Superman: Release Date, Plot Details & Everything We Know

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Plenty of information has been revealed about Superman, the first entry in the rebooted DC Universe, including a release date, filming start date, and official casting for the two lead roles. Following director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran's ascension to co-CEOs of DC Studios in November 2022, the pair revealed their initial plans for the upcoming DC Universe in January 2023. After The Flash resets the DC Universe, Gunn's new plan will expand the franchise on film, TV, and video games, kicking off with Creature Commandos, Waller, and Superman in which a new actor assumes the role of Kal-El
Following the success of Gunn's recent Marvel Studios project, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, excitement has been growing for Superman. This comes in the wake of the controversial news that Henry Cavill wouldn't be returning as Superman as Gunn wished to focus on a younger version of the character. Superman has been a staple of cinema since Max Fleischer's animated shorts in the 1940s, but Superman is set to tell a completely new story for the Man of Steel, continuing the legacy of the hero whom Gunn considers to be "a huge priority, if not the biggest priority" for DC Studios (via Twitter).

The newest information regarding the upcoming Superman movie is the reveal of Superman's DCU costume on April 6, 2024 via James Gunn's Threads account. The costume has been a hotly discussed topic ever since the film was announced, making its official release a major update regarding the project, especially as it teases so much about what to expect from the film and its take on one of the most iconic superheroes of all time.
David Corenswet's Superman costume appears to blend together elements of prior Man of Steel outfits to give a look that's both fresh and nostalgic, with a weatherbeaten aspect added to it that shows Corenswet's hero is not at his first day on the job, and has faced battles down before this encounter. Naturally, elements that fans had been debating intensely beforehand - such as the suit's distinctive red pants, which have been left off of several other Superman costumes - have led to even more discussions online, with some viewers adoring and some despising the ensemble.
This costume tease also came complete with a mysterious scene behind Superman showing a glowing green and pink/purple orb firing some kind of energy blast, which appears to be the threat that the Man of Steel is having to suit up in order to face. This has led to theories surrounding both Lex Luthor and Braniac's role in the movie, as Braniac is commonly associated with both colors, and Lex's battle armor and "Apex Lex" costume share the palette as well, meaning either could easily be behind the seeming threat in the background.
Other than this, the latest major news for the DCU Superman movie involves the confirmation that filming began in late February 2024, and the news of its title, as the installment is now officially called Superman instead of its previous title of Superman: Legacy, as per James Gunn's announcement in February 2024. Within the social media post discussing the matter, Gunn stated that "By the time I locked the final draft, it was clear the title was SUPERMAN", which suggests this move is a reflection of the content of the DCU debut itself, and not indicative of any changes in approach in terms of how the DC Universe will be dealt with going forward.
The post also saw the DCU co-CEO repeat that the movie is set to release July 11, which reinforces earlier James Gunn posts which confirmed that Superman would still be making its release date of July 11, 2025. This is especially noteworthy given this November saw a slew of Marvel movie delays, which reconfigured the impending Phase 5 and 6 slate considerably. As such, reaffirming that the first DCU movie is still on track is reassuring to know, even if Superman is a ways from being released just yet.

Superman Director Confirmed

James Gunn and Peter Safran announced the first phase of the new DCU in January 2023, titling this collection of projects "Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters." Although Superman will be predated by Creature Commandos and Waller, Gunn and Safran consider Superman’s debut to be the true beginning of the franchise. Gunn confirmed that he is the writer and director for Superman, though he is scouting for other visionaries to take on the DCU's subsequent films, including The Authority, The Brave and the Bold - confirmed to be directed by The Flash's Andy Muschietti - and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, while James Mangold has been confirmed to be creating Swamp Thing.

Superman Release Date

While streaming series' Creature Commandos and Waller have both been given a rough 2024 release window, Superman is currently the only upcoming DCU project with an announced release date. Superman is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, allowing plenty of time for Gunn and the DC team to perfect the newest Man of Steel story. 2025 will be a big year for superhero cinema, as Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four is slated for release in 2025, and the DC Elseworlds project The Batman - Part II also has an October 2025 release date attached.
Superman Cast