Superman: Legacy: James Gunn to direct and write DC’s all-new adventure featuring the Man of Steel

It’s official! James Gunn will direct and write Superman: Legacy, a brand-new movie featuring the Man of Steel!

Superman: Legacy, James Gunn, Superman, Man of Steel, DCU

DC is ushering in a brand-new era with a big announcement for their multi-platform connected universe – Chapter One, Gods and Monsters! DC Studios’ Co-Chairmen & CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran announced today that Gunn, who penned the screenplay, will also take the helm of the hugely anticipated Superman Legacy, with Safran producing. The all-new action adventure is set to soar into theaters worldwide on July 11, 2025.

Per the official press release for Superman: Legacy:

Superman Legacy tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.

Gunn will direct from his screenplay based on characters from DC. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman.

Shortly after the official press release was unleashed, Gunn took to Twitter to speak about his inspiration for Superman: Legacy. In the multi-tweet post, Gunn explains how DC offered him the chance to help create a Superman movie, but the timing was off. He also talks about how the inspiration for the story he’s about to tell comes from a place deep within his heart.

As Superman: Legacy will be focusing on a younger version of the character, that unfortunately means that Henry Cavill won’t be back. The actor finally returned as Superman for a cameo in Black Adam, and it seemed that he would be making further appearances in the franchise. With the new DCU going in a different direction, Cavill’s return was short-lived. It’s also possible that Warner Bros. never had any intention of bringing Henry Cavill back, as James Gunn revealed last month that he had actually been hired to write Superman: Legacy last summer, months before Cavill returned in Black Adam.

DC Studios co-chairperson and CEO Peter Safran has said that Superman: Legacy won’t be an origin story but will focus on “Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.” Gunn added, “With our stories, we want to take it away from good guy vs. bad guy. There are really good—almost saintly—people and Superman is among them. There are really terrible villains like Gorilla Grodd or the Joker. And then there’s everybody in between them, so there are all these shades of gray which allow us to tell complex stories.” Superman: Legacy is set for a July 11, 2025 release.

What do you think about Gunn directing and writing Superman: Legacy? Let us know in the comments section.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.