Superman: Legacy writer/director James Gunn has explained how the upcoming DC Universe movie will differentiate itself from the DC Extended Universe's take on the Man of Steel.
Gunn, co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, revealed that fans shouldn't expect the DCU to retread storylines already covered in the DCEU, but instead be prepared to see these beloved characters taken in new directions. "I don’t think the movie would be worth making if it was just a redo of any other Superman adaptation," Gunn told Variety. "For us to truly thrive as a studio, we need to honor the past of these characters while simultaneously seeing them in a new light."
Following the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Warner Bros. launched their own shared universe in 2013 with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman. Snyder returned to direct 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and is credited as director on 2017's Justice League despite Joss Whedon reportedly reshooting most of the film after Snyder stepped away from the project. The 2021 Snyder Cut is considered Snyder's true take on the Justice League. Snyder was also creatively involved with David Ayer's Suicide Squad (2016), Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman (2017) and James Wan's Aquaman (2018). Snyder's films are commonly referred to as the SnyderVerse by fans.
James Gunn Will Reboot the DCU
To avoid comparisons to the MCU, Snyder's films shied away from comedy in favor of darker and more serious stories. While some fans were receptive to the changes Snyder made, others believed that not all DC characters -- especially Superman -- should be depicted in such a dark and violent light. Gunn's comments to Variety seem to imply that he will try to find the right balance between keeping these characters connected to their comic book roots while taking them in unexpected new directions.
Does Superman: Legacy Have Its Star?
At the time of writing, casting has not yet begun for Superman: Legacy. While actors like Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson, Fury) have been rumored for the title role, Gunn has debunked all claims, stating that the casting process hasn't officially started yet. Superman: Legacy will feature a younger version of the Big Blue Boy Scout, but will not be an origin story for the hero. Instead, the film will focus on "Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing." At this time, no other plot details for Legacy have been made publicly available.
Superman: Legacy opens in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Source: Variety