WBD CEO David Zaslav Releases Statement On SUPERMAN's Success And The Future Of The DCU

We're entering a brand new era of DC Comics live-action film adaptations with the box office and critical success of James Gunn's Superman.

News

By MarkJulian - Jul 13, 2025 04:07 PM EST

Filed Under: DC Studios

With the weekend box office numbers exceeding initial projections for James Gunn's Superman, WBD CEO David Zaslav has issued a statement regarding the film's success. Check it out below.

Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world. James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.

I remember my first meeting with James three years ago. He spoke about growing up in Missouri and how the characters of the DC Universe weren’t just stories to him, they were like his family. His personal bond with these DC heroes was powerful and I knew then that James was the right person to bring them to life. His love for the DC world runs deep, and it shines in every frame of his work.

This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films Supergirl and Clayface in theaters and the series Lanterns on HBO Max, all part of a bold ten-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.

— David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery

After a rocky last few years, Zaslav has to be feeling bullish about the future of the studio.

A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, F1, Final Destination Bloodlines, and now Superman have all exceeded studio expectations. The remainder of the year includes Zach Cregger's Weapons, Leonardo DiCaprio's One Battle After Another, The Conjuring: Last Rites, and Mortal Kombat II.

There's a real chance that WBD ends 2025 as the highest-grossing film studio, a position usually reserved for Disney with their live-action remakes, MCU and Star Wars films.

Looking forward, Superman is now poised for a $250-$300 million domestic run, per several box office analysts.

It's a sure bet to say that #Superman will end up doing over $300M at domestic #boxoffice this summer. RT aud score is a red hot 95% with lots of biz ahead this busy wknd. It's super early, but even crossing $350M looks likely for Clark Kent and gang! #SupermanMovie pic.twitter.com/TzFDl9YNsF
— Gitesh Pandya (TikTok @gitesh.pandya) (@GiteshPandya) July 11, 2025

According to reports, with the weight of worrying whether Superman would be financially successful off their shoulders, Gunn and Safran are now looking to release two live-action films and one animated film per year for the DCU. That's in addition to the television programs, such as Lanterns and Peacemaker, that get released on HBO Max.

Supergirl is set to hit theaters on June 26, 2026, while Clayface will debut on domestic cinema screens on Sept. 11, 2026.

On the animation side, the first flick, Dynamic Duo, isn't slated to arrive until 2028, so unless Gunn is planning to take inspiration from Beyoncé and drop a project with no warning or promotion, the earliest DC Studios could start its 2:1 ratio of live-action and animated theatrical releases is 2027.

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Says DCU Projects From Korea, Japan And Brazil Are In Development

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76 Comments

1 2

JacobsLadder - 7/13/2025, 4:52 PM

come on now. it's time to take a step back and be honest here.

Malatrova15 - 7/13/2025, 5:01 PM

@JacobsLadder - in Les Grossman words ..David should take a step back AND....

GeneralZod - 7/13/2025, 5:28 PM

@JacobsLadder - I listened to Jacob's Ladder last night falling asleep, true!

28ClungesLater - 7/13/2025, 4:53 PM

'I remember my first meeting with James three years ago. He spoke about growing up in Missouri and how the characters of the DC Universe weren’t just stories to him, they were like his family'

Now his casting choices makes sense 😌

Come at me cry-babies 🤣

ProfessorWhy - 7/13/2025, 4:58 PM

@28ClungesLater - I guess I shouldn't Have been expecting SuperClunge

harryba11zack - 7/13/2025, 5:02 PM

@28ClungesLater - u got my thumb, phuck gunn.
however that icon image of yours just reminded me how disappointed i was with that film and it's terrible ending scene with the chavy power rangers.... bro you gotta go

28ClungesLater - 7/13/2025, 5:19 PM

@harryba11zack - hey!

I'm British and jack o'connell is the man!

But yes team Jimmy Savile was a weird choice 😫 dude was a paedophile who escaped charges because the BBC wanted to protect him.

Very weird choice from Danny Boyle 😬

28ClungesLater - 7/13/2025, 5:22 PM

@ProfessorWhy - have you not realised that im a self proclaimed hater?

😌

It may change to SuperClunge if I like Gunns superMAN but F4 is around the corner so maybe not 👀

AllsGood - 7/13/2025, 4:57 PM

WBD CEO David Zaslav Releases Statement on SUPERMAN's Success and The Future of the DCU

Goldboink - 7/13/2025, 6:43 PM

@AllsGood -
Gunn at the afterparty

TheVisionary25 - 7/13/2025, 4:57 PM

Cool , nice statement!!

Also , I guess Clayface is officially in the DCU and won’t be an Elseworlds movie as I thought.

Anyway , [frick] Zaslav!!.

