Adaptations of Superman in other media | |
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![]() Actors who have portrayed Superman: (top)Kirk Alyn,George Reeves,Christopher Reeve,John Haymes Newton, (middle)Gerard Christopher,Dean Cain,Tom Welling,Brandon Routh, (bottom)Henry Cavill,Tyler Hoechlin,Nicolas Cage, andDavid Corenswet | |
Created by | |
Original source | Comics published byDC Comics |
First appearance | Action Comics #1 (April1938) |
Films and television | |
Film(s) |
|
DC Comics'sSuperman franchise, based onthe character of the same name created byJerry Siegel andJoe Shuster in June 1938, has seen the release of various films since its inception.[1]
The character debuted in cinemas in a series ofanimated shorts beginning in 1941 and was the protagonist of twomovie serials in 1948 and 1950. An independent studio,Lippert Pictures, released the first Superman feature film,Superman and the Mole Men, starringGeorge Reeves, in 1951. In 1973, thefilm rights to the Superman character were purchased byIlya Salkind,Alexander Salkind, andPierre Spengler. After multiple scripts and several years in development,Richard Donner was hired as director, and he shot two films,Superman (1978) (marketed asSuperman: The Movie), andSuperman II (1980), at the same time, both starringChristopher Reeve. Donner had filmed 75 percent ofSuperman II before it was decided to suspend shooting on the first film. The Salkinds fired Donner afterSupermans release and commissionedRichard Lester as the director to finishSuperman II. Lester returned to directSuperman III (1983). The Salkinds also produced the spin-offSupergirl (1984). They then sold the rights toCannon Films, which produced the poorly reviewedSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). Ilya Salkind commissioned a fifthSuperman script before Warner Bros. acquired the rights in 1993.
Over the course of 11 years, Warner Bros. developed and canceled three projects:Tim Burton'sSuperman Lives, which would have starredNicolas Cage;Wolfgang Petersen'sBatman vs. Superman; and theJ. J. Abrams-scriptedSuperman: Flyby which went between directorsJoseph "McG" Nichols andBrett Ratner. In 2004, the studio hiredBryan Singer and releasedSuperman Returns in 2006, starringBrandon Routh. Donner'sdirector's cut forSuperman II was also released that year. Despite positive reviews, Warner Bros. was disappointed with the financial performance ofSuperman Returns, and canceled a sequel, which would have been released in 2009. The studio nearly started production of aJustice League film withGeorge Miller directing andD. J. Cotrona as Superman for a 2009 release, but it was shelved in 2008.
The film series wasrebooted in 2013 withMan of Steel, directed byZack Snyder withHenry Cavill starring as Superman.Man of Steel launched what became known as theDC Extended Universe (DCEU). Cavill next appeared as Superman in the DCEU filmsBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) andJustice League (2017) (both again directed by Snyder), and in the director's cut ofJustice League,Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021); he then made acameo appearance in themid-credits scene ofBlack Adam (2022).The Flash (2023) featured Superman cameos portrayed by Henry Cavill, Nicolas Cage, George Reeves, and Christopher Reeve.Sasha Calle, along withHelen Slater, appeared as Supergirl in the film.
The series was once again rebooted withSuperman (2025), withDavid Corenswet as Superman. The film was written and directed byJames Gunn and is the first film of theDC Universe (DCU).Milly Alcock portrayed Supergirl in the film, and is set to reprise the role in the upcomingSupergirl (2026).
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Film | U.S. release date | Director | Lead | Story by | Screenplay by | Produced by | Music by | Distributor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early films | ||||||||
Superman serial | January 5, 1948 (1948-01-05) | Spencer Gordon Bennet andThomas Carr | Kirk Alyn | Lewis Clay, Royal K. Cole,Arthur Hoerl,George H. Plympton andJoseph F. Poland | Sam Katzman | Mischa Bakaleinikoff | Columbia Pictures | |
Atom Man vs. Superman serial | July 20, 1950 (1950-07-20) | Spencer Gordon Bennet | David Mathews, George H. Plympton and Joseph F. Poland | |||||
Superman and the Mole-Men | November 6, 1951 (1951-11-06) | Lee Sholem | George Reeves | Robert J. Maxwell andWhitney Ellsworth (collectively credited under the pseudonym "Richard Fielding") | Barney A. Sarecky | Darrell Calker | Lippert Pictures | |
1978-2006 film series | ||||||||
Superman | December 15, 1978 (1978-12-15) | Richard Donner | Christopher Reeve | Mario Puzo | Mario Puzo,David Newman,Leslie Newman andRobert Benton | Pierre Spengler | John Williams | Warner Bros.(US) Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors(UK) |
Superman II | June 19, 1981 (1981-06-19) | Richard Donner andRichard Lester | Mario Puzo, David Newman, and Leslie Newman | Ken Thorne | ||||
Superman III | June 17, 1983 (1983-06-17) | Richard Lester | David Newman and Leslie Newman | Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler | ||||
Supergirl | November 21, 1984 (1984-11-21) | Jeannot Szwarc | Helen Slater | David Odell | Timothy Burrill | Jerry Goldsmith | Tri-Star Pictures(US) Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors(UK) | |
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace | July 24, 1987 (1987-07-24) | Sidney J. Furie | Christopher Reeve | Lawrence Konner,Mark Rosenthal and Christopher Reeve | Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal | Menahem Golan andYoram Globus | John Williams Alexander Courage | Warner Bros.(US) Columbia-Cannon-Warner Distributors(UK) |
Superman Returns | June 28, 2006 (2006-06-28) | Bryan Singer | Brandon Routh | Michael Dougherty,Dan Harris and Bryan Singer | Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris | Jon Peters, Bryan Singer andGilbert Adler | John Ottman | Warner Bros. |
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut | November 28, 2006 (2006-11-28) | Richard Donner | Christopher Reeve | Mario Puzo, David Newman, and Leslie Newman | Mario Puzo | Pierre Spengler | John Williams | |
DC Extended Universe films | ||||||||
Man of Steel | June 14, 2013 (2013-06-14) | Zack Snyder | Henry Cavill | David S. Goyer andChristopher Nolan | David S. Goyer | Christopher Nolan,Charles Roven,Emma Thomas andDeborah Snyder | Hans Zimmer | Warner Bros. |
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | March 25, 2016 (2016-03-25) | Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer | Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder | Hans Zimmer Junkie XL | ||||
Justice League | November 17, 2017 (2017-11-17) | Zack Snyder andJoss Whedon[a] | Zack Snyder & Chris Terrio | Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon | Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg andGeoff Johns | Danny Elfman | ||
Zack Snyder's Justice League | March 18, 2021 (2021-03-18) | Zack Snyder | Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio andWill Beall | Chris Terrio | Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder | Junkie XL | HBO Max | |
DC Universe films | ||||||||
Superman | July 11, 2025 (2025-07-11) | James Gunn | David Corenswet | James Gunn | James Gunn andPeter Safran | John Murphy David Fleming | Warner Bros. | |
Supergirl | June 26, 2026 (2026-06-26) | Craig Gillespie | Milly Alcock | Ana Nogueira | TBA |
TheDC Universe Animated Original Movies is adirect-to-video animated film series that often features Superman in a leading or supporting role.
