James Gunn to direct Superman: Legacy, release date announced

James Gunn will be directing Superman: Legacy in an announcement on Wednesday.

The filmmaker, who is also the CEO and chairman of DC Studios, shared that he wrote the screenplay and will helm the project with Peter Safran as the producer.

Superman: Legacy, as per its pilot synopsis revealed that it "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."

In a post on Twitter, Gunn penned an emotional anecdote about his fondness for the project and how it would have never come into fruition had it not been the support of his late father.

"Yes, I’m directing Superman: Legacy to be released on July 11, 2025. My brother Matt told me when he saw the release date he started to cry. I asked him why. He said, 'Dude, it’s Dad’s birthday.' I hadn't realized," he began. 

"I lost my Dad almost three years ago. He was my best friend. He didn’t understand me as a kid, but he supported my love of comics and my love of film and I wouldn’t be making this movie now without him,

"It has been a long road to this point. I was offered Superman years ago — I initially said no because I didn’t have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved."

The director added that "a bit less than a year ago I saw a way in, in many ways centering around Superman’s heritage — how both his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes."

Superman: Legacy will be the first cross-platform story where it will interact with its HBO Max streaming projects in  Phase 1 which the studio has named Gods and Monsters.

The cast of the film has yet to be announced.

Superman: Legacy is expected for a global theatrical release on July 11, 2025.

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