‘Superman’ stayed top of the box office for a second weekend.
James Gunn’s movie dropped 54% following its successful launch.
The new ‘Smurfs’ movie and an ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ reboot failed to have much impact.
As a comic book hero, Superman can famously leap tall buildings in a single bound. From the looks of the performance by the latest cinematic take on the character –– James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ –– he can also hold off the competition, as the movie stayed top of the box office this weekend.
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With a relatively light 54% drop, the movie took in $57.3 million from 4,774 venues. That was enough to secure the top spot once more, with strong weekday business also helping.
Here’s what Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian had to say about the performance:
“A 54% second weekend drop is indicative of a marketplace that’s embracing the film”
It’s good news for Warner Bros. and DC Studios, which is hoping the movie, starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, will spark interest in the new, interconnected DC Universe.
Domestically, the movie has now made $236 million, and its global haul is now $406 million.
Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ settled for second place once more place with $23 million from 3,854 venues, a 42% drop from last week.
After three weekends of release, the dinosaur movie has earned $276 million domestically.
Yet it’s on the global marketplace where the latest ‘Jurassic World’ outing is really excelling, making more than $647 million. That’s a solid result, if still behind the billion-dollar plus earnings of the previous three franchise entries.
What about the rest of the box office?
Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James in 2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
The strongest start among a clutch of misfiring newcomers was Sony’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, opening with $13 million from 3,206 theaters.
‘Last Summer’ added $11.6 million overseas from 58 markets, bringing its worldwide total to $24.6 million. That suggests the nostalgia factor for the horror reboot (which featured roles for the original’s Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt) wasn’t as strong as the studio hoped. Still, with a thrifty $18 million budget to make back (plus marketing costs), there’s less pressure to perform.
Fourth place was Paramount’s Rihanna-led animated outing ‘Smurfs’, which made $11 million from 3,504 venues, a disappointing result for the $58 million-budgeted musical.
‘Smurfs’ earned $25 million at the international box office to date for a global tally of $36 million, hardly a reason for Smurfing it up, but likely one that will earn more through merchandising than ticket sales.
Fifth was Apple/Warner Bros.’ Brad Pitt-starring racing pic ‘F1’, which took in $9.6 million in its fourth weekend for a $153.6 million domestic tally and $460.8 million globally.
Finally, ‘Hereditary’ director Ari Aster’s Western satire ‘Eddington’ failed to generate much interested, flopping to seventh place and $4.2 million from 2,111 venues.
What’s to come next weekend?
Given the tracking and early buzz, it appears that ‘Superman’ won’t be flying quite so high this coming weekend as Marvel’s own latest superhero behemoth, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is on the launch pad.
The movie is projected to opening above $100 million, possibly as high as $140 million, so the big battle of the heroes is about to heat up.
Milly Alcock on the set of ‘Supergirl’. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Preview:
Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, enters the Fortress of Solitude at the end of ‘Superman’ to pick up her dog, Krypto, whom Kal-El was watching for her.
With ‘Supergirl’ releasing in 2026, her movie may show fans where she was while Kal-El was watching Krypto.
Knowing the movie will follow the events of the graphic novel ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’, however, this is likely the beginning of her story.
DC Studios co-CEO has a way with teasing upcoming projects without shoving them down viewers’ throats, which is why it came as no surprise to most when Kal-El’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, made a brief appearance at the end of ‘Superman‘. Her solo film will release in theaters in 2026, making this the perfect way to introduce her and allow fans to get to know the DCU version of her, as well as the (unhealthy) relationship that she has with Krypto.
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Milly Alcock plays Supergirl, who stops by the Fortress of Solitude to pick up her dog, Krypto, after leaving him with her cousin Kal-El (David Corenswet) so she can go out partying – at least that is what she appears to have been doing. Anyone who has read the graphic novel that the 2026 film is based on, ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’, already knows this version of Kara.
Taking into consideration the events of the graphic novel’s storyline, ‘Supergirl‘ could take place during ‘Superman’. However, because of Krypto’s important role in the plot, at least part of it will likely take place after it.
Supergirl’s Cameo In ‘Superman’ Introduces A Comic Book Accurate Kara
DC Comics’ Supergirl from writer Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.’ Photo courtesy of DC.com.
Kara showing up drunk and disorderly at the end of ‘Superman’ has stirred up quite a conversation among audiences. For those who have not read ‘Woman of Tomorrow’, I can certainly see why this would take people by surprise. This version of her is much darker than others. She is not the polar opposite of the CW version, played by Melissa Benoist, but she is not very similar to her either.
The graphic novel opens with Kara drunk at a bar on a red sun planet, something that Kal-El claims is one of her favorite past times when she returns for Krypto. She is a mess, going so far as to cuss at Superman while thanking him for watching her dog. This easily comes as a shock for those that are not familiar with her darker side, but for the fans of this particular comic book storyline, seeing her in this state is exciting.
