected to reprise their roles.[333] Gunn said he had finished a draft of the script.[334] He saidMan of Tomorrow was "as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie" and would include the pair working together against a bigger threat.[335] In November, the characterBrainiac was confirmed to serve as the film's antagonist.[336] Filming is scheduled to start in April 2026 in Atlanta.[336][335]
Also in July 2025, Gunn was reported to be considering spin-off television series based on supporting characters from the film, such as Gathegi's Mister Terrific and Gisondo's Jimmy Olsen.[337] The Olsen series was announced in November, whenDan Perrault and Tony Yacenda were revealed as the writers, executive producers, and showrunners, along with Gisondo reprising his role.[338][339] The series, which will debut on HBO Max,[339] is presented as atrue crime docuseries hosted by Olsen as he and otherDaily Planet reporters investigate super villains, withGorilla Grodd the focus for the first season.[338][339] The series was reportedly titledDC Crime,[339] but Gunn debunked this shortly after.[340]
^Campbell, Christopher (July 8, 2025)."Superman First Reviews: A Fun Comic Book Movie with Old-School Charm That Promises a Bright Future for the New DCU".Rotten Tomatoes.Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. RetrievedJuly 19, 2025.Critics say David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan shine together in James Gunn's colorful, earnest, emotionally rich adaptation that returns to the roots of the iconic character and gives fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the future... The movie is being praised for Corenswet's performance, his chemistry with co-star Rachel Brosnahan (as Lois Lane), and the comic-book-y plot and colorful visuals. If there's any problem with the movie, though, it might be too overcrowded with characters and ideas.
^Fuster, Jeremy (July 9, 2025)."'Superman' Box Office: Nobody in Hollywood Can Agree on How Big Opening Weekend Will Be".TheWrap.Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. RetrievedJuly 22, 2025.While some criticism was leveled at a narrative described as overstuffed with ideas and characters, praise has been heaped upon David Corenswet for his performance as an earnest, likable and slightly foolish Superman, as well as co-stars Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult as Lois Lane and Lex Luthor.
^Gleiberman, Owen (July 13, 2025)."How 'Superman' Inspired a Movie-Review War: When Is It Fair to Say That Too Much Fun Is No Fun at All?".Variety.Archived from the original on July 13, 2025. RetrievedJuly 19, 2025....when I look at the divided reviews ofSuperman, it's as if I'm taking in the response to two entirely different movies. One of them is a ripping good yarn, a brash, jaunty, clever, sweet, rooted-just-enough-in-the-real-world adventure that conjures some of the deadpan serial nuttiness of the Superman comics of the '60s and '70s. The otherSuperman, the one that's gotten kicked in the blue-spandex shins, is too fast, too frenetic, too snarky, too overstuffed, too empty of soul and emotion and conviction.
^Jorgensen, Tom (July 8, 2025)."Superman Review".IGN.Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. RetrievedJuly 9, 2025.
_poster.jpg)
_(1).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_Dec_2024.jpg){kind=icon}
