‘Superman: Legacy’ Will Officially Be Directed by James Gunn
Surprising absolutely no one, it’s been confirmed that James Gunn will be directing the Superman: Legacy script that he is also writing. The film will serve as the true first chapter of the DC Universe initiative, after Creature Commandos and Waller, two spin-offs to Gunn’s earlier The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, release on HBO Max.
Moments ago, Gunn revealed that he will be directing the Superman: Legacy movie that he’s been hired to write. The move will not distract from his existing obligations as DC Studios Co-CEO, as he has been expected to keep creating projects on top of managing the creative decisions for the company’s overall direction across movies, shows, animation, and video games. He revealed the news through a personal anecdote about his own father, noting that family and heritage will be a major part of this story:
Yes, I’m directing Superman: Legacy to be released on July 11, 2025. My brother Matt told me when he saw the release date he started to cry. I asked him why. He said, “Dude, it’s Dad’s birthday.” I hadn’t realized. pic.twitter.com/ohQNV8nI4g
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 15, 2023
It has been a long road to this point. I was offered Superman years ago – I initially said no because I didn’t have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 15, 2023
So I chose to finally take on writing the script. But I was hesitant to direct, despite the constant pestering by Peter Safran and others to commit (sorry, Peter).
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 15, 2023
But, the long and the short of it is, I love this script, and I’m incredibly excited as we begin this journey. #UpUpandAway
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 15, 2023
Gunn was initially asked to do a Superman movie back in 2018 when he was initially courted by Warner Brothers, but he instead opted to do The Suicide Squad. Despite that movie’s box office troubles in a COVID-era market, the film did incredibly well on HBO Max, which Gunn carried forward with the successful spin-off show Peacemaker. Now, Gunn is willing to tackle the project as a new course is charted for the franchise. As we already know, Superman: Legacy will not be starring Henry Cavill, who Gunn has stated has been in talks for other DC projects down the line, but will star a younger actor in the role that will carry the DC Universe forward. The film will also not be an origin story, instead focusing on a Superman who is early into his superhero career, but has already met several people at The Daily Planet and has saved the day from supervillains and other threats more than a few times. Superman: Legacy will be the first film in Gunn’s DC Universe slate, which seeks to tell one big story for the DCU, and it will be involved in Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, a roughly five-year plan and the first half of a ten-year plan that includes a Chapter Two to close things out, and presumably leave room for more Chapters to come.
Superman: Legacy will release in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Grant Davis is a freelance writer who has covered entertainment news for more than seven years. His articles have frequently appeared in Star Wars News Net as well as as other entertainment-related websites. As someone who grew up on Star Wars and comic book movies, he’s completely thrilled with the current era of genre entertainment.