Superman first appeared in cinemas in a 17-part series of theatricalanimated shorts, between 1941 and 1943. They were released byParamount Pictures. Of those 17 shorts, 9 were produced byFleischer Studios, and the further 8 by its successor,Famous Studios.[11] Superman was voiced byBud Collyer (who also played Superman onThe Adventures of Superman radio series) for the Fleischer-produced shorts and Lee Royce for the Famous-produced shorts.[12]
# | Title | Original release date |
---|---|---|
Fleischer Studios | ||
1. | Superman | September 26, 1941 |
2. | The Mechanical Monsters | November 28, 1941 |
3. | Billion Dollar Limited | January 9, 1942 |
4. | The Arctic Giant | February 27, 1942 |
5. | The Bulleteers | March 27, 1942 |
6. | The Magnetic Telescope | April 24, 1942 |
7. | Electric Earthquake | May 15, 1942 |
8. | Volcano | July 10, 1942 |
9. | Terror on the Midway | August 28, 1942 |
Famous Studios | ||
10. | Japoteurs | September 18, 1942 |
11. | Showdown | October 16, 1942 |
12. | Eleventh Hour | November 20, 1942 |
13. | Destruction, Inc. | December 25, 1942 |
14. | The Mummy Strikes | February 19, 1943 |
15. | Jungle Drums | March 26, 1943 |
16. | The Underground World | June 18, 1943 |
17. | Secret Agent | July 30, 1943 |
The first appearance of Superman in live-action film was inSuperman (1948), a 15-partfilm serial fromColumbia Pictures, starringKirk Alyn as the titular character (uncredited),Noel Neill asLois Lane, andTommy Bond asJimmy Olsen.[13]
The 1948Superman was followed up byAtom Man vs. Superman, another 15-part serial from Columbia Pictures, the first installment of which was released in 1950. The serial featured the same main cast including Kirk Alyn as Superman, with the addition ofLyle Talbot asLex Luthor, also known as the "Atom Man".
Shot on a low budget,Lee Sholem'sSuperman and the Mole Men (1951) served as a trial run for the syndicated TV seriesAdventures of Superman (airing 1952–58), for which the 1951 film became a two-partpilot episode titled "The Unknown People".[14]
Both the film and the subsequent TV series starredGeorge Reeves as Superman. Lois Lane, on the other hand, was played byPhyllis Coates in the film and the first season of the show, but was re-cast in later seasons with Noel Neill (who also played the character in the previous Kirk Alyn films). The film was produced byBarney Sarecky with the original screenplay by Richard Fielding (apseudonym forRobert Maxwell andWhitney Ellsworth).[14][15]
In 1954, the short filmStamp Day for Superman was produced for theU.S. Treasury to promote "Stamp Day", featuring Reeves and Neill.
In 1973, producerIlya Salkind convinced his fatherAlexander to buy the film rights to Superman. They hiredMario Puzo to pen a two-film script and negotiated withSteven Spielberg to direct, though Alexander eventually landed on Richard Donner.Superman (1978) andSuperman II (1980) were shot simultaneously.
Guy Hamilton was hired to direct, withMarlon Brando andGene Hackman signing on to playJor-El andLex Luthor, respectively. With pre-production taking place inRome, complication arose when it was discovered that Brando could not film in Italy as he faced an obscenity lawsuit overLast Tango in Paris (1972). As a result, production would subsequently move to England in late 1976, but Hamilton was unable to shoot in England as he hadviolated his tax payments.[16][17] To replace Hamilton, the Salkinds hiredRichard Donner, who in turn brought onTom Mankiewicz to polish the script, giving it a serious feel with Christ-like overtones.[18]
There was a lengthy search for a lead, and a number of famous figures turned down the role, includingRobert Redford andBurt Reynolds. Eventually,Christopher Reeve was cast, and underwent an exercise regimen to bulk up, gaining 24 pounds (11 kg) before filming.[19]Margot Kidder was cast as Lois Lane.
With a budget of US$55 million, the 1978Superman was themost expensive film made up to that point.[20] It was a success both critically and commercially.[21]
Despite the success of 1978'sSuperman, director Richard Donner did not return to finish its sequel. Evidently, production of both films were marred by Donner's bad relationship with the Salkinds, for whichRichard Lester acted as mediator.[18]
With the film[specify] going over budget, the filmmakers decided to temporarily cease production ofSuperman II altogether, moving its climax into the first film.[18] Eventually, it was completed with Lester, who gave it a moretongue-in-cheek tone relative to the first film. Nonetheless,Superman II was another financial and critical success, despite stiff competition withRaiders of the Lost Ark the same year.
In 2006, after many requests for his own version ofSuperman II, Donner and producer Michael Thau produced their owncut and released it on November 28 that year. TheDonner Cut received positive response from critics[22] as well as from the stars of the original film; according to the studio, the cut made Donner "the first director in history to be able to complete a film he left during production with nearly all his footage in the can".[23]
For the third installment, Ilya Salkind wrote a treatment that expanded the film's scope to a cosmic scale, introducing villainsBrainiac andMister Mxyzptlk, as well asSupergirl.[18]Warner Bros., however, rejected and retooled the script into their own film,[18] trimming Brainiac down into the film's evil "ultimate computer". The final product co-starred comedianRichard Pryor as computer geniusGus Gorman, who is manipulated into making fakeKryptonite that corrupts Superman.[24]
Despite its success, fans were disappointed, in particular with Pryor's performance diluting the serious tone of the previous films, as well as controversy over the depiction of the evil Superman.[18] Salkind's rejected proposal was eventually released online in 2007.[18]
Along with gaining the film rights to Superman, Alexander and Ilya Salkind also purchased the rights to the character of Superman's cousin,Supergirl.[25]
Supergirl was released in 1984 as a spin-off of the Reeve films; Reeve was slated to have acameo but he ultimately backed out, though his likeness appears in a photo.[26] It starsHelen Slater in her first motion picture in the title role, withFaye Dunaway (who received topbilling) playing the primary villain,Selena, along withMarc McClure reprising his role asJimmy Olsen.[27]
Although the film received mostly negative reviews from critics and fared poorly at the box office,[28] Slater was nominated for aSaturn Award for her performance.[29]
Cannon Films picked up an option for a fourth film, directed bySidney J. Furie, with Reeve reprising the role due to his interest in the film's topic regarding nuclear weapons. Several others reprised their roles as well, including Kidder (Lois Lane) and Hackman (Lex Luthor). Cannon decided to cut the budget, resulting in poor special effects and heavy re-editing, which contributed to the film's poor reception.[18]
Although the film was a minor financial success, Warner Bros. decided to end the series, following the mixed to negative reception of the last two films.[18]
Following several unsuccessful attempts to reboot the franchise,Bryan Singer, who was said to be a childhood fan ofthe 1978 film, was approached by Warner Brothers to direct a new Superman film. He accepted, abandoning two films already in pre-production,X-Men: The Last Stand (which would come to be directed byBrett Ratner) and a remake ofLogan's Run. To work on the film, Singer brought his entire crew fromX2.[30]
For the lead role,Brandon Routh was chosen in part because of his resemblance toChristopher Reeve; in fact, Routh had been signed by his manager several years earlier due to this resemblance. Singer followedRichard Donner's lead in casting a relatively unknown actor as the titular character and more high-profile actors in supporting roles, such asKevin Spacey asLex Luthor. Through digitally-enhancedarchive footage,Marlon Brando, who had died in 2004, appears in the film asJor-El.[30]
As backstory, the film uses the events of the 1978 film andSuperman II,[31][32] while ignoring the events ofSuperman III andSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace and its spin-offSupergirl.[31] Singer's story tells of Superman's return to Earth following a 5-year search for survivors ofKrypton. He discovers that, in his absence,Lois Lane has given birth to a son and become engaged.[30]
Superman Returns received positive reviews and grossed approximately US$391 million worldwide.
