James Gunn Says WORLD's FINEST Is Not His Next Movie But The MAN OF STEEL Plays An Important Role

With The Authority being one of the most troubled DCU in-development films, might James Gunn step in to write and direct it himself?

News

By MarkJulian - Jul 18, 2025 07:07 PM EST

Filed Under: Superman

Source: Happy Sad Confused Podcast

DC fans just got a small but intriguing update on what James Gunn is planning next, and while speculation has been swirling about a possible team-up with Batman, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gunn revealed that he's currently writing a new script featuring Superman, though he clarified that it’s not a direct sequel to his recent film.

Many fans assumed it could be a World’s Finest movie, given Gunn’s stated love for Batman, but he shot down that theory, confirming the project is not a World’s Finest film either.

He noted that while Superman is very important to the story, it’s not a Batman v Superman-style film either. Gunn kept further details close to the chest, and based on his body language during the interview, he clearly wasn’t ready to reveal more.

However, he did go on to say that this mystery Superman-related film is the next project he plans to direct, and that an official announcement is coming, just not this week.

James Gunn says his next film is NOT World's Finest.

He says that Superman is VERY important in the film.

The announcement will be 'sooner than later', but not this week.

(via @joshuahorowitz | https://t.co/OxafMYPpTn) pic.twitter.com/pY7sekuHAN
— Home of DCU (@homeofdcu) July 18, 2025

Could Gunn be working on one of the announced DCU projects that doesn't have a creative team attached?

DCU project w/ creative team	DCU project announced w/ no creative team
Supergirl movie	The Authority movie
Clayface movie	Paradise Lost TV series
Lanterns TV series	Wonder Woman movie
Peacemaker season 2	Booster Gold TV Series
Swamp Thing movie
Waller TV series
The Brave and the Bold movie
Bane and Deathstroke team-up movie
Teen Titans movie
Dynamic Duo animated movie
Justice League movie
Blue Beetle animated series
Mister Miracle animated series

At this point, there aren’t many announced DCU projects that would logically align with what James Gunn is teasing, and since he confirmed it’s a movie, the options narrow down to The Authority, Wonder Woman, or something entirely unannounced.

One intriguing detail is Gunn’s increasing references to Grant Morrison in recent interviews.

While it could just be that Morrison's work is top of mind, it’s worth noting that he penned the 2021 limited series Superman and the Authority. Could Gunn be reworking The Authority film to serve as a spiritual follow-up to Superman?

While nothing is confirmed yet, this could very well be the next big reveal from Gunn and DC Studios. Stay tuned for updates.

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44 Comments

1 2

Nomis929 - 7/18/2025, 7:17 PM

thedrudo - 7/18/2025, 7:18 PM

Someone get on Green Arrow ASAP

lazlodaytona - 7/18/2025, 8:55 PM

@thedrudo - your mom's already there

Malatrova15 - 7/18/2025, 7:23 PM

Please just adapt Warren Ellis original run of the Authority and plaster Supes if neccesary as a foil to them, but dont adapt Grant Morrison run

RockReigns - 7/18/2025, 7:23 PM

Superman & Supergirl. I want it to be a space opera (since all Superman movies have taken place on Earth). But I also like the thought of Metropolis being bottled by Brainiac, and the Super cousins have to stop Brainiac and save the city.

MotherGooseUPus - 7/18/2025, 8:02 PM

@RockReigns - I dig it

Zeeboy - 7/18/2025, 9:31 PM

@RockReigns - Exactly what I was thinking. I imagine the events of Supergirl lead Braniac to Earth, then the duo have to go after him to save Metropolis. Maybe when they defeat Braniac they will inadvertently unleash Zod—who had been trapped in Kandor—for the following Superman film. And with Supergirl being depicted as the rebellious type I can see her having a fling with bad boy Lobo...and a messy breakup leading to a clash between Clark and The Main Man 😄

HulkisHoly - 7/18/2025, 11:13 PM

@RockReigns -

Love the idea

SteviesRightFoo - 7/18/2025, 7:28 PM

If gunn is writing and/or directing,im out

DSAC294 - 7/18/2025, 7:55 PM

@SteviesRightFoo - yea, we know

TheShape9859 - 7/18/2025, 8:30 PM

@SteviesRightFoo - sucks for you

EskimoJ - 7/18/2025, 8:51 PM

@SteviesRightFoo - No, you're not. You'll be there opening day/weekend just like everyone else who complains about anyone.

RolandD - 7/18/2025, 7:29 PM

The Brave and the Bold TV series?

