‘Superman: Legacy’: Everything We Know About James Gunn and Peter Safran’s New Superman Movie

The DC cinematic universe has undergone some major changes, with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking the lead in the franchise. One of the upcoming films in the DC slate is Superman: Legacy, which focuses on the man of steel himself.

And with a new Superman being introduced, fans are left wondering and anticipating how this reboot of the character will impact the overall DC universe. With filming expected to begin this spring in Atlanta, here’s what we know so far about Superman: Legacy.

The Latest Superman: Legacy News

DC Films head James Gunn has already been hard at work developing what will be one of the movies under the new cinematic universe. Gunn confirmed that he is writing and directing Superman: Legacy, as part of his journey into the DC franchise. He previously directed the rebooted version of The Suicide Squad, which premiered in 2021. In posts on X (formerly Twitter), Gunn explained his love for the script and how he eventually ended up helming the project.

“Just because I write something doesn’t mean I feel it in my bones, visually, and emotionally enough to spend over two years directing it, especially not something of this magnitude. But, the long and the short of it is, I love this script, and I’m incredibly excited as we begin this journey,” said Gunn.

DC Films co-chair Peter Safran told The Hollywood Reporter in January 2023 that Superman: Legacy will not be an origin story.

“It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing,” Safran revealed at the time. “He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks that kindness is old-fashioned.”

What Will Superman: Legacy Be About? Here Are the Known Plot Details 

The plot details are still scarce for Superman: Legacy have been revealed in some form. But Gunn has clarified that Superman: Legacy will center on Clark Kent and Lois Lane.

It is also confirmed that the villain for the movie will be Angela Spica, also known as The Engineer. In the comics, The Engineer is a Wildstorm character associated with the Authority. The Authority is a group of anti-heroic superhumans who will be making their debut in the DC cinematic universe. At the same time, the Engineer is not usually seen as a villainous character, so there might be more to the story with her.

A character that may also be introduced in the upcoming film is none other than Superman’s biological father Jor-El. Kurt Russell, who appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, directed by Gunn, weighed in on whether or not he would be willing to play Jor-El. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Russell reflected on the performance of Marlon Brando in Superman: The Movie.

“Yeah! Yeah, I’ll take on Marlon Brando! I mean, there was something awesome about the way he was just looking around – I don’t care that he was looking at his lines – he’s crazy great to watch! You know what: We don’t know a lot about Jor-El. Maybe there’s a version…I never heard this, so I don’t know. James Gunn was a blast to work with, though. So you never know,” said Russell.

Who Will Be in the Superman: Legacy Cast?

One of the most talked-about aspects of Superman: Legacy is who would be playing whom.

On June 27, it was announced that David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan are set to play Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane respectively. This followed previous reports that Corenswet, Pierson Forle, and Nicholas Hoult were being considered to play the man of steel. Nicholas Hoult, in particular, was also being considered to portray Lex Luthor, which was later confirmed.

Aside from Brosnahan, Emma Mackey, Phoebe Dynevor, and Samara Weaving were also reportedly being considered to play Lois Lane. The actors had all reportedly done screen tests for DC Studios.

The recasting of Superman led to a divisive response among the fans, especially since Henry Cavill reprised his role in a cameo in Black Adam. Gunn also went on to say that while Cavill wasn’t fired, he wasn’t hired either.

Maria Gabriela de Faria will be playing Angela Spica herself. Nathan Fillion was also cast as Green Lantern Guy Gardner. Fillion being brought on board to DC seemed to be a long time coming as he was once considered to portray another Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. He has also lent his voice to Hal Jordan in the animated features.

Isabela Merced and Edi Gathegi have also been cast in Superman: Legacy. Merced will play Hawkgirl, and Gathegi will be playing Mr. Terrific. The film will also bring in some more obscure characters like Metamorpho, played by Anthony Carrigan. Skyler Gisondo will play Jimmy Olsen, and Sara Sampaio will be cast as Eve Teschmacher.

What to Expect from the Film

In case fans are wondering if Superman: Legacy will be another origin story, Gunn revealed that it wouldn’t be. Compared to the original Superman and Man of Steel, Gunn said that Superman: Legacy will not focus on the iconic superhero’s origins. This also means that when fans finally watch this version of the son of Krypton, he’s been Superman for quite some time.

As said earlier, Superman: Legacy may serve to set up the new DC cinematic universe than expected. Given who would be serving as the villain and other characters she’s associated with.

The recent cast announcements seem to hint that the upcoming movie will take place in a world of heroes. Other DC heroes are also going to appear in the film. Given what is known about the film’s plot, fans can also look forward to other Superman characters like Jimmy Olson.

Another casting choice Gunn and Safran have made may or may not be appearing in Superman: Legacy. According to Deadline, Sean Gunn will also be part of the DC Universe as the villain Maxwell Lord. Whether or not Maxwell Lord will appear in the upcoming film, he will reportedly be referenced in the background as a setup.

Sean Gunn may also lend his voice to Maxwell Lord if the character appears in the animated series Creature Commandos on Max. The animated series will officially kickstart the new DC cinematic universe in 2024. Maxwell Lord previously appeared in Wonder Woman 1984, played by Pedro Pascal.

If confirmed, this would also be Sean Gunn’s third role in the DC cinematic universe. Sean Gunn previously played dual roles in The Suicide Squad as Weasel and Calendar Man. He is also confirmed to reprise his role as Weasel for Creature Commandos.

When Is the Superman: Legacy Release Date

Fans can expect Superman: Legacy to premiere on July 11, 2025. Production for the film is expected to start in March 2024 in Atlanta and continue through July 2024 under the working title “Genesis.”

Seeing as production has yet to begin, there’s no trailer for the film yet aside from Gunn’s initial announcement about the project. In the announcement video (which is featured above), Gunn said Superman: Legacy will be released theatrically in its 2025 date.

Gunn also confirmed that production for the film is on schedule, and the cameras will be rolling in March 2024. It’s possible that we could see a teaser trailer or clip come Comic-Con 2024 in July, but either way, we’ll keep you posted!