It means that DC Studios is not going to shy away from going there, which is necessary to tell the story correctly. Supergirl has not had an easy life, and letting viewers in on her past trauma, and the mental state this has left her in, is the perfect way to explore the ‘Woman of Tomorrow’ story. The themes are going to be heavy, and it is potentially a tough pill to swallow for those who prefer a lighter version of the character, but DC needs to takes risks right now. Thankfully, it seems like they are willing to do it.
‘Supergirl’ Could Take Place During The Events Of ‘Superman’
Knowing how things play out in the graphic novel is a bit of a cheat, but because of this, there is a good chance these two films can overlap. When we first meet Kara in ‘Superman’ she is drunk, having spent some time on a red sun planet partying. Because of her Kryptonian powers, this is something she cannot do on a planet with a yellow sun. Kal-El explains in the film, but essentially the rays of the sun will heal her so quickly that the alcohol is never able to take effect.
There is a decent chance that ‘Supergirl’ will start before she makes her way to Earth to pick up Krypto. It will take the time to explore this side of Kara, including her reasoning for partying so hard. We will see that dark part of her, learning just enough about it before she goes and collects Krypto.
After she leaves Earth, things are sure to get even rougher for her, as she looks deep inside herself and is forced to confront her childhood trauma. If it sticks closely to the graphic novel, there will be flashbacks as well, letting viewers in on her bringing up and what that has done to her.
Krypto’s Comic Book Storyline Is The Main Hint That ‘Supergirl’ Might Take Place After ‘Superman’
(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Without giving too much away, Krypto is a major catalyst for the events of the graphic novel that ‘Supergirl’ is going to be based on. It is because of this, that the odds of Kara’s movie taking place entirely during the events of ‘Superman’ start to dwindle. Yes, there could certainly be some overlap, but Krypto is too important to the story being told to not be a part of her movie at all.
‘Superman’ has now established that Krypto is Kara’s dog, a key factor in the graphic novel. He is a major part of this darker Supergirl story and will likely be included in the film. Not only has James Gunn already stated that this film is a darker take on the character, the version of her that was seen in ‘Superman’ seems to be the final bit of proof.
Whether ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Superman’ do indeed overlap or not, one thing is for sure, DC Studios is going all in on this darker side of Kara. There is still plenty of time to pick up the graphic novel and check it out before ‘Supergirl”s 2026 release – if you don’t mind potential spoilers that is.
DC Comics’ Supergirl from writer Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.’ Photo courtesy of DC.com.
‘Superman’ is off to a strong start at the domestic box office.
James Gunn’s movie earned $122 million, the third biggest launch of the year to date.
But ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ took a chunk out of its earnings overseas.
One of the catchy taglines for Richard Donner’s 1978 movie ‘Superman’ was, “you’ll believe a man can fly.” For writer/director James Gunn and the latest cinematic iteration of the famous comic book character, also titled ‘Superman’, a new one might be “you’ll believe a man can fly to the top of the box office charts.”
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It appears that the big bet by Gunn –– who also runs Warner Bros.’ DC Studios arm overseeing the various properties spawned by the comic book behemoth, and intended ‘Superman’ as his theatrical calling card –– is paying off.
Reviews for the movie were mixed to generally positive and audiences gave the movie a solid grade, which bodes well for this one to keep on flying, even with Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ a couple of weeks away from launch.
The global market might be where ‘Superman’ faltered slightly, not because of any Kryptonite, but because of ‘Jurassic World Rebirth.’
Universal’s latest iteration of its successful dinosaur franchise held on to screens and audience interest, and ‘Superman’ had to make do with a softer-than-expected $95 million global launch.
Top-earning territories for the superhero were the United Kingdom with $9.8 million, Mexico with $8.8 million, Brazil with $5.9 million and Australia with $5.3 million. The movie bombed in China, earning just $6.6 million in its opening weekend. By comparison, ‘Rebirth’ opened last weekend in China with $25 million.
‘Superman’ needs to keep performing to offset its $225 million budget and the roughly $100 million spent to promote it.
Here’s what FranchiseRe movie consulting firm’s David A. Gross said about the movie’s performance so far:
“This is an outstanding domestic opening. If there’s any softness here, it’s overseas. Superman has always been identified as an American character, and in some parts of the world, America is currently not enjoying its greatest popularity.”
Understatement of year, perhaps?
David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, was also enthused by the movie’s performance and praised its overseer:
“Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world. James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired. This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Clayface’ in theaters and the series ‘Lanterns’ on HBO Max, all part of a bold 10-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”
What else happened at the box office this weekend?
(L to R) Luna Blaise and the T-Rex in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Even given its success overseas, ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ suffered a considerable reduction domestically this weekend, adding $40 million from 4,324 venues in its second weekend of release, a painful 57% drop from its debut.
