Superman: Legacy entered a significant new phase in the production process. James Gunn announced the news on social media on Superman's anniversary day.
Superman: Legacy is slated to be the first movie under Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran's DC Universe franchise. While plot details are thin, Gunn has said the story will follow young Superman as he tries to reconcile his human upbringing with his Kryptonian heritage. Because the project is a reboot, a new actor is being sought to play the Man of Steel.
Gunn, who is writing and directing Superman: Legacy, took to social media to announce the DC film is officially entering the pre-production phase. "I’m honored to be a part of the legacy. And what better day than #SupermanAnniversary Day to dive fully into early pre-production on #SupermanLegacy?" Gunn wrote. "Costumes, production design, and more now up and running." Unfortunately, additional story details or a production start date were not announced, but Deadline reports filming begins "at the top of 2024.
Of course, the most important question on fans' minds is who will play Superman in Gunn's new movie. With pre-production underway, it would be easy to assume a casting announcement will be made soon. However, Gunn's recent comments suggest a Superman casting announcement isn't coming within the next two months. When one fan asked if it was correct to assume that Gunn plans to announce his choice to play Superman at the end of April or May, Gunn replied, "It is not."
The question of who will play Superman is contentious for DC fans. When Henry Cavill announced he was not returning as Superman, fans of this version of the character were disappointed because Warner Bros. told the actor to announce his return roughly two months beforehand, shortly after he made a cameo appearance in Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam. So, the fans who were excited to see Cavill's Man of Steel return are still having a tough time moving forward after being promised the character's return to the silver screen.
On the other hand, some fans were thrilled when Gunn announced a new Superman film was part of his DC Universe plans. Cavill's Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder, was not universally beloved, with some arguing the character was far too dark and not the least bit as inspiring as his comic book counterpart. As such, these fans hope to see a more hopeful Superman who embodies the best of humanity's potential.
Superman: Legacy is scheduled to release in theaters on July 11, 2025.
Source: James Gunn, Deadline