In June 2008,Warner Bros. tookpitches from comic book writers, screenwriters and directors on how to restart theSuperman film series.[33] During story discussions forThe Dark Knight Rises in 2008,David S. Goyer, aware that Warner Bros. was planning aSuperman reboot, toldChristopher Nolan his idea on how to present Superman in a modern context. Impressed with Goyer's concept, Nolan pitched the idea to the studio in February 2010,[34] who hired Nolan to produce and Goyer to write[35] based on the financial and critical success ofThe Dark Knight.[36] Nolan admired Singer's work onSuperman Returns for its connection toRichard Donner's version, and previously used the1978 film as casting inspiration forBatman Begins.Zack Snyder was hired as the film's director in October. Principal photography started in August 2011 inWest Chicago, Illinois, before moving toVancouver andPlano, Illinois. The film starsHenry Cavill asKal-El / Clark Kent / Superman,Amy Adams asLois Lane,Michael Shannon asGeneral Zod,Diane Lane asMartha Kent,Kevin Costner asJonathan Kent,Laurence Fishburne asPerry White, andRussell Crowe asJor-El. The film was released in June 2013.
David S. Goyer and Zack Snyder respectively wrote and directedBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), a follow-up toMan of Steel and the second film in the DC Extended Universe.[37][38] Christopher Nolan returned as producer, albeit in a lesser role than he had in the first film.[39] Goyer stated at the Superman 75th Anniversary Panel at the 2013San Diego Comic-Con that Batman and Superman would battle, and titles under consideration wereSuperman Vs Batman andBatman Vs Superman.[40] Over the next six months,Ben Affleck (asBatman),[41]Gal Gadot (asWonder Woman),[42]Jesse Eisenberg (asLex Luthor) andJeremy Irons (asAlfred Pennyworth)[43] were added to the cast. All have since appeared in other DCEU films as well.
The film was released on March 25, 2016; initially was slated to July 2015, but was delayed in order to give the filmmakers "time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story".[44]
Shortly after filming had finished forMan of Steel, Warner Bros hiredWill Beall to script a newJustice League film in June 2012.[45] With the release ofMan of Steel in June 2013, Goyer was hired to write a newJustice League script, with the Beall draft being scrapped.[46] Zack Snyder was hired to direct Goyer'sJustice League script.[47] Warner Bros. was reportedly courtingChris Terrio to rewriteJustice League, after having been impressed with his rewrite ofBatman v Superman.[48] During post-production of the film, Zack Snyder left the film due to the death of his daughter.[49]Joss Whedon took over the project and wrote and directed reshoots.[49]
The divisive reaction toward the theatrical cut ofJustice League, with Zack Snyder leaving directorial duties and the theatrical cut of the film in the hands of Joss Whedon, led to an argument comparing the situation to the one experienced by the filmSuperman II. BothJustice League andSuperman II had a director who was replaced before the completion of the film (for different reasons), which led to a second director coming in and making substantial changes to the tone of the film. Richard Donner was able to complete his cut ofSuperman II in 2005.[50] In the belief that Snyder had shot enough material for a finished film, a campaign for a "Snyder Cut" began online, to allow Snyder to receive a similar treatment to Donner. Arguments were made that Snyder's vision would be more cohesive to the previous films than the actual theatrical cut, which Snyder has not yet seen. Warner Bros. initially remained silent regarding any intention of making a "Snyder Cut".[51]
In March 2019, Snyder confirmed his original cut did exist, and stated that it was up to Warner Bros. to release it.[52] In November,Variety reported that Warner Bros. was unlikely to release Snyder's version ofJustice League in theaters or onHBO Max, calling it a "pipe dream".[53] In December, however, Snyder posted a photo on hisVero account, which showed boxes with tapes labeled "Z.S. J.L Director's cut", and with the caption "Is it real? Does it exist? Of course it does".[54] In May 2020, Snyder officially announced his cut ofJustice League for HBO Max for 2021 release date.[55] The cut cost $70+ million to complete the special effects, musical score, editing, and additional shooting. Initially the cut was planned to be a four partminiseries, but was instead eventually released as a four-hour film.[56][57][58][59][60] Snyder said that this version is non-canonical to DC Extended Universe continuity, existing in a slightly alternate universe.[61]Jason Momoa, however, said thatJames Wan'sAquaman (2018) takes place afterZack Snyder's Justice League rather than Whedon's version,[62] whileWonder Woman (2017) directorPatty Jenkins said that no DC director considers Whedon'sJustice League canonical, and that she had worked with Snyder to ensureWonder Woman maintained continuity with his film.[63]
In October 2022, filmmakerJames Gunn and producerPeter Safran were appointed to serve as the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of the then-newly formedDC Studios to develop plans for a new DC shared universe slate. Gunn stated in December that Superman was a huge priority for the studio,[70] and announced that he was writing a new Superman film that would focus on a younger version of the character,[71] who would be depicted as a cub reporter interacting with key characters such asLois Lane.[72] As such,Henry Cavill was not expected to return, although Gunn and Safran met with the actor to discuss potentially working together in the future,[71] including potentially portraying a different character.[72] There was potential for Gunn to also direct the film,[71] which was not expected to be anorigin story for the character.[73] The film's title was revealed to beSuperman: Legacy in January 2023, with Gunn describing it as the "true start" to the studio's overarching narrative of the new DCU franchise and is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025.[74] In June,David Corenswet was cast as Superman, andRachel Brosnahan was cast as Lois Lane.[75] In July,Isabela Merced,Edi Gathegi, andNathan Fillion were cast asHawkgirl,Mister Terrific, andGuy Gardner respectively.Anthony Carrigan was cast asMetamorpho right after.[76] In November,Nicholas Hoult was cast to play Lex Luthor.[77] By February 2024, the film had been retitled toSuperman. A first look at Superman'ssuit emblem was also released,[78] visually referencingSuperman's appearance inDC Comics'Kingdom Come comic book miniseries.