Yet Universal won’t be worrying too much just yet, as the movie has so far sunk its teeth into a mighty $232 million domestically and $529 million worldwide.
Third across the finishing line was Apple’s ‘F1’ (distributed theatrical by Warner Bros.) The sports drama anchored by Brad Pitt as a down-on-his-luck racer recruited by a Formula 1 team, earned $13 million from 3,412 theaters in its third lap around the track, marking a 50% decline from the prior weekend.
It has so far earned $136 million in North America and $393 million worldwide, which is solid but it’ll need to keep on making money to offset a hefty $250 million budget (before marketing costs). The movie has, at least, become Apple’s biggest theatrical hit to date by far.
Fourth place went to DreamWorks’ live-action remake of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, which collected $7.8 million from 3,285 theaters. It has so far taken in $239 million domestically and $560 million globally.
Finally, in fifth place, Disney/Pixar’s ‘Elio’ continued to be a disappointment. It made $4 million from 2,730 screens in its fourth weekend. The intergalactic tale has grossed just $63 million in North America and finally surpassed the $100 million mark globally after a month of release. With $117 million in worldwide ticket sales, the $150 million-budgeted tentpole will end its theatrical run as a major money loser for the companies.
What’s the future for DC Studios?
As mentioned above, Gunn and Safran already have plans in place for an interconnected series of movies and TV series, with the likes of ‘Supergirl’, ‘Clayface’ and HBO Max series ‘Lanterns’ at different stages of production, and more in the development chute beyond that.
Milly Alcock on the set of ‘Supergirl’. Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
In honor of the new ‘Superman’ movie, Moviefone is counting down every live action Superman movie and TV show appearance ever made.
NOTE: For this list we are only including live action movies and TV shows featuring Superman (Or Clark Kent when he was Superboy), and not animated projects or documentaries. We are also not including his faceless cameos in ‘Shazam!‘, season 1 of ‘Peacemaker‘, or ‘Titans‘ final episode, but will include his appearances in ‘Black Adam‘ and ‘The Flash‘. Finally, we are also including theatrically released director’s cuts like ‘Superman II: The Donner Cut‘ and ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘.
Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’. Photo: Warner Bros.
With global superpowers engaged in an increasingly hostile arms race, Superman (Christopher Reeve) leads a crusade to rid the world of nuclear weapons. But Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), recently sprung from jail, is declaring war on the Man of Steel and his quest to save the planet. Using a strand of Superman’s hair, Luthor synthesizes a powerful ally known as Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow) and ignites an epic battle spanning Earth and space.
Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
(L to R) Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain in ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman’. Photo: ABC Television.
A much more lavish version of the popular ‘Superman’ television series which had first aired forty years earlier, ‘Lois & Clark’ focused more on the Man of Steel’s early adult years in Metropolis. With the unknowing help of Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher), Clark Kent (Dean Cain) created Superman there in Metropolis after finding work at the world-famous Daily Planet newspaper, where he meets fellow reporter Lois Lane.
Gerard Christopher in ‘Superboy’. Photo: Alexander and Ilya Salkind Productions.
‘Superboy’ is a half-hour live-action television series based on Kal-El’s early years as Superboy (John Newton/Gerard Christopher). It depicted Superboy’s adventures during his college years, his meetings with Lex Luthor (Sherman Howard) and his romance with Lana Lang (Stacy Haiduk). The series was brought to the screen by executive producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind, who were the producers of the first three ‘Superman’ movies and the 1984 ‘Supergirl‘ movie.
When his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. In order to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
George Reeves in ‘Adventures of Superman’. Photo: Motion Pictures for Television.
Announcer: “The Adventures of Superman. Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!” Voices: “Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” Announcer: “Yes, it’s Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands; and who, disguised as Clark Kent (George Reeves), mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.”
George Reeves in ‘Superman and the Mole Men’. Photo: Lippert Pictures.
Reporters Clark Kent (George Reeves) and Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) arrive in the small town of Silsby to witness the drilling of the world’s deepest oil well. The drill, however, has penetrated the underground home of a race of small, furry people who then come to the surface at night to look around. The fact that they glow in the dark scares the townfolk, who form a mob, led by the vicious Luke Benson (Jeff Corey), intent on killing the strange people. Only Superman has a chance to prevent this tragedy.
(L to R) Christopher Reeve and Richard Pryor in ‘Superman III’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Aiming to defeat the Man of Steel, wealthy executive Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) hires bumbling but brilliant Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) to develop synthetic kryptonite, which yields some unexpected psychological effects. Between rekindling romance with his high school sweetheart and saving himself, Superman must contend with a powerful supercomputer.
Brandon Routh in ‘Superman Returns’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Superman (Brandon Routh) returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
(L to R) Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Tyler Hoechlin in ‘Superman & Lois’. Photo: DC Entertainment.
After years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever: dealing with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society.
