Superman: Legacy enters an important new stage in its production. James Gunn made the announcement on social media on Superman’s anniversary.
Superman: Legacy will be the first film under Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran’s DC Universe franchise. While plot details are scant, Gunn says the story will follow young Superman trying to reconcile his human upbringing with his Kryptonian roots. Since the project is a reboot, a new actor is being sought to play Iron Man.
Gunn, who wrote and directed Superman: Legacy, took to social media to announce that the DC film is officially entering pre-production. ‘I am honored to be part of the legacy. And what better day to get fully into early pre-production on #SupermanLegacy than #SupermanAnniversary Day? Gunn wrote. “Costumes, product design, etc. are up and running now.” Unfortunately, no other story details or production start date have been announced, but Deadline reports that filming will begin “in late 2024.”
Of course, the biggest concern in fans’ minds is who will play Superman in Gunn’s new movie. With pre-production underway, it’s easy to assume a casting announcement will be made soon. However, Gunn’s recent comments suggest that there won’t be a Superman casting announcement for the next two months. When asked by a fan if he thought Gunn planned to announce his choice to play Superman at the end of April or May, Gunn replied, “No.”
The question of who will play Superman is contentious for DC fans. Fans of this version of the character were disappointed when Henry Cavill announced he would not be returning as Superman, as Warner Bros. told the actor to announce his return roughly two months in advance, just as he cameoed as Dawn. Shortly after Johnson’s Black Adam. So fans who were excited to see Cavill’s Man of Steel return are still having a hard time moving forward after being promised the character’s return to the screen.
On the other hand, some fans got pretty excited when Gunn announced that a new Superman movie was part of his DC Universe plans. Cavill’s Superman wasn’t universally loved under Zack Snyder’s direction, with some feeling that the character was too dark and not at all inspiring as his comic book counterparts. Therefore, these fans want to see a more hopeful Superman who embodies the best of human potential.
Superman: Legacy is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.