Malatrova15 - 7/13/2025, 4:58 PM

David Zaslav Is the Hero we need...salutations from Tel Aviv :)

JFerguson - 7/13/2025, 5:14 PM

@Malatrova15 - Walter Hamada will return

HermansHIV - 7/13/2025, 6:40 PM

@Malatrova15 - yes mam and good on Zazlav and Gunn for firing that Bassem Youssif feller who criticized homeland. the tik tokkers despise Isabella Merced Hawkgirl and Skyler Gisondo Jimmie Olsen as both of them regularly posted anti hamas pro homeland tweets after they came for our children..... beautiful times

Malatrova15 - 7/13/2025, 7:39 PM

@HermansHIV - Never change Bibi

bcom - 7/13/2025, 5:05 PM

It's going to be interesting to see how they market Clayface. Given he's probably a relatively unknown Batman villain to most of the general public, it's interesting that he gets to have his own standalone movie and that it's only the third movie in the new DCU.

I don't want to draw comparisons, but audiences may get the same vibe as the recent slew of bad Spider-Man standalone villain movies if it isn't handled properly. Having said that, I think Gunn and Safran are smarter than that. Sony were mainly doing those movies to retain the onscreen rights to Spider-Man so they didn't need to be great movies. Gunn's approach is more story driven so who knows, Clayface may be what leads us into the new DCU Batman.

JFerguson - 7/13/2025, 5:11 PM

@bcom - sounds good! Interesting comparison you make to Sonys SPUMC. Clayface will at least have some real world pertinence I’m sure. Like you said, it will undoubtedly be “story driven”.

Those Sony movies were written by writers held at gunpoint in a basement somewhere told to make everything as generic and cheap as possible. Now Sony will use chatGPT to achieve that same goal

TheVisionary25 - 7/13/2025, 5:39 PM

@bcom - yeah

However I think it will be mainly a standalone lower budget film that could perhaps tie into Brave and The Bold if they want to.

Imagine that film opening up with Bruce & co fighting that Clayface or something.

WruceBayne - 7/13/2025, 5:49 PM

@TheVisionary25 - I think Clayface will be pretty much stand alone too but there will be references to probably what happened in Superman and MAYBE a “Dark Knight” sighting on the news or something.
I think the lower budget projects are going to be what makes the money back. To be honest, I don’t think a Batman movie needs 200 million to be successful.

bcom - 7/13/2025, 6:39 PM

@JFerguson - The only reason I make that comparison is because those Sony movies took little known Spider-Man villains (little known to the general public that is) and gave them very sub-par stand alone movies which tanked at the box office. I hope Clayface doesn't suffer the same fate. I don't want to see the new DCU have a box office dud so early into its new incarnation that could turn the audience away, especially after how great Superman is.

Even though the new DCU is interconnected, Gunn has made it very clear that each movie is its own story and not there simply to set up the next big thing. What I'm hoping for is that Clayface will have its own great story, but will also act as a way in to introducing Gotham and setting the tone for Batman's world and how that fits into the DCU.

Apophis71 - 7/13/2025, 6:44 PM

@bcom - On the one hand, yes Clayface could run the risk of SPUMC but then look how the first, Venom, did but also look at GotG that even if any had heard of it was unlikely that version of the team and for most the non-nerd GA Antman.

If care is taken with a good narrative and they keep the budget lowish such that a $450M+ BO is considered enough it will be fine I feel.

bcom - 7/13/2025, 7:24 PM

@Apophis71 - Yeah, great points. As I mentioned in an above comment, it sounds like Sony only made those movies to make sure they retain the movie rights to Spider-Man. If they don't use the properties within certain timeframes then it starts to give Marvel legal leverage to be able to start claiming them back. For that reason Sony didn't care about the quality of the movies, they just needed them made.

The key difference is that James Gunn gives a sh*t. He's stated many times already that story matters the most in the DCU which is why he green lit the Clayface script. The key thing here will be marketing it well enough to get audiences curious enough to watch a lesser known Batman villain in his own movie even before Batman gets a movie of his own.

Apophis71 - 7/13/2025, 8:30 PM

@bcom - Assuming someone doesnt follow thru on a tariff threat having the new DC production hub in the UK will help as will be able to get the 25% rebate on MORE of the costs rather than JUST on locations shots in Britain.

However, key is having a story worth telling and decent marketing so cassuals know enough to be curious.

Huskers - 7/13/2025, 5:07 PM

Well there goes the restoration of the Snyderverse! 🤣

Goldboink - 7/13/2025, 6:44 PM

@Huskers -
And the Ayers Cut

dragon316 - 7/13/2025, 7:27 PM

@Huskers - I like Snyder version but fans of g1 and Snyder need know it’s dead move on never coming back you like that version go rewatch it ., I’m all for open see what James Gunn can do at least there giving him more control unlike other directors did not have they want do this but wb wont let them do it

dragon316 - 7/13/2025, 7:29 PM

@dragon316 - some humor can deleted from movie where krypto keeps tugging on Superman cape but hey my told me she like that part she don’t like watch comic book movies even Superman comics had bad comedy in other at some point did they ever had bad comedy in books and some stupid comedy

TheJok3r - 7/13/2025, 5:08 PM

We're all thrilled for the success of Superman, as well as the future of DC in live action. After a decade of failure thanks to Snyder, Gunn has done the impossible and put the brand back on track.

