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Is James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ in Trouble? New Challenges Emerge

DC Studios’ efforts to revitalize its superhero franchise have hit an unexpected legal roadblock, potentially complicating the release of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film.

Gunn, who transitioned from Marvel to DC after a brief controversy relating to inappropriate old jokes on social media, has been tasked with reshaping the DC Universe as co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios. His vision officially kicks off with Superman (2025), set to premiere on July 11. However, a new lawsuit threatens to prevent the film’s release in multiple international markets.

Superman (David Corenswet) saving a girl in the trailer for James Gunn's 'Superman'
Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

Legal Battle Over Superman’s Rights

Mark Warren Peary, the executor of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster’s estate, has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, DC Comics, and DC Entertainment.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, seeks damages and an injunction for alleged copyright infringement in Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia. It also requests a legal declaration affirming the Shuster Estate’s ownership rights in those regions.

Superman (David Corenswet) injured in the snow
Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

At the heart of the dispute is the foreign copyright law governing Superman’s original character rights. Although Siegel and Shuster sold Superman to DC’s predecessor in 1938 for just $130, copyright laws in certain countries—particularly those with British legal traditions—automatically return rights to an author’s estate 25 years after their death. Since Shuster passed away in 1992, the estate argues that it now holds copyright ownership in those regions.

If the lawsuit is successful, Warner Bros. may be unable to release Superman in these key markets, which could significantly impact the film’s box office performance. This would be a major setback for DC Studios, especially since the film is expected to lay the foundation for the franchise’s future.

Warner Bros. Pushes Back

Warner Bros. Discovery has publicly responded to the lawsuit, telling Deadline that it “fundamentally disagree[s] with the merits of the lawsuit, and will vigorously defend our rights.”

Superman (David Corenswet) with a crowd of people
Credit: DC / Warner Bros.

The film, starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, has already garnered massive anticipation. Its first trailer became the most viewed and discussed in DC and Warner Bros. history, underscoring its significance as a fresh start for the studio’s superhero slate.

If Warner Bros. loses the legal battle, it could set a precedent for future disputes over legacy character copyrights, affecting not only Superman but potentially other installments in the new-and-improved DC cinematic universe.

Are you looking forward to James Gunn’s Superman?

Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

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