MarkJulian - 7/18/2025, 7:33 PM

@RolandD -

RolandD - 7/18/2025, 7:43 PM

@MarkJulian - 🤣😂🤣😂🤣Keep the articles coming, Mark! I like your style.

WruceBayne - 7/18/2025, 7:30 PM

Isn’t the Swamp Thing movie dead?

lazlodaytona - 7/18/2025, 8:56 PM

@WruceBayne - I think they buried it

MCUKnight11 - 7/18/2025, 7:33 PM

Have Superman 2 and the Authority be combined into one movie.

TheVisionary25 - 7/18/2025, 7:54 PM

@MCUKnight11 - i think it would be best to have the Authority first have their own film to establish them as characters and their brand of justice before bringing Superman in to contrast.

RolandD - 7/18/2025, 9:14 PM

@TheVisionary25 - Yeah, it seems too soon for this. Also, is the Engineer out as a member because of her crimes against Superman? I mean coming back from attempted murder seems a bit much.

TheVisionary25 - 7/18/2025, 9:24 PM

@RolandD - maybe but the Authority are anti-heroes so maybe they won’t mind that

RolandD - 7/18/2025, 9:29 PM

@TheVisionary25 - Well if it is going to be Superman and the Authority, he might.

TheVisionary25 - 7/18/2025, 10:11 PM

@RolandD - true

We’ll see.

RolandD - 7/18/2025, 10:21 PM

@TheVisionary25 - I am excited to see what comes next.

ModHaterSLADE - 7/18/2025, 7:44 PM

I just hope he makes a Lobo film. With his style of humor, he'd be a great fit.

HulkisHoly - 7/18/2025, 11:13 PM

@ModHaterSLADE -

Lobo could show up in a Superman sequel

comicfan100 - 7/18/2025, 7:51 PM

A Trinity film too soon? Not BvS, but B+S+W

TheVisionary25 - 7/18/2025, 7:55 PM

@comicfan100 - probably too soon.

AnthonyVonGeek - 7/18/2025, 8:00 PM

Something I forgot to mention was how come Superman’s super hearing wasn’t working in the movie. Seemed like he didn’t have any at all. 🤷‍♂️

NonPlayerC - 7/18/2025, 8:05 PM

I don't think ive ever read an authority comic

AllsGood - 7/18/2025, 8:13 PM

WB DCU is only releasing one Superhero movie a year.

That Sucks 😞

Skestra - 7/18/2025, 8:39 PM

@AllsGood - Gunn has stated he only wants to release two films a year which means this first 'chapter' will wind down in 2029 if he's able to keep the momentum going with "Supergirl" and "Clayface" in 2026. But yeah, I agree with you.

TheShape9859 - 7/18/2025, 8:30 PM

It's a Superman/Supergirl team up movie...bank on it

HulkisHoly - 7/18/2025, 11:15 PM

@TheShape9859 -

Makes sense. I think that would be a good way to have a sequel for both of them. I think this will guarantee whatever big bad they eventually have, supergirl will die in Superman’s arms.

MisterDoctor217 - 7/18/2025, 8:40 PM

I know it might have been repetitive but I would have liked it to be World’s Finest, I want to have Batman in this universe now, not Battinson, a new Batman in the vein of the Arkham Games.
Colorful , but still dark when it needs to be.

It would be exciting to get that pairing seeing s they really nailed this new modern Superman.

But I also liked the Supergirl cameo so a movie with those two would be pretty cool as well. But make it cosmic tho, like some scenes on Earth but them battling in space would be neat.

RolandD - 7/18/2025, 9:17 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - If the Superman/Bstman partnership was done right, a lot of people would forgive it being a similar path from MoS to BvS. That said going by the users on this website there would be tons of complaining too.

TheVisionary25 - 7/18/2025, 8:41 PM

My guess:

It’s a Superman & Supergirl team up film with Brainiac as the villain!!.

BlackStar25 - 7/18/2025, 9:09 PM

@TheVisionary25 - Thats my guess too however I am trying to think outside of the box because this is Gunn we are talking about.

LiquidSwords - 7/18/2025, 8:48 PM

Let’s hope he’s fired on Monday.

James Gunn Says WORLD's FINEST Is Not His Next Movie But The MAN OF STEEL Plays An Important Role

With The Authority being one of the most troubled DCU in-development films, might James Gunn step in to write and direct it himself?

Bradley Cooper Was Initially Up For The Role Of Lex Luthor In SUPERMAN Before Being Cast As Jor-El

One Of James Gunn's First Ideas For A DC Film? A KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG Movie With SUPERMAN As A Side Character

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