In January 2023, James Gunn announced a standalone film featuring the characterSupergirl set in the new DCU franchise, which would derive significantly from theSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow miniseries by writerTom King. BothSuperman (2025) andSupergirl will be part of Chapter 1 of the DCU which is titled asGods and Monsters.[79] In November,Ana Nogueira was set to write the screenplay.[80] In January 2024,Milly Alcock was cast as Supergirl to debut in another DCU project, reported to beSuperman.[81]Craig Gillespie entered talks to direct the film in April 2024, and was confirmed as director the next month when the film was given its release date. Filming took place from January to May 2025 and is scheduled to release theatrically on June 26, 2026.[82][83]
Before the failure ofSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace,Cannon Films considered producing a fifth film withAlbert Pyun as director. Cannon's bankruptcy resulted in the film rights reverting toIlya andAlexander Salkind.[85] The story hadSuperman dying and being resurrected in the shrunken, bottledKrypton city ofKandor.[86] The premise of Superman's death and rebirth coincidentally predated 1992 "The Death of Superman" comic book storyline.
"In any good Superman movie, the fate of the whole planet should be at stake. You've got to have villains whose powers and abilities demand that Superman (and only Superman) can be the one who stops them. That's the only way to make the movie exciting and a dramatic challenge".
With the success of "The Death of Superman" comic book storyline,Warner Bros. purchased the film rights of Superman from the Salkinds in 1993, and hired producerJon Peters to develop a new Superman film. Peters in turn hiredJonathan Lemkin to write a new script.[87]: 188 Major toy companies insisted on seeing Lemkin's screenplay before the deadline of the 1993American International Toy Fair.[87]: 188
Lemkin's script in March 1995,[88] titledSuperman Reborn, featuredLois Lane and Clark Kent with relationship troubles, and Superman's battle withDoomsday. When Superman professes his love to Lois, his life force jumps between them just as he dies, giving Lois avirgin birth. Their child, who grows to adulthood in three weeks, becomes the resurrected Superman and saves the world.[87]: 188–189 Warner Brothers did not like the script because of the similar underlyingthemes withBruce Wayne's obligations of heroism found inBatman Forever (1995).[87]: 189 [89]
To rewrite Lemkin's text, Peters hiredGregory Poirier,[87]: 189 whose December 1995 script[90] hadBrainiac creating Doomsday, infused with "Kryptonite blood". In Poirier's script, Superman has romance problems with Lois Lane and visits apsychiatrist before he is killed by Doomsday. An alien named Cadmus, a victim of Brainiac, steals his corpse. Superman is resurrected and teams with Cadmus to defeat Brainiac. Powerless, Superman wears a robotic suit until his powers—which, according to the script, are a mental discipline called "Phin-yar"—return.[87]: 189 At Peters' request, Poirier had Superman wear an all-black suit at the end of the script.[87]: 189 Other villains includedParasite andSilver Banshee.[85] Though Poirier's script impressed Warner Brothers,[89]Kevin Smith was hired to rewrite;[91] Smith thought that Poirier's script did not respect the Superman mythos properly.[87]: 189
Kevin Smith pitched Jon Peters his story outline in late 1996, and he was allowed to write the screenplay under certain conditions:[87]
Smith accepted the terms, realizing that he was being hired to execute a preordained idea.[87]: 190 Peters would go on to insist further additions:
Smith's script, titledSuperman Lives, had Brainiac sending Doomsday to kill Superman, as well as blocking out the sun to make Superman powerless, as Superman is fueled by sunlight. Brainiac teams up withLex Luthor, but Superman is resurrected by a Kryptonian robot, theEradicator. Brainiac wishes to possess the Eradicator and its technology. Powerless, the resurrected Superman is sheathed in a robotic suit formed from the Eradicator itself until his powers return, courtesy of sunbeams, and defeats Brainiac.[92] Smith's casting choices includedBen Affleck as Clark Kent/Superman,Linda Fiorentino as Lois Lane,Jack Nicholson as Lex Luthor,Famke Janssen asMercy Graves,John Mahoney asPerry White,David Hyde Pierce as the Eradicator,Jason Lee as Brainiac, andJason Mewes asJimmy Olsen.[93] Affleck would go on to portray Superman actorGeorge Reeves in the 2006 filmHollywoodland, and Batman in theDC Extended Universe, beginning withBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016.
Robert Rodriguez was offered the chance to direct, but turned down the offer due to his commitment onThe Faculty (1998), despite liking Smith's script.[87]: 191
Smith originally suggestedTim Burton to direct his script,[91] and Burton signed on with apay-or-play contract of $5 million. Warner Bros. originally planned on a theatrical release date for summer 1998, the 60th anniversary of the character's debut inAction Comics.[89]Nicolas Cage, a comic book fan, signed on as Superman with a $20 million pay-or-play contract, believing he could "reconceive the character".[87]: 192 Peters also felt Cage could "convince audiences he [Superman] came from outer space".[94] Burton explained Cage's casting would be "the first time you would believe that nobody could recognize Clark Kent as Superman, he [Cage] could physically change his persona".[95]Kevin Spacey was approached for the role of Lex Luthor,[95] whileChristopher Walken was Burton's choice for Brainiac,[96] a role also considered forJim Carrey andGary Oldman.Sandra Bullock,Courteney Cox andJulianne Moore had been approached for Lois Lane, whileChris Rock was cast as Jimmy Olsen.[96]Michael Keaton confirmed his involvement, but when asked if he would be reprising his role asBruce Wayne / Batman from Burton'sBatman films, he would only reply, "Not exactly".[97]
Filming was originally set to begin in early 1998.[98]
In the summer of 1997,Superman Lives entered pre-production,[87]: 193 with an art department employed under production designerRick Heinrichs.[95] Burton hiredWesley Strick to rewrite Smith's script, which disappointed Smith, who commented:
The studio was happy with what I was doing. Then Tim Burton got involved, and when he signed his pay-or-play deal, he turned around and said he wanted to do his version of Superman. So who is Warner Bros. going back to? The guy who madeClerks, or the guy who made them half a billion dollars onBatman?[87]: 193
When Strick read Smith's script, he was annoyed with the fact that "Superman was accompanied/shadowed by someone/something called the Eradicator".[87]: 193 He also felt that "Brainiac's evil plot of launching a disk in space to block out the sun and make Superman powerless was reminiscent ofan episode ofThe Simpsons, withMr. Burns doing the Brainiac role".[87]: 193 After readingThe Death and Return of Superman, Strick was able to understand some of the elements of Smith's script. Strick's rewrite featured Superman as anexistentialist, thinking of himself to be an outsider on Earth. Superman is threatened by Brainiac and Lex Luthor, who lateramalgamate into "Lexiac", described by Strick as "a schizo/scary mega-villain".[87]: 193 Superman is later resurrected by the power of 'K', a natural force representing the spirit of Krypton, as he defeats Lexiac.[87]: 193
Art designer Sylvain Despretz claimed the art department was assigned to create something that had little or nothing to do with the Superman comic book, and also explained that Peters "would bring kids in, who would rate the drawings on the wall as if they were evaluating the toy possibilities. It was basically a toy show".[87]: 196 Peters saw a cover ofNational Geographic, containing a picture of a skull, going to art department workers, telling them he wanted the design for Brainiac's spaceship to have the same image. Burton gave Despretz a concept drawing for Brainiac, which Despretz claims was "a cone with a round ball on top, and something that looked like an emaciated skull inside. Imagine you takeMerlin's hat, and you stick a fish bowl on top, with a skull in it".[87]: 196 Concept artist Rolf Mohr said in an interview that he designed a suit for the Eradicator for a planned scene in which it transforms into a flying vehicle.[99]
"We got the Kevin Smith script, but we were told not to read it, because they knew he wasn't going to stay on the movie. So we used Kevin Smith's script as a guide to the sets we might be doing, and we waited and waited for the new script to come in, but it never did".