(L to R) Christopher Reeve and Terence Stamp in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Three escaped criminals from the planet Krypton, who have the same powers on Earth as Superman, test the Man of Steel’s mettle. Led by General Zod (Terence Stamp), the Kryptonians take control of the White House and partner with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) to destroy Superman (Christopher Reeve) and rule the world. But Superman, who made himself human in order to get closer to Lois (Margot Kidder), realizes he has a responsibility to save the planet.
The origins of the world’s greatest hero–from Krypton refugee Kal-el’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel.
Henry Cavill in ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), DeSaad, and Darkseid (Ray Porter) and their dreadful intentions.
Henry Cavill in ‘Man of Steel’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man (Henry Cavill), he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Superman (Christopher Reeve) agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.
Superman (David Corenswet), a journalist in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.
Christopher Reeve in 1978’s ‘Superman’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Mild-mannered Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) launches a plan to take over the world.
There has been a lot of internet chatter about comic book movie fatigue, but DC Studios is hoping to fix that with reboot of their universe. The DCU is kicking off with one of the most well-known and beloved characters, Superman, which is a brilliant move.
That said, it is hard not to be concerned that perhaps James Gunn was wearing too many hats in the making of ‘Superman’. Despite the massive pressure it must have been, it is completely understandable why he would want to write and direct the first DCU film: ‘Superman’ is going to set the tone for the future and DC Studios needs it to succeed. It would be difficult to hand over the reins and trust someone else to do it.
Well, DC fans everywhere can finally breathe because ‘Superman’ is a fantastic movie, boasting incredible lead performances, epic action sequences, and a story that will leave audiences feeling all the feels. Plus, stick around for that end-credit scene.
One of the main reasons that ‘Superman’ works so well is the reason Tom Holland‘s ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming‘ did: It is not an origin story. Everyone knows how Superman came to Earth, and while this is, of course, addressed in the film, it is not the main focus. We hear about Kal-El’s parents and how they sent him away from a dying planet, and yes, they do have a key involvement in the plot, but we are not forced to sit through another coming of age story abotu a young Clark Kent.
When ‘Superman’ starts, Kent has already been publicly saving the world as Superman for three years. This is all established via a few words on the screen at the very beginning of the movie. He has been dating Lois Lane, who knows his true identity, for three months. The best part is, it doesn’t feel like we are being dropped into the middle of a story. Everything needed to establish the world and the characters are there, and we can now get into the good stuff, Superman’s struggle with simply wanting to do the right thing.
James Gunn knows how to handle an ensemble cast. He has proven this time and time again. He is a brilliant writer, which is evident in the script. The way the characters banter with one another helps to make us feel as if we are in an already established world. They know each other, they have history, all of which adds a believability to the story being told.
The story itself is relatable and strangely relevant in today’s climate. It is slightly political, but never polarizing, as it mostly debates if Superman has the right to protect the people of Earth and dives into what his motives are. Lex Luther hates him and wants to take him down by whatever means necessary. While they meet for the first time in the film, thanks to the writing, this is another believable relationship.
The set pieces are massive and detailed, which makes sense given the reported $225 million budget. These, coupled with James Gunn’s knowledge of DC Comics and the world his movie is in, makes for some truly unforgettable moments.
David Corenswet was born to play Superman, there is no doubt about that. He does such a great job of capturing the struggle and the frustration when he needs to, but also the humanity and strength as well. This version of Clark Kent is one of the best and is sure to go down in history as a fantastic casting choice.
At the same time, Rachel Brosnahan brings something to Lois Lane that is real, raw, and very likable. She is a tough cookie, and a journalist before anything else, but is her relationship with Clark that will warm the hearts of viewers. Chemistry practically oozes through the screen whenever Lois and Clark are together, whether they are arguing or having deep, meaningful conversations. It has been a long time since two actors have brought something like this to the big screen and it is truly a joy to watch.
It should come as no surprise that Nicholas Hoult nails his role as Lex Luther. he does so much of his acting with his eyes, especially in the third act. This character is so consumed with hatred and envy that his blood is practically boiling at all times. Even during the scenes where Lex Luther has the upper hand, Hoult allows that to come through in his performance.
One of Superman’s most prominent villains, it makes sense that Lex is the featured bad guy in the first DCU film. Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet are clearly having a lot of fun together in this movie, but not in a goofy or comedic way. When the two come face-to-face, it is impossible not to get chills.
As for the Justice Gang, as they call themselves, Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardener), Isabela Mercad (Hawkgirl), and Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), they bring just the right amount of comedic relief needed to keep the story fun. Mister Terrific is the clear standout of the group, so much so that fans will be begging for him to get a solo movie after ‘Superman’.
Yes, there are a lot of characters in ‘Superman’, but they all have a role to play in the story and they all do a wonderful job at it. No one feels shoehorned in or like they do not belong. This an already established world with established characters that we are watching, and each person makes sense to be there.
