When DC Studios announced the first movies and TV shows that will be part of its "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters" slate, there was one title, in particular, that really stood out.
We are, of course, talking about Superman: Legacy.
Henry Cavill's time as the Man of Steel might have reached its end, but all signs point to this reboot being the Superman movie we've all spent years waiting for. The character hasn't had the easiest of rides on the big screen, but Gunn might be the filmmaker who turns that around and finally delivers the Clark Kent/Kal-El fans know and love from the comic books.
In this feature, we're breaking down everything we know so far about Superman: Legacy, from confirmed details to big rumours about where Gunn might be taking his take on the Man of Tomorrow.
To check out our breakdown, click on the "Next" button below!
6. Superman Hasn't Been Cast Yet (But There May Be A Frontrunner)
As noted, Henry Cavill's time as Superman ended with his Black Adam cameo, and Gunn has said on a few occasions now that casting for his reboot hasn't begun yet.
We can believe that when he's still working on the script, but as cameras will likely begin rolling either later this year or in early 2024, the filmmaker is bound to begin zeroing in on possible contenders sooner rather than later. A few names have circulated online, but the one we've seen most often is Australian actor Jacob Elordi (Euphoria).
For what it's worth, Gunn has denied that he's been cast, but it's hard to imagine the DC Studios boss not having at least an idea about who should wear the classic red and blue in Superman: Legacy.
5. The Movie Has Been In The Works For A Long Time
Gunn has told fans that he was tapped to write Superman: Legacy for Warner Bros. a good six months or so before DC Studios' slate was revealed to the world, meaning he was likely working on the reboot before even being eyed for the job.
While the filmmaker might have been the one to decide Cavill's time as the Man of Tomorrow has ended, we can't help but wonder if he was initially tasked with writing this movie as Man of Steel 2 or if he always planned to reboot the hero. The many different regimes at Warner Bros. have long had different ideas for the British actor, so it's hard to say.
Despite Superman: Legacy being the studio's top priority, it's thought that Ta-Nehisi Coates and J.J. Abrams' Superman movie about a Black Kal-El in the 1930s remains in the works as an Elseworlds project. There's no word on Michael B. Jordan's Val-Zod plans, unfortunately.
4. It's Not Another Origin Story But We'll See A Younger Superman
Do we really need to see the destruction of Krypton again? Like the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne and the radioactive spider that bit Peter Parker, it's an origin story that everyone's familiar with. Revisiting it feels like a waste of screentime at this point, so we're pleased Gunn has confirmed Superman: Legacy won't be another origin story.
Despite that, the Clark Kent we meet for the first time here will be a "cub reporter" in Metropolis, and while he'll have already met Lois Lane and his fellow heroes, this is clearly a much younger Supes than Cavill's version.
Presumably, he'll be in his early to mid-20s, and there's already been chatter that whoever is cast will be expected to stick around for DC Studios' entire decade-long plan. Gunn has also noted that Superman will likely be a good few years younger than Batman, no great surprise when the DCU's Bruce Wayne has a 10-year-old son.
3. All-Star Superman Is A Big Inspiration
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman is widely hailed as a masterpiece, and even though Gunn has confirmed it's served as a key source of inspiration, any sort of direct adaptation is off the table.
After all, the comic book revolved around a Superman who was dying and is eventually combined with the sun, and something tells us the DCU's new Man of Steel won't be dispatched quite that quickly! Ultimately, the tone of this story looks set to be what Gunn is mostly pulling from, especially based on some of the filmmaker's recent comments about the hero.
"I really love the idea of Superman. He's a big old galoot. He is a farm boy from Kansas who is very idealistic," Gunn said. "His greatest weakness is that he'll never kill anybody, doesn't want to hurt a living soul. And I like that sort of innate goodness about Superman as his defining characteristic." Sounds pretty great, right?
2. The Official Synopsis
Following the news that Gunn will also direct Superman: Legacy, an official synopsis for the movie was released.
"Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman's journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas," it reads. "He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned."
In an emotional series of Tweets, the filmmaker and DC Studios boss elaborated on why he chose to step behind the camera and reiterated his plans to explore the Man of Steel's relationship with both his human and alien parents. It's an intriguing approach, and one we're curious to see play out, especially as other adaptations have previously touched on that.
1. It Will Be The Opening Chapter Of James Gunn's DCU
TV shows like Waller and Creature Commandos are going to take place in the new DCU, but make no mistake about it, Superman: Legacy is where this franchise really begins.
Interestingly, Gunn is all over these early projects and clearly keen to set the tone for everything that follows. Anyone who didn't enjoy The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker are likely to have their concerns, but those were very specific R-Rated stories, and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise might be a better example of what Gunn has planned for Superman.
It feels like we're entering an exciting new era for this character, and the filmmaker's vision for the Man of Steel will come into focus one the reboot is released in theaters on July 11, 2025.