Burton chosePittsburgh, Pennsylvania as his primary filming location forMetropolis,[87]: 197 while start dates for filming were pushed back.[89] A minor piece of the Krypton set was constructed but then destroyed, and Cage had even attended a costume fitting.[100]
The studio was also considering changing the titleSuperman Lives back toSuperman Reborn.[101] Deeming Wesley Strick's script too expensive, Warner Bros. enlisted the help ofDan Gilroy to rewrite it into something more economically feasible. Gilroy lowered the $190 million budget set by Strick's draft to $100 million, but the studio was still less willing to fast track production, due to financial reasons with other film properties, having Gilroy turn in two drafts.[102]
In April 1998 Warner Bros. ultimately chose to put the film on hold;[89] at this point in production, the studio had spent $30 million on developing the film.[87]: 198 Burton, having left to directSleepy Hollow (1999), cited various differences with Peters and the studio: "I basically wasted a year. A year is a long time to be working with somebody that you don't really want to be working with".[103]
Disappointed by the lack of progress on the film's production, aspiring screenwriter/comic book fan Alex Ford was able to have a script of his (titledSuperman: The Man of Steel) accepted at the studio's offices in September 1998. Ford pitched his idea for a film series consisting of seven installments, and his approach impressed Warner Bros. and Peters, though he was later given a farewell due to creative differences.[85] Ford said:
I can tell you they don't know much about comics. Their audience isn't you and me who pay $7.00. It's for the parents who spend $60 on toys and lunchboxes. It is a business, and what's more important, the $150 million at the box office or the $600 million in merchandising?[102]
With Gilroy's script, Peters offered the director's position toMichael Bay,Shekhar Kapur andMartin Campbell, though they all turned down the offer.[85]Brett Ratner turned down the option in favor ofThe Family Man.[104]Simon West andStephen Norrington were reportedly top contenders as well.[citation needed] In June 1999,William Wisher Jr. was hired to write a new script, and Cage assisted on story elements.[105] Cage dropped out of the project in June 2000, while Wisher turned in a new script in August, reported to have contained similar elements withThe Matrix.[85]Oliver Stone was then approached to direct Wisher's script, but declined.[85] Peters offeredWill Smith the role of Superman, but the actor turned it down over concerns hisethnicity could result in him facing retaliation from the film industry for taking the role.[106]
The film's backstory was covered in the 2015 documentary filmThe Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?.[107] Kevin Smith would go on to direct the ninth episode of the second season ofSupergirl, which was titled "Supergirl Lives" as homage toSuperman Lives.[108]
In November 2016, Kevin Smith said that he was open to having theSuperman Lives script be adapted as an animated film, with Nicolas Cage voicing Superman andMichael Rooker voicing Lex Luthor.[109] The following year,Batman vs. Two-Face writerMichael Jelenic revealed that he originally pitched an animated film based on Smith'sSuperman Lives script, saying that Warner Bros seriously considered it for a long time.[110] According to Jelenic, Cage would have loved to voice Superman in the film, but the idea never materialized and his pitch was abandoned.[111]
Cage was ultimately cast to voice Superman in the animated filmTeen Titans Go! To the Movies, based on theTeen Titans Go! cartoon show, which was released in July 2018.[112] In 2019, Cage was approached to play Superman, in live-action form, byMarc Guggenheim and the producers of theArrowverse five-partcrossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths", which aired from December 2019 to January 2020, but Cage's inclusion was ultimately dropped for unknown reasons.[113] In 2023, Cage made a cameo as Superman inThe Flash, directed byAndy Muschietti.[114] The film includes a scene rendered through computer-generated imagery where Cage as Superman, exactly as he looks in the 90s test footage, fights a robotic spider, as an homage to the demand that Jon Peters gave to Kevin Smith.[115][116]
In the early 2000s, Warner Bros. wanted toreboot the Superman film series with an origin story and ignore "The Death of Superman" storyline that had been stuck indevelopment limbo through the late 1990s.[117]
In 2001, screenwriterPaul Attanasio was almost signed to pen a new script for producer Jon Peters;[118] althoughMcG being widely reported as attached to Attanasio'sSuperman script, which wasgreenlit, he dropped out in favor ofCharlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003).[119] Ultimately,Andrew Kevin Walker was hired in August that year after pitching Warner Bros. an idea titledBatman vs. Superman, attachingWolfgang Petersen as director.[120]
In February 2002, filmmakerJ. J. Abrams was hired to write a new screenplay for a stand-alone Superman film,[121] going under the title ofSuperman: Flyby,[85][122] again approaching Petersen to direct.[123] In July, Abrams turned in his script, designed to be the first of a trilogy.Lorenzo di Bonaventura—Warner Bros' executive vice president for worldwide motion pictures—though liking Abrams' script, nonetheless planned to releaseBatman vs Superman first. Abrams' script was thereby put on hold in favor of Walker'sBatman vs. Superman idea.[124][123]
Walker's draft was thought of as too dark by the studio, who hiredAkiva Goldsman to do a rewrite, which was codenamedAsylum.[125][126] Goldsman's draft,[127] dated June 21, 2002, introduced Bruce Wayne attempting to shake all of the demons in his life after his 5-year retirement from crime-fighting.Dick Grayson,Alfred Pennyworth, andCommissioner Gordon are all dead. Meanwhile, Clark Kent is down on his luck and in despair after his divorce from Lois Lane. Clark serves as Bruce's best man at his wedding to the beautiful and lovely Elizabeth Miller. After Elizabeth is killed by theJoker at the honeymoon, Bruce is forced to don theBatsuit once more, tangling a plot which involves Lex Luthor, while Clark begins a romance withLana Lang inSmallville and tries to pull Bruce back. In return, Bruce blames Clark for her death, and the two go against one another, prodded on by Lex Luthor. After Batman decides not to succumb to his rage, the two team up, stop Luthor in his mechanized suit and an incoming meteor storm.[128] The studio wantedJohnny Depp asBatman andJosh Hartnett as Superman.[129]
Christian Bale, who was being considered for the lead inDarren Aronofsky'sBatman: Year One adaptation at the time (another canceled film),[130] was simultaneously approached by Petersen for the Batman role. Petersen confirmed in a 2010 interview that the only actor he approached for Superman was Josh Hartnett.[131] Warner Bros canceled development to focus on individual Superman and Batman projects after Abrams submitted another draft forSuperman: Flyby.[126]Christopher Nolan cast Bale as Batman the following year inBatman Begins.