DocSpock - 7/13/2025, 5:09 PM

Gunn has done well with Superman.

Now he has to show that he can run all of DC with his next 2-3 movies.

Supergirl needs to be an unexpected home run. Who knows how Clayface will figure in all of this.

Then the next Superman movie MUST be great. Studio track records have been awful with the sequels. Sperman 3 & 4 were horrible. Superman Returns was so limp that it got no sequel. Man of Steel was pretty good, but BvS was an awful follow-up.

Superman's next movie needs to be a billion dollar smash.

JayTweIve - 7/13/2025, 5:10 PM

"Superman is just *the first step*. All part of a bold *ten-year plan*. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead."

B-b-b-but man-child keyboard warriors told me Gunn's Superman FLOPPED and the DCU was canceled!!!!!! REEEEEEEE"

Common sense, actual intelligence, good people, and great movie-making prevail once again X-)

dmac3232 - 7/13/2025, 5:10 PM

I, I, I, I, I …

Pat yourself on the back a little harder David

Goldboink - 7/13/2025, 6:45 PM

@dmac3232 -
Considering the Charlie Foxtrot that has been DC ever since The Dark Knight he deserves it.

JFerguson - 7/13/2025, 5:12 PM

Trust in and pay your damn creatives. Simple as that.

ModHaterSLADE - 7/13/2025, 5:12 PM

I mean Gunn clearly has a passion for comics and has a knack for making obscure characters likable.

Goldboink - 7/13/2025, 6:51 PM

@ModHaterSLADE -
Which he did here. Metamorpho is out there and he was among the more sympathetic characters.

ModHaterSLADE - 7/13/2025, 7:21 PM

@Goldboink - True

HistoryofMatt - 7/13/2025, 5:13 PM

It's unfortunate that he alienated Christopher Nolan with his demands to put Tenet on HBO Max day and date with its theater release, because honestly, compared to Bob Iger's second stint with Disney, he's actually done well.

TheJok3r - 7/13/2025, 5:20 PM

@HistoryofMatt - It was the previous CEO who did that.

HistoryofMatt - 7/13/2025, 6:16 PM

@TheJok3r - No, it wasn't. Blaming Chapek for all of Disney's problems is hilariously wrong. First, Iger was the one who brought the DEI framework to Disney and stopped hiring based on merit. Iger was the guy who made Kathleen Kennedy head of Lucasfilm. Iger was the guy who greenlit all of the truly terrible ideas she had. Iger was the guy who greenlit production on all the Marvel movies and TV shows that went Woke post-Endgame and failed like She-Hulk and Eternals. Iger was the guy who greenlit the first Pixar failures. That was him, not Chapek.

Chapek is the guy who came in and was handed the mess when all those movies and TV shows greenlit by Iger finally finished production and went out to theaters and Disney Plus. He then got blamed for all the Woke b.s. that Iger greenlit.

Iger than came back, helped depose Chapek, and continued to greenlight garbage Woke content. The two MCU movies that were actually good post-Endgame, No Way Home and Guardians vol. 3, were greenlit by Chapek.

I know this site has been one of the perpetrators of the "It's all Chapek's fault" lies, but the timeline for production just doesn't match up to the narrative.

Chapek did make mistakes. The gluttony of content for Disney Plus that watered down many brands is his fault. He rushed production on a lot of bad shows. However, he was trying to gin up business after Iger helped burn it down with all the Woke nonsense, including the bad press of all the Disney employees who were empowered by Iger's policies going out there and talking about how they were infecting all of Disney movies and TV shows and theme parks with Woke nonsense which turned off most sane people in the world.

RipleysCurls - 7/13/2025, 6:51 PM

@HistoryofMatt - hes saying it wasn't Zaslav who forced Tenet to day and date. That was Jason Kilar who was ceo of Warnermedia at the time. He's the one who committed to "Project Popcorn", releasing the 2021 theatrical slate on simultaneously on HBO Max.

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WBD CEO David Zaslav Releases Statement On SUPERMAN's Success And The Future Of The DCU

We're entering a brand new era of DC Comics live-action film adaptations with the box office and critical success of James Gunn's Superman.

SUPERMAN Director James Gunn Says DCU Projects From Korea, Japan And Brazil Are In Development

James Gunn Teases Tons Of Easter Eggs In SUPERMAN And Highlights A Mural That's Rumored To Include [SPOILER]

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.