Mid-Credit and End-Credit Scenes
(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
‘Superman’ features a quick mid-credit scene and an end-credit scene. While neither of these sets up for the future of the DCU, or offers anything extremely important, they are worth sticking around for. The mid-credit scene is brief, but sweet. Definitely an “awww” moment. As for the end-credit sequence, it is absolutely hilarious.
‘Superman’ gives fans exactly what they are looking for in the first DCU movie. There are incredible action sequences that showcase just how powerful this hero is. At the same time, we get a glimpse into his human side, realizing how similar he is to us despite technically being an alien.
The acting is top-notch with every actor knowing exactly what their character brings to the story. James Gunn proves, once again, that he knows how to write and direct an ensemble cast and that he knows how to adapt a comic book story for the screen.
Krpto may not be the best boy, but he is a fun addition to ‘Superman’. He is not overly silly and he is important to the story being told. While the mid-credit and end-credit scenes are just for fun, the end of the movie does offer a glimpse into what is coming next. Superman fans, get ready to kick your feet and giggle as you fall in love with this character all over again.
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What is the plot of ‘Superman’?
In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.
Fans are worried that James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ has too many characters in it.
James Gunn is known for large ensemble casts and knows how to write for them.
No one has ever complained about the numerous characters in ‘The Godfather’.
Every time a new trailer or TV spot for ‘Superman‘ is released, the internet is abuzz with people saying that there are too many characters. The concerns are that if there are too many characters, the story would be difficult to follow, there would be too many side plots to give the core story the time it needs, and the film would end up too oversaturated.
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The thing is, James Gunn is well known for his large ensemble casts. This is his wheelhouse, so there is no reason to be worried. He thrilled Marvel fans with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ trilogy, and his ‘The Suicide Squad‘ success surely had something to do with DC Studios handing him the reins as co-CEO.
On top of that, this feels like just another reason for people to complain about something they aren’t even that passionate about, as no one has ever said the same about ‘The Godfather‘, which has just as many characters.
The Prominent Characters In ‘Superman’ All Make Sense For The Story We Assume Is Being Told
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
One of the biggest thing that fans need to remember about ‘Superman’ is that this is technically the introduction into James Gunn’s DCU, as it is the first feature film. Yes, ‘Peacemaker‘ is (mostly) cannon and ‘Creature Commandos‘ is included yet animated, but this is the real start of Gunn’s plans. Because of this, it is necessary to establish the world that these heroes live in. Superman is not the only hero, and opting not to include any others would only hurt the believability of the story.
How many times have people asked where the Eternals or Namor were during the events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ and ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ and why they never came to help? Even if Marvel tries to offer a reason, most viewers do not accept it. James Gunn is avoiding this response to ‘Superman’ by showing where the main characters of the DCU are during these events and establishing that they do exist in this world.
David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther, can you imagine a story that only involves the three of them? Not only would it likely get very boring, very quickly, it risks being repetative and too closed off.
Adding in nurmerous characters (that are likely to not be a major part of the plot, mind you) such as Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr will bring in subplots and round out the universe, making it more realistic while simultaneously setting up for what is to come in future films and television projects.
If Anyone Can Handle An Ensemble Cast, It Is James Gunn
It is hard not to laugh at the idea that ‘Superman’ has too many characters when you look at who is behind it all. James Gunn is writing and directing, and if anyone knows his way around an ensemble cast, it is that man. He is a genuis when it comes to plucking characters out of obscurity and telling an emotional, exciting, and action-packed story around them.
While Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luther are undoubtedly household names, several other characters in ‘Superman’ are not. Those who do not read DC Comics and don’t immerse themselves in these worlds, probably have never heard of Mister Terrific or Steve Lombard. James Gunn excels at bringing these types of characters to life.
If you look at character list for ‘The Suicide Squad’, it has just as many, if not more, than ‘Superman’ does. There were two complete rosters in that movie and fans still soaked it all in and loved nearly every moment of it. James Gunn is brilliant when it comes to giving every character, big or small, their time to shine and justifying their reason to exist in that universe. There is no reason to believe he will not do the same with ‘Superman’.
No One Has Ever Said ‘The Godfather’ Has Too Many Characters
(L to R) James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in ‘The Godfather’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The final point to make in this arguement is that no one has ever said ‘The Godfather’ had too many characters – and there are at least fifteen prominent characters in that movie. They do not all need a backstory for it to make sense that they exist in the world. Viewers don’t complain that the plot gets lost because there are so many of them, and ‘The Godfather’ certainly is not considered a bad movie (not even remotely).
This is just one example of a beloved film having multiple characters, each with a job to do to drive the plot forward even if you don’t know about their upbringing or their deep dark secrets. A movie can have one hundred main characters and still be good if the writing and the story being told is good.