In the opening scene ofI Am Legend, a large banner displays the Superman symbol within the Batman symbol inTimes Square. It is meant as anin-joke by writer Goldsman, who wrote the scripts for bothBatman vs. Superman andI Am Legend.[132]
Turning in his script in July 2002, J. J. Abrams'Superman: Man of Steel, commonly referred to asSuperman: Flyby, was an origin story that included Krypton besieged by a civil war betweenJor-El and his corrupt brother Kata-Zor. Before Kata-Zor sentences Jor-El to prison, Kal-El is launched to Earth to fulfill a prophecy. Adopted byJonathan and Martha Kent, he forms a romance with Lois Lane in theDaily Planet. Lois however is more concerned with exposing Lex Luthor, written as a government agent obsessed withUFO phenomena. Clark reveals himself to the world as Superman, bringing Kata-Zor's son, Ty-Zor, and three other Kryptonians to Earth. Superman is defeated and killed, and visits Jor-El (who committed suicide on Krypton while in prison) in Kryptonian heaven. Resurrected, he returns to Earth and defeats the four Kryptonians. The script ends with Superman flying off to Krypton in a spaceship.[85]
Brett Ratner was hired to direct in September 2002, originally expressing an interest in casting an unknown for the lead role, while filming was to start sometime in late 2003.[133]Christopher Reeve joined as project consultant, citingTom Welling, who portrayed the teenage Clark Kent inSmallville, as an ideal candidate. Reeve added that "the character is more important than the actor who plays him, because it is an enduring mythology. It definitely should be an unknown".[134] Ratner approached Josh Hartnett,Jude Law,Paul Walker andBrendan Fraser for Superman, but conceded that finding a famous actor for the title role had proven difficult because of contractual obligations to appear in sequels: "No star wants to sign that, but as much as I've told Jude and Josh my vision for the movie, I've warned them of the consequences of being Superman. They'll live this character for 10 years because I'm telling one story over three movies and plan to direct all three if the first is as successful as everyone suspects".[135] Hartnett in particular was offered $100 million for a three-picture deal, but turned it down as he didn't want his life be "shallowed up" by his work.[136][137] Walker tested for the role and seriously considered taking it, but later declined it and as well the $10 million deal as he felt it wasn't for him.[138] He would later explained that "I could have made a gazillion dollars on that franchise. I could probably have bought my own fleet of jets or my own island. You know what? I don't need it".[139] Law immediately felt he was wrong for the part upon putting on the costume, admitting that it was a "step too far".[140]David Boreanaz,Victor Webster[141] andAshton Kutcher auditioned, along withKeri Russell as Lois Lane,[142] but Kutcher decided not to pursue the role, citing scheduling conflicts withThat '70s Show, theSuperman curse and fear of typecasting,[143] while Boreanaz had to back out due to obligations withAngel.[141]James Marsden stated in a 2006 interview that at one point he was approached by Ratner.[144] Although it was never formally announced,Matt Bomer confirmed that he was in the running for the lead role, being Ratner's preferred choice at the time. Bomer would later voice the character in the 2013 animated filmSuperman: Unbound.[145] Bomer later felt that the reason he ultimately did not get the role was due to him coming out as gay.[146]Amy Adams had also auditioned for Lois Lane, and would eventually win the role eight years later when she was cast inMan of Steel.[147]
Superman: Man of Steel was being met with a budget exceeding $200 million, not including money spent onSuperman Reborn,Superman Lives andBatman vs. Superman, but Warner Bros. was still adamant for a summer 2004 release date.[119] Christopher Walken was in negotiations for Perry White, while Ratner wanted to castAnthony Hopkins as Jor-El, andRalph Fiennes as Lex Luthor, two of his cast members fromRed Dragon.[148]Joel Edgerton turned down a chance to audition as Superman in favor of the villain Ty-Zor, before Ratner dropped out of the project in March 2003, blaming casting delays,[149] and aggressive feuds with producer Jon Peters.[citation needed]
McG returned as director in 2003, while Fraser continued to express interest, but had fears of typecasting.[150] ESC Entertainment was hired forvisual effects work, with Kim Libreri as visual effects supervisor andStan Winston designing a certain "prototype suit".[151] McG approachedShia LaBeouf for Jimmy Olsen, with an interest to cast an unknown for Superman,Scarlett Johansson as Lois Lane and Johnny Depp for Lex Luthor.[152]Robert Downey Jr. was soon afterward cast as Lex Luthor.[153]Neal H. Moritz andGilbert Adler were set to produce the film. McG also commissionedJosh Schwartz to rewrite the Abrams script. He also shot test footage with several candidates, includingJason Behr,Henry Cavill,Jared Padalecki,[136] andMichael Cassidy.[154] McG left the project soon afterward, blaming budgetary concerns and disagreement over filming locations. He opted to shoot in New York City and Canada, but Warner Bros. wantedSydney,Australia, which would have cost $25 million less. McG released a statement saying that he felt "it was inappropriate to try to capture the heart of America on another continent".[155] He eventually admitted in a 2012 interview that hisfear of flying was the real reason for his objection to Australia.[153] Abrams lobbied for the chance to direct his script,[156] but Warner Bros. replaced McG withBryan Singer in July 2004, resulting inSuperman Returns, that was released in 2006.[157]
In August 2013,Geoff Johns mentioned that Warner Bros. was considering turning unproduced scripts and screenplays into original animated films and had expressed interest in making an animated adaptation of the"Flyby" screenplay.[158]
Four months before the release ofSuperman Returns, Warner Bros. announced a summer 2009 theatrical release date for a sequel, with Bryan Singer returning as director,[159] along withBrandon Routh,[160] Kevin Spacey,[161]Kate Bosworth,[162]Sam Huntington,[163]Frank Langella,[164] andTristan Lake Leabu expected to reprise their roles.[165]
After the release ofSuperman Returns in July 2006, the studio was hesitant on moving forward with development. Warner Brothers PresidentAlan F. Horn explained thatSuperman Returns was a successful film, but that it "should have done $500 million worldwide" and that the film could have featured more action for the young male audience.[166] Singer was critical to the studio complaints, and considered that the film was financially successful enough to guarantee a sequel.[167]
Filming was supposed to start in March 2008.[168] While no screenplay was ever written, Singer would have titled itMan of Steel, stressing that it would have been more action-packed thanSuperman Returns.[169]
Though Singer had an interest inDarkseid as the main villain, writerMichael Dougherty was interested in using Brainiac for the proposed sequel:
In my mind, if the Kryptonians really were a space-faring race ... it would only make sense that there would've been colonies and off-planet missions ... other Kryptonians making their way to Earth seemed like a pretty big one. It wouldn't necessarily be evil right off the bat. That's too easy and cliché ... I think it'd be interesting to see how these other Kryptonians show up, land and have all these powers and [have to learn] how to adapt to them.[170]
In February 2007, the studio commissioned husband and wife duo Michele andKieran Mulroney to write a script for aJustice League film,[171] halting development for theSuperman Returns sequel. TheJustice League script was submitted to Warner Bros. the following June,[172] which prompted the studio to immediately fast-track production of what was to be titledJustice League: Mortal. As Singer went on to filmValkyrie (2008) the next month,[169]George Miller signed to direct in September.[173]
The script would have featured a different Superman in a separate continuity from Singer's film; Routh was not approached to reprise his role forJustice League: Mortal,[174] which ended up going toD. J. Cotrona.[175] The film nearly went into production in March 2008,[176] but theAustralian Film Commission denied Warner Brothers their 40%tax rebate[177] and Cotrona'soptions eventually expired.[178] WithJustice League: Mortal canceled, Singer renewed his interest in theSuperman Returns sequel that same month, stating that it was in early development.[167]Paul Levitz, president ofDC Comics, still expected the title role to be reprised by Routh,[160] whose contract for a sequel expired in 2009.[179]
In August 2008, the studio's President of Production Jeff Robinov admitted:
Superman Returns didn't quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to.… It didn't position the character the way he needed to be positioned.… HadSuperman worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009. Now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all.[36]
Routh later reprised his role as Superman in the 2019Arrowverse television crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths".
