Summary
TheSupermantrailer is less than a day from premiering, setting the tone for the DCU movie’s promotional campaign for the next 7 months. James Gunn admitted a lot of pressure is on him and explained whySupermanmust succeed for the DCU’s future.
Supermanis the second DC Universe project, but Gunn has described the film as the “true beginning of the DCU.” After multiple box office flops, Warner Bros. undoubtedly wants Gunn’s first DCU movie to be a blockbuster hit andfans have high expectations ofSupermanthemselves. Gunn is seemingly aware of these expectations and feels the pressure, admitting that the DCU plans are counting onSupermanto be a success.
What happens to Gunn’s DCU if the Superman movie fails?
WhenSupermanwas filming in June, several press outlets were invited to the set and spoke with Gunn about the DCU’s much-anticipated debut feature film (viaGizmodo). During this visit, Gunn admitted he was “miserable” working onSupermanbut hoped it was for “the greater good.” WhenGunn announced his initial DC slate, he included projects such asBatman: The Brave and the Bold,Paradise Lost, andSwamp Thing.However, he seemingly implied that there’s no guarantee fans will see those projects, as his plans could change ifSupermanfails:
“A lot [is riding onSuperman]. I mean, we’re not going to just keep making movies.”
DC fans are unlikely to be surprised to hear there’s pressure on Gunnto makeSupermansucceed. The DC Extended Universe launched with Zack Snyder’sMan of Steel, which received praise from some and mixed-at-best reviews from others. This was followed by a long and complicated tale of behind-the-scenes turmoil as Warner Bros. scrapped Snyder’s multi-film storyline and revised plans for the DC franchise. Those plans didn’t work out for the studio either, as subsequent DC movies ranged from box office hits to bombs with little cohesion between each project. When WarnerMedia and Discovery merged to become Warner Bros. Discovery, company president and CEO David Zaslav’s plans to restructure DC Entertainment eventually resulted in Gunn and Peter Safran being appointed co-CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios. Now Gunn is tasked with creating a rebooted DC Universe with a united continuity between film, television, and video games.
Warner Bros. is putting faith in Gunn’s vision and likely expects to be rewarded at the box office. However, winning over DC fans may not be an easy task. Some fans passionately support the “SnyderVerse” to this day, while others were eager to move on with a new vision long ago. Some Snyder loyalists plan to boycott