James Gunn himself pointed out that ‘Oppenheimer‘ has three times as many speaking roles as ‘Superman’ does and promises that the film will not confuse anyone in an interview with IGN. Plus, ‘Superman’ isn’t even out yet, so can we please normalize saving the criticism of a movie until after you watch it?
(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
DC Comics’ Supergirl from writer Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.’ Photo courtesy of DC.com.
Preview:
‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ will now simply be known as ‘Supergirl’.
DC Studios boss James Gunn confirmed the title change.
Milly Alcock is starring in the movie.
As with DC Studios boss James Gunn and his upcoming ‘Superman’, follow-up film ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ is undergoing a name change.
Gunn changed ‘Superman’ to simply the character’s name, and ‘Supergirl’ is likewise losing the subtitle
The movie, which adapts Tom King’s comic, has Milly Alcock playing Kara Zor-El (cousin of Superman) and Craig Gillespie in the director’s chair. It has wrapped shooting in the UK for a 2026 release.
“I’m always cutting. “Legacy” was really — we do something called a premortem. A premortem is you get together with your group that’s doing the project. It’s usually about a couple months before shooting, and you go, hypothetically, ‘If it’s an epic disaster, what are the things that we’re doing today that are going to cause it to be an epic disaster? Everyone here can speak freely.’ One of the things I brought up was, it was called ‘Superman: Legacy’. Even though I was the one that gave it that title, I just wasn’t sure. First of all, I’m sick of the superhero title, colon, other-name thing. And then also it seemed to be looking back when we’re looking forward, even though it does have to do with legacy in the movie itself. And everybody was like, ‘Oh, yeah, no, change it.’
DC Comics’ Supergirl from writer Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.’ Photo courtesy of DC.com.
While the exact storyline for ‘Supergirl’ has yet to be confirmed, we do know it’ll be a big-scale sci-fi film based on King and Bilquis Evely’s comic run. It features a “darker, harsher” version of Kara raised on a surviving chunk of Krypton who sees everyone around her die. And it’ll see her helping a young alien who is seeking vengeance for the death of her own family.
This is what Gunn said at the time of his big DC Studios announcement:
“This is a very different type of Supergirl. In our film, we see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from, you know, the time he’s an infant, versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip-off of Krypton and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl and is much more hardcore. She’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”
Who else is in the cast for ‘Supergirl’?
Jason Momoa arriving for the Amazon Upfront on May 13th, 2025. Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Amazon.
And not forgetting Jason Momoa, who has form with the previous incarnation of the DC movie universe (he played Aquaman, in case you forgot), who will be intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo.
When will ‘Supergirl’ be in theaters?
‘Supergirl’ is one of the few DC Studios projects to have an actual release date and is scheduled for June 26th, 2026.
(Left) Elizabeth Henstridge and Tom Rhys Harries in ‘Suspicion’, now streaming on Apple TV+. (Right) DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
Preview:
Tom Rhys Harries has won the lead in the Clayface movie.
James Watkins is in the director’s chair.
The movie is set for a September 2026 release date.
With the current cinematic incarnation of DC Studios, run by James Gunn and Peter Safran launching with Gunn’s take on the Man of Steel, another developing movie from the company took a positive step forward by narrowing in on its lead.
If you’re not up to date on the muddy man-monster, here’s your basic briefing on Clayface as a character.
Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the original Clayface, Basil Karlo, appeared in Detective Comics #40, published in June 1940, as a B-list actor who began a life of crime using the identity of a villain that he had portrayed in a horror film.
Kane stated that the character was partially inspired by the 1925 Lon Chaney version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’; and that his name was derived from Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.
The character only appeared twice in the Golden Age but was the inspiration for the shape-shifting Silver Age version. And, as is usual in comic books, the name has been used for a number of similar takes on the character.
In the late 1950s, Batman began facing a series of science fiction-inspired foes, including Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter given vast shapeshifting powers and resiliency by exposure to a pool of radioactive protoplasm, who became the second Clayface. He retained the title for the next couple of decades of comic book history.
In the late 1970s, Preston Payne became the third Clayface. A scientist suffering from hyperpituitarism, Preston Payne used the second Clayface’s blood to create a cure for his condition, but instead became a clay-like creature that needed to pass his new condition on to others to survive.
Sondra Fuller of Strike Force Kobra used the terrorist group’s technology to become the fourth Clayface, also known as Lady Clay. She formed the Mud Pack with the original and third Clayfaces. During this era, the original Clayface used the DNA of Payne and Fuller to become the Ultimate Clayface (talk about bragging!)
Sometime after the Mud Pack event, Payne and Fuller had a son named Cassius “Clay” Payne, who, as the fifth Clayface, also had metahuman shapeshifting powers.
That’s just a selection of the character’s alternates, who have appeared over the years in various films, series, animated works, video games and other forms of media.
Gunn and Safran have previously said that actors who play roles in the animated sphere for their DC Studios will also take on the live-action version, but we don’t know if that means Tudyk will return for the movie.