In February 2007, during pre-production forThe Dark Knight, Warner Bros. hired husband and wife screenwriting duo Michelle and Kieran Mulroney to script aJustice League film[180] featuring a younger Batman in a separate franchise.[181]
George Miller was hired to direct the following September,[175] with D. J. Cotrona cast as Superman,[175] along withArmie Hammer as Batman.[182] Filming had nearly commenced atFox Studios Australia in Sydney, but was pushed back over theWriters Guild of America strike, and once more when the Australian Film Commission denied Warner Bros. a 45 percent tax rebate over lack of Australian actors in the film.[183] Production offices were moved toVancouver Film Studios in Canada for an expected July 2008 start and a planned summer 2009 theatrical release date,[184][185] but Warner Bros. ultimately canceledJustice League following the success ofThe Dark Knight. Hammer's option on his contract lapsed and the studio was more willing to proceed with Christopher Nolan to finish his trilogy separately withThe Dark Knight Rises.[186]
Warner Bros. Pictures announced release dates for a full slate ofDC Comics-based films in October 2014, forming a newshared universe known as theDC Extended Universe (DCEU). At the same time, the company said that an un-dated Superman film was in development, with Henry Cavill set to reprise his role ofClark Kent / Superman fromMan of Steel (2013).[187] Warner Bros. chose to prioritizeBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as the second DCEU film afterMan of Steel failed to meet the company's financial expectations, despite turning a profit. DirectorZack Snyder said that Brainiac and theKryptonians imprisoned in thePhantom Zone were considered as antagonists for theMan of Steel sequel before Warner Bros. decided to proceed withBatman v Superman.[188] A sequel toMan of Steel entered active development in August 2016, and the studio wanted to get the character right for audiences.[189] Henry Cavill and Amy Adams were expected to reprise the roles in the sequel.[190][191]Matthew Vaughn was Warner Bros.' top choice to direct the film, and he had preliminary conversations about the project by March 2017.[192] Vaughn had previouslypitched an idea for a new Superman trilogy with comic book writerMark Millar, prior to the development ofMan of Steel, in which the destruction of the planet Krypton would not take place until after Superman had already grown-up on the planet.[193] Afterthe troubled production of the DCEU filmJustice League (2017), Warner Bros. re-thought its approach to DC projects.[194] By the end of 2017, aMan of Steel sequel was not coming "anytime soon, if at all".Justice League producerCharles Roven said that the story ideas for the film had been discussed, but there was no script.[195]
Before the release ofMission: Impossible – Fallout in July 2018, directorChristopher McQuarrie and co-star Cavill pitched their take on a new Superman film, but Warner Bros. did not pursue the idea.[196] Later that year, the studio askedJames Gunn to write and direct a Superman film, but he chose to makeThe Suicide Squad (2021) instead;[197][198] Gunn was uncertain if he wanted to take on Superman, so Warner Bros. told him that he could adapt any DC property he liked.[197] In September, negotiations for Cavill to reprise his role for acameo appearance inShazam! (2019) ended due to contract issues,[199] as well as a scheduling conflict with Cavill'sFallout commitments.[199][200] The actor was reported to be parting ways with the studio, with no plans for him to reprise his role in future projects,[199] but, in November 2019, Cavill said that he had not given up on the character and still wanted to do the role justice.[200] At that time, Warner Bros. was unsure which direction to take the character and was talking to "high-profile talent" about the property, including J. J. Abrams—whose companyBad Robot signed an overall deal with Warner Bros.' parent companyWarnerMedia—andMichael B. Jordan, who pitched himself as a Black version of the character.[53] By May 2020, Warner Bros. was no longer developing aMan of Steel sequel, but Cavill was in talks to appear in a different future DC film.[201][202]
In October 2022, Warner Bros. re-entered the development of a sequel toMan of Steel with Roven serving as a producer and Michael Bay in talks to Direct and Cavill expected to reprise his role. The studio was searching for writers by then, and had a wishlist of directors that included McQuarrie, who reportedly had not been contacted and could be unable to direct due to his commitments toMission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) andMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). Cavill appeared that month in his role in thepost-credits scene of the DCEU filmBlack Adam (2022).[203] Cavill was revealed to have signed a one-off deal forBlack Adam, though Warner Bros. was interested in having him return for future projects including another solo film,[204] though there was only a verbal agreement on this.[205] Shortly after, Warner Bros. announced that Cavill would return as Superman for future projects,[205][206] and the actor said hisBlack Adam cameo was meant to be a starting point for future plans for the character.[206][207]Steven Knight had written a script treatment around that time,[208] which reportedly included Brainiac as the antagonist.[205] Warner Bros. executives were not thrilled about it and provided notes on it, and another writer was potentially hired due to Knight's busy schedule soon after.[208] Andy Muschietti, who had directedThe Flash (2023) for the studios, had expressed interest in directing a Superman project with a similar tone toRichard Donner'sSuperman (1978).[209] Cavill had been paid $250,000 for each of his cameos inBlack Adam andThe Flash before the latter appearance was cut.[205]
Cavill expressed interest in November for a future project to explore Superman's "capacity to give and to love" the people of Earth and to inspire others,[210] and said he was looking forward to meet with James Gunn, who was then-recently appointed as the co-chairman and co-CEO of the newly formedDC Studios alongsidePeter Safran, and was excited about future opportunities to work together.[211] The project however was not moving forward quickly as Gunn and Safran were preparing their long-term plans for a DC shared universe, and Cavill did not sign a formal deal to return and no writer or director were attached.[212] By December aMan of Steel sequel with Cavill was canceled as Gunn and Safran made plans withWarner Bros. Discovery CEODavid Zaslav, and was replaced with a new film directed and written by Gunn as part of DC Universe franchise.[209][208][71]
In February 2021,Ta-Nehisi Coates was revealed to be writing a new Superman film for the DCEU that was in early development.J. J. Abrams was set as producer alongside Hannah Minghella, with no director or actors attached to the project yet.[213] The film was expected to feature a Black actor portraying Superman, with potential forMichael B. Jordan to still take on the role after previously pitching himself as a Black version of the character.[214] Coates said he was looking forward to "meaningfully adding to the legacy of America's most iconic mythic hero", while Abrams said the film would tell a "new, powerful and moving Superman story".[213] This was reported by outlets as being areboot of the franchise, but Richard Newby ofThe Hollywood Reporter felt the film starring a Black actor could indicate a new version of Superman that could exist alongside Cavill's portrayal within theDC Multiverse. Newby also noted that Coates' history as a non-fiction author and journalist focusing on African-American issues would give him "the insight and experience to delve further into the [Superman] mythos in a way never seen on screen".[215]
