Warner Bros. is riding high on the success of its DC superhero films this year, after the successful box offices of Shazam! and Joker. With Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) due out at the beginning of 2020, new details are beginning to come out regarding the studio's plans for its DC Films Universe.
According to Variety, Michael B. Jordan met with Warner Bros. earlier this year to pitch his version of a Superman feature film. However, with the Black Panther star's schedule tied up in other projects over the next several years, he is not ready to fully commit to playing a Black Superman. The site also adds that another Superman film isn't likely to be ready before 2023.
Jordan revealed back in February that he'd be open to playing Superman, but this appears to be the first confirmation that he has already met with Warner Bros. Also, Jordan doesn't want to be the Clark Kent version of the iconic DC superhero.
"It's tough. I hate being a business man and understanding both sides of the situation," Jordan said to Oprah Winfrey for an upcoming episode of her SuperSoul Conversations. "There is a huge upside to it, but being under that microscope, being picked apart and compared to so many different versions of Superman... I would rather do something original. I'll be Calvin Ellis."
Created by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke, Calvin Ellis is the Superman of Earth-23 and made his debut in the 2009 event Final Crisis. Ellis' Superman was modeled on both President Barack Obama and boxer Muhammad Ali.
For now, fans will either have to wait for Jordan's schedule to free up to potentially see his take on the Man of Steel, or welcome the eager Henry Cavill back in the red and blue tights.