As for the tone of the movie, Deadline’s sources have heard that the Clayface movie is rumored to be a horror-thriller-tragedy, with the lead protagonist not expected to be portrayed as the notorious villain he’s usually seen as.
Where else have I seen Tom Rhys Harries?
(L to R) Kunal Nayyar and Tom Rhys-Harries in ‘Suspicion’, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Gunn’s big re-launch of DC-based movies kicks off next month with the launch of the aforementioned ‘Superman,’ featuring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Supes and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. It’ll be in theaters on July 11th.
Batman, as played by Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ is staying around (a sequel, despite delays, is still being scripted), but he’s as part of the extended “Elseworlds” stories, which exist outside of the DC continuity.
Gunn and Safran’s original announcement also included mention that ‘Batman: The Brave And The Bold’, was in development, adapting Grant Morrison’s run comics run.
It features yet another Bruce Wayne who tries to keep his son, Damien Wayne, in line as Robin. It’s intended to launch the “Bat-family” into the movie universe, but has been hit with scripting issues and delays.
Finally, we have ‘Dynamic Duo’ — an animated feature about Batman’s Robin sidekicks Dick Grayson and Jason Todd — which is tentatively scheduled for June 2028.
“We have to treat every project as if we’re lucky. We don’t have the mandate to have a certain amount of movies and TV shows every year. So we’re going to put out everything that we think is of the highest quality. We’re obviously going to do some good things and some not-so-good things, but hopefully on average everything will be as high-quality as possible. Nothing goes before there’s a screenplay that I personally am happy with.”
When will the Clayface movie be in theaters?
With a director and star now aboard, and production plans for a UK shoot at Leavesden Studios in place, Warner Bros. and DC Studios are confirming a September 11th, 2026 release for this one.
(L to R) James McAvoy (as Dalton) and Director James Watkins on the set of ‘Speak No Evil’.
Gal Gadot in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Preview:
James Gunn says that DC Studios is developing a ‘Wonder Woman’ movie.
No writer has been announced yet.
The company already has a show about the character in the works.
As Superman prepares to return to theaters (albeit in the re-imagined form of David Corenswet) in next month’s eponymous movie, there has naturally been speculation about the rest of the Justice League.
And according to ‘Superman’ director James Gunn (who also happens to run DC Studios with co-chief Peter Safran), we might be seeing Diana Prince, AKA Wonder Woman, back on movie screens sooner than originally suspected.
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As part of a wide-ranging interview to promote ‘Superman’ with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn was asked about the future for Wonder Woman, and he replied that a movie featuring the character is “being written right now.”
When Gunn and Safran were announced as taking over running Warner Bros.’ DC arm (which would go on to be named DC Studios), there was much speculation about whether any of the actors from the Zack Snyder era, including Gadot and ‘Man of Steel’s Henry Cavill, would stay in their roles.
Despite comments from Gadot that she and Patty Jenkins (who had co-written and directed the previous two standalone Wonder Woman outings) were developing a third movie for the character, the DC Studios duo appeared to be steering more towards a complete refresh of the comic book universe.
Gunn and Safran’s initial outline showed they had other ideas for Diana. When they unveiled their first plans around another Wonder Woman project, ‘Paradise Lost.’
It’s a TV series set on Themyscira, the birthplace of Princess Diana, and described as ‘Game Of Thrones’ with the Amazons. It’s set before Diana is born.
Here’s what Gunn said about the show at the time:
“It’s an origin story of how this society of women came about. What does it mean? What are their politics like? What are their rules? Who’s in charge? What are the games that they play with each other to get to the top? I think it’s really exciting.”
And it would seem that, as with Superman, when and if Wonder Woman does return to big screens, she’ll be played by someone new.
Corenswet is our current Superman, and we’re still waiting to learn who will fill the other roles.
Batman, as played by Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ is staying around (a sequel, despite delays, is still being scripted), but he’s as part of the extended “Elseworlds” stories, which exist outside of the DC continuity.
Gunn and Safran’s original announcement also included mention that ‘Batman: The Brave And The Bold’, was in development, adapting Grant Morrison’s run comics run.
It features yet another Bruce Wayne who tries to keep his son, Damien Wayne, in line as Robin. It’s intended to launch the “Bat-family” into the movie universe, but has been hit with scripting issues and delays.
Finally, we have ‘Dynamic Duo’ — an animated feature about Batman’s Robin sidekicks Dick Grayson and Jason Todd — which is tentatively scheduled for June 2028.
When would a ‘Wonder Woman’ movie land on screens?
Since the movie appears to be at the early scripting stage, it’s impossible to speculate when it might head to theaters at this point.
Marvel has opted out of a Hall H panel at SDCC 2025
This decision doesn’t mean they don’t have confidence in upcoming projects
James Gunn’s DCU will likely be the big headliner
Marvel has announced that they will not be hosting a Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. After last year’s incredible line-up, this does not surprise me. While I still think it is possible for them to have a surprise screening of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘, just like they did for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘ last year, their skipping out on a full panel this year makes perfect sense.
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Superhero fatigue is real. ‘Thunderbolts*’ is a great movie – audiences and critics agree – and yet it did not perform at the box office. It would not be smart for Marvel to spend a ton of money putting on a massive panel (because there is no point in doing one and not going all out) when they need to save all the pennies they can right now.
Marvel has three more projects left to release in 2025: ‘Ironheart‘, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, ‘Eyes of Wakanda‘, and ‘Wonder Man‘.
‘Ironheart’, which admittedly Marvel seems to be trying to make people forget about, will be all released by the time San Diego Comic-Con rolls around. The first three episodes come to Disney+ on June 24th, and the final three follow just a week later, on July 2nd. It has been a long time since viewers have seen Riri Williams, so this series needs to be good to make viewers care about her again.
In Marvel comics, she has a close relationship with Tony Stark. Of course, he is no longer alive in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has some fans a little bit worried about how her story is going to play out. The trailer for the show looks great, but there will be no need to promote it at SDCC a couple of weeks after it is already streaming on Disney+.
The same can be said for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, although it comes to theaters the week of SDCC, on July 25th. In 2024, Marvel hosted a “surprise” screening of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ on Thursday evening to celebrate its release that week. It is highly likely that they do the same with ‘First Steps’ this year. One would almost think that they had this planned all along, and that is why they like to take the release slot for the week of San Diego Comic-Con.
This saves them from having to pay for an entire panel, but they will still be able to promote their final big project of 2025. If they follow suit from last year, they just might have the cast in attendance as well.
The only 2025 projects that Marvel would be showcasing at a Hall H panel would be the upcoming animated show, ‘Eyes of Wakana’, and ‘Wonder Man’. While we have heard very little about both, there is no reason to save an entire Hall H panel for two projects, and streaming series at that.
‘Eyes of Wakanda’ is a four-episode series, which is premiering at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 9th. Since it will already be old news by the time SDCC comes around, even though the series comes to Disney+ in August, there is no need to do an entire panel just for a short animated series that, unfortunately, Marvel fans do not seem to care about too much anyway. ‘Wonder Man’ would be the only real draw and even that one fans seem to not be too excited for.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ was recently pushed from May 1, 2026, to December 18, 2026, which is a brilliant move for several reasons, including that the studio will not need to rush out a subpar movie and can take a little bit more time to ensure it has the same impact that ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ did.
During last year’s Marvel San Diego Comic-Con panel, they went all out for this film. Marvel invited out the Russo Brothers to tease the movie, but the biggest surprise was the reveal that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU, not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom. It would be extremely difficult to top that, so why even try?
Filming is already underway in London for ‘Doomsday’ and is not expected to wrap until August. It would be disruptive for Marvel to shut down production (even for a day or two) in order to bring some of the cast to SDCC just for a photo opportunity and what would likely be a behind-the-scenes look at the movie. Add in the cost to fly talent back to the States for a quick appearance, the return on investment would simply not be worth it for Marvel.
Plus, now that it is releasing after San Diego Comic-Con 2026, they are likely going to wait until then to show off what they have come up with, while teasing ‘Avengers: Secret Wars‘ at the same time. It is the most logical decision for Marvel to make.
Will DC Take Over SDCC Hall H?
James Gunn at CinemaCon 2025. Photo: Warner Bros.
With Marvel out of the picture, San Diego Comic-Con is DC’s time to shine. While there is no official confirmation at the time of writing, there is a good chance that Co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran will take the stage at Hall H to share what they have in store for fans over the next couple of years.
It is well known that they have a detailed plan for the DC Universe, which kicks off on July 11th with ‘Superman‘. Sure, the movie will have been out for two weeks by SDCC, but this just means they can go into detail about all the characters that make appearances and their future projects. We already know that ‘Peacemaker‘ is heading to the convention. When confirming this on social media, James Gunn said that while he is focusing on the show, he will, of course, “talk about everything.”
It would make much more sense for DC to take advantage of Marvel skipping Hall H this year and host a large panel detailing the upcoming DCU slate. It would mean that they come out on top of the discussions that week, which would certainly not hurt, considering that ‘Superman’ will still be in theaters (and going up against the first week of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’).
Marvel might be skipping San Diego Comic-Con in 2025, but chances are, this means they are going to come with incredible announcements, first looks, and reveals in 2026. Their decision does not mean that they think any less of their upcoming projects; it actually makes a whole lot of sense. This also opens up a window for James Gunn and the DCU to step in and take over this year, which fans would love to see.
San Diego Comic-Con will take place at the San Diego Convention Center July 24th through 27th, 2025.