Jordan said at the end of April that suggestions he star in the film were a compliment, but he would not be signing on to the role. The studio was in the early process of finding a director for the film at that point, and had committed to hiring a Black filmmaker for the project. They had met with potential directors by early May, working from a list that includedSteven Caple Jr.,J. D. Dillard,Regina King, andShaka King;[216] Dillard later said that he had not been approached for the film.[217] Coates was not expected to deliver his script for the film until mid-December, and was believed to be introducing a new version of Kal-El / Superman in what was potentially aCivil Rights era-period piece. The film was believed to be set in a separate universe from the DCEU at that point.[216] In July, Jordan's reasoning for distancing himself from the film was reported to be due to the decision to portray Kal-El as Black rather than introduce a different Superman character that is already portrayed as Black in the comics such asCalvin Ellis orVal-Zod. This was seen by some asracebending a White character while "erasing" existing Black characters, a conversation that Jordan did not want to engage in.[218] Instead, he began developing a limited series forHBO Max focused on the Val-Zod version of the character.[219] In October 2022, Abrams and Coates' film was revealed to be set in a separate continuity from other DC franchises, similar toJoker (2019).[203] The film remained in active development by December under the then-recently formedDC Studios when its co-chairman and co-CEO James Gunn announced that he was writing a new Superman film, which would eventually becomeSuperman (2025).[72] In July 2025,The Wall Street Journal reported that shortly after the formation ofWarner Bros. Discovery in 2022, CEODavid Zaslav cancelled the project, saying the script was "toowoke"; however people familiar with the matter stated that Gunn and other co-CEO Peter Safran could still attempt to make the film in the future.[220][221]
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in multiple film series that featured Superman.
Film | Release date | Box office gross | Ref(s) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America | Other territories | North America | North American gross when adjusted for inflation | Other territories | Worldwide | ||
Superman(1978) | December 15, 1978 | $134,451,603 | $648,180,202 | $166,000,000 | $300,218,018 | [241] | |
Superman II | June 19, 1981 | December 4, 1980 | $108,185,706 | $412,862,171 | $108,200,000 | $216,385,706 | [242][243] |
Superman III | June 17, 1983 | $59,950,623 | $189,266,100 | $20,300,000 | $80,250,623 | [243][244] | |
Supergirl | November 21, 1984 | July 19, 1984 | $14,296,438 | $43,269,392 | — | $14,296,438 | [245] |
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace | July 24, 1987 | $15,681,020 | $43,400,691 | $14,600,000 | $30,281,020 | [246] | |
Superman Returns | June 28, 2006 | $200,081,192 | $312,077,779 | $191 million | $391,081,192 | [247] | |
Man of Steel | June 14, 2013 | $291,045,518 | $392,869,871 | $377 million | $668,045,518 | [248] | |
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | March 25, 2016 | $330,360,194 | $432,830,487 | $542.2 million | $872,637,528 | [249] | |
Justice League | November 17, 2017 | $229,024,295 | $293,789,107 | $432.3 million | $661,326,987 | [250] | |
Superman(2025) | July 11, 2025 | $137,923,363 | $137,923,363 | $95,000,000 | $232,923,363 | [251] | |
Total | $1,520,999,952 | $2,906,469,163 | $1,946,600,000 | $3,467,446,393 | [252] |
Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
---|---|---|---|
Superman (1978) | 86% (117 reviews)[253] | 81 (11 reviews)[254] | — |
Superman II | 88% (109 reviews)[255] | 83 (11 reviews)[256] | A+[257] |
Superman III | 31% (102 reviews)[258] | 44 (9 reviews)[259] | B−[260] |
Supergirl | 21% (112 reviews)[261] | 41 (12 reviews)[262] | C+[263] |
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace | 14% (114 reviews)[264] | 24 (10 reviews)[265] | C[266] |
Superman Returns | 72% (290 reviews)[267] | 72 (40 reviews)[268] | B+[266] |
Man of Steel | 57% (340 reviews)[269] | 55 (47 reviews)[270] | A−[266] |
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 28% (436 reviews)[271] | 44 (51 reviews)[272] | B[266] |
Justice League | 39% (411 reviews)[273] | 45 (52 reviews)[274] | B+[266] |
Zack Snyder's Justice League | 71% (312 reviews)[275] | 54 (45 reviews)[276] | — |
Superman (2025) | 82% (353 reviews)[277] | 68 (57 reviews)[278] | A−[266] |
The initial fourSuperman films starringChristopher Reeve were released previously onVHS, and throughout the film series' history, threebox sets of the films have been released byWarner Bros. The first occurred on May 1, 2001, whenThe Complete Superman Collection was released both on DVD and VHS, containing that year's DVD/home video releases ofSuperman,II,III, andIV: The Quest for Peace. The set was valued at US$49.99 for the DVD release and US$29.99 for the VHS release, and received positive reviews.[279]
The four Christopher Reeve films were again released on November 28, 2006, in new DVD releases to coincide withSuperman Returns, also released in that year.Superman (1978) was released in a four-disc 'special edition' similar toSuperman II, which was released in a two-disc special edition. BothSuperman III andIV were released in single disc 'deluxe editions', and all four releases were available together inThe Christopher Reeve Superman Collection, an 8-disc set that was valued at US$79.92 and received positive reviews (like the 2001 set before it).[280]
Also on November 28, 2006, a 14-disc DVD box set titledSuperman Ultimate Collector's Edition was released, containing the four Reeve films, along withSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut,Superman Returns, andLook, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman, among other releases. All contents of the set were housed within atin case. The set was valued at US$99.92, and received extremely positive reviews when first released.[281] After only a day on the market, however, Warner Bros. announced that there were two errors discovered within the set: the first was that the 2.0 audio track onSuperman, was instead the 5.1 audio track already on the disc; and the second was that theSuperman III disc was not the 2006 deluxe edition as advertised, but the 2001 release instead. The set was soon recalled, and Warner Bros offered a toll-free number to replace the faulty discs for people who had already purchased the set.[282] Due to popular demand, a corrected set was released andSuperman Ultimate Collector's Edition returned to store shelves on May 29, 2007.[283]
Another Christopher ReeveSuperman film collection was released on October 14, 2008, entitledSuperman: 4 Film Favorites, containing all four films, but with far less bonus material than previous sets. The collection was a 2-discDVD-18 set that included the first disc of both special editions from the 2006 release and both deluxe editions.
The entireSuperman anthology was released onBlu-ray for the first time on June 7, 2011.[284]
All of the Christopher ReeveSuperman films were released onUltra HD Blu-ray in 2023.[285]