DC Studios Co-Head James Gunn To Direct ‘Superman: Legacy’

The first project out of the revamped DCU just got its director. DC Studios Co-Head and Co-CEO James Gunn has officially announced that, on top of handling the script, the filmmaker will be directing Superman: Legacy.

In a Twitter thread, Gunn announced the news along with a story about him realizing the July 11 (2025) release date coincided with his late father’s birthday. The creative mind behind the rebooted DCU makes it clear that Superman: Legacy will not only include his own personal stamp, but it will also tackle how Superman’s “aristocratic Kryptonian parents and his Kansas farmer parents inform who he is and the choices he makes.”

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. pic.twitter.com/ohQNV8nI4g

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 15, 2023

When the DCU was first revealed, there were clear signs that those around Gunn in the upper hierarchy of DC Studios wanted the Guardians of the Galaxy director to helm the solo Superman film. Co-Head and Co-CEO Peter Safran said as much during the initial announcement, going as far as to say that “we’re hoping that he (Gunn) will direct it.” Although Gunn had made it clear that the DCU was not going to be the “Gunn-verse,” directing Superman: Legacy always seemed inevitable.

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Gunn, known for his distinctly emotional storytelling in the superhero genre, tackles the first Superman-focused solo project since Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Details are scarce (to say the least), but the film is confirmed to not feature Henry Cavill, who was most recently strung around by Dwayne Johnson and co. for the ill-fated Black Adam post-credit scene. Superman: Legacy is set to follow Clark Kent early in his superhero and journalism career, and will presumably feature a familiar supporting cast of characters, including Lois Lane.

Superman: Legacy is currently set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

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