There are multiple upcoming DC movies on the way, but few, if any, have nearly as much anticipation as James Gunn’s Superman, a project formerly known as Superman: Legacy, that will kickstart a new era for comic book films. While there are other superhero films slated to land on the big screen (and small screen) before the movie’s summer 2025 release, it’s easy to see why so many fans are champing at the bit for information on this exciting project about one of the most beloved superheroes of all time.
Despite the movie being more than a year away, there’s already quite a lot we know about Superman, including its release date, the big-name stars who make up its cast, what its story will entail, and what it means for the “big picture” of the DCU moving forward. Here is everything we know about the movie at this time…
What Is The Superman Release Date?
In the grand scheme of things, there’s not that much time to wait for Superman as the DCU movie is slated to open in theaters on July 11, 2025. James Gunn revealed the release date in the middle of DC’s “Gods and Monsters” announcement video back in January, where the co-head of the film studio revealed the massive slate of upcoming projects of all shapes and sizes.
Release dates can change at a moment’s notice, especially after the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, but Gunn has gone on the record to state that Superman is still on track to hit the July 2025 debut. In a November 2023, Instagram post, the filmmaker thanked the talented crew for continuing to work on character and set designs during the strikes.
David Corenswet And Rachel Brosnahan Will Lead The Superman Cast
In addition to already having a release date, James Gunn’s Superman is also well on its way to filling out its cast of DC Comics heroes and villains, which includes some incredible up-and-coming and established talent. Let’s meet the good guys, bad guys, and everyone else who’ll appear in the upcoming movie.
David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman
David Corenswet, who is perhaps best known for his roles in movies like Pearl and shows like Hollywood and The Politician, was one of the first major additions to the Superman cast in June 2023 when Deadline revealed that he would be playing Clark Kent, aka Superman.
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
Rachel Brosnahan, the award-winning actress best known for the titular role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as from her time on House of Cards, will be playing Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman. Brosnahan’s involvement was revealed alongside Corenswet last summer.
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
Everyone from Gene Hackman to Kevin Spacey to Jesse Eisenberg has played Lex Luthor in the past, and now Nicholas Hoult will get the chance to play Superman’s archnemesis. In November 2023, Deadline revealed that the Mad Max: Fury Road actor would be playing the iconic villain.
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
Shortly after the Clark Kent and Lois Lane roles were revealed, Vanity Fair announced that Isabela Merced would be playing Hawkgirl in the upcoming Superman movie. The Madame Web star will become yet another name who’s appeared in both DC and Marvel movies upon the film’s 2025 release.
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern
Nathan Fillion and James Gunn go way back, and that partnership will go on at least a little while longer as the Slither and The Suicide Squad actor will play Guy Gardner, aka, Green Lantern, in Superman.
María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica / The Engineer
Maria Gabriela de Faira, who has appeared in movies like The Exorcism of God and R#J in recent years, landed one of the biggest roles of her career when she was cast as Angela Spica, aka, The Engineer, in Superman.
Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
Skyler Gisondo will take on the role of Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen when Superman flies into theaters in July 2025. Gisondo is perhaps best known for his work in Booksmart, Licorice Pizza, and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mister Terrific
Edi Gathegi will take to the DCU next summer when he takes on the role of inventor Michael Holt, who is better known by his superhero name, Mister Terrific.
Wendell Pierce as Perry White
Wendell Pierce will join the long list of accomplished actors who have played Daily Planet editor Perry White when Superman comes around. The Wire cast member joined the upcoming film in March 2024, per Variety.
Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl
A couple of years after making a name for herself as Rhaenyra Targaryen on House of the Dragon, Mill Alcock will join the world of superheroes when she takes on the role of Kara Zo-El, aka, Supergirl, in Superman.
Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord
Sean Gunn, the brother and longtime collaborator of James Gunn, is set to appear in Superman as Maxwell Lord, the character Pedro Pascal played in Wonder Woman 1984.
Superman Is Not An Origin Story But Will Focus On A Younger Clark Kent
When news first began to spread that a new Superman movie was on the way, many assumed Henry Cavill would reprise his role from Man of Steel and the various DCEU crossover films, but that won’t be the case. In a series of tweets in December 2022, James Gunn laid the groundwork for what’s to come by saying:
In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s Life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.
When some asked if Superman would be another superhero origin story, the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director was quick to reply with a resounding “No Way.”
A couple of months later, when speaking with Empire, DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran further elaborated on the upcoming Superman movie while also avoiding concrete details about its narrative, saying:
It’s not an origin story. It focuses 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.
How early in Clark Kent’s story Superman takes place has not yet been revealed, but expect to hear more on this in the very near future.
James Gunn Is Writing And Directing Superman
When James Gunn first announced that Superman was in the works, the former Troma filmmaker was still on the fence about directing the movie, even though he was in the process of penning its script. But that all changed in March 2023, when Gunn took to Twitter to confirm that he would be sitting in the director’s chair.
In a series of tweets, the DC Studios co-CEO released an incredibly touching statement in which he revealed that the release date (July 11, 2025) is the birthday of his late father, before talking about the way his dad supported his love of comics and film when he was growing up despite not fully understanding the obsession. The Dawn of the Dead 2004 remake scribe ended the incredible passage by saying he loves the Superman script, and that he’s excited “as we begin this journey.”
Production On Superman Got Underway In February 2024
During a May 2023 Wired video interview alongside brother Sean Gunn, James Gunn revealed that production will kick off at some point in January 2024. However, the start of filming has since been pushed back a couple of months due to the various strikes that all but shut down the entertainment industry for a large chunk of 2023. In November, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that cameras would start rolling in March 2024 at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, and in February, the cast and crew got together for the first table read.
When Can We Expect A Superman Trailer
Outside of a first-look image of Superman’s crest, we haven’t been able to catch a glimpse of the character’s iconic suit, and James Gunn has a good reason for that: the movie is still more than a year out. That logic can also be applied to the Superman trailer, as there’s a good chance we don’t see any substantial footage for the upcoming comic book movie for quite some time.
Though it hasn’t been confirmed, it wouldn’t be all too surprising to see the first teaser trailer during the release of Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux this October, the only live-action DC release on the 2024 movie schedule. At the same time, it wouldn’t be shocking if James Gunn and company debuted some footage at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con or any events planned by DC later in the year.
Superman Will Reportedly Set Up The Authority
In addition to introducing the DCU’s version of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor, Superman will also reportedly serve as the debut of the Authority DC Comics team. In June 2023, The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision newsletter reported that the July 2025 movie will introduce several members of the team ahead of its own movie, which is to be released at a later date.
Not much is known about The Authority movie at this time, but the comic book version of the titular team has included members like Apollo, Midnighter, and Jenny Sparks in the past, all of whom were willing to take a more drastic approach to the whole “saving the world” aspect than their fellow DC Comics heroes.
Superman Will Be The ‘True Beginning’ Of The DCU
When James Gunn first revealed Superman in the DC Studios January 2023 announcement video, he called the upcoming movie the “true beginning” of the DCU, specifically the Gods and Monsters chapter of the saga. Following the film’s June 2025 release, we’ll see movies like The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing, as well as a litany of TV shows tying everything together. What better way to start the next chapter of comic book movies than with Superman himself?
There is still a lot of time before we get to see Superman in action, but there are still plenty of upcoming superhero movies to keep us all entertained over the course of the next few years. And while we wait, there’s never been a better time to check out our ranking of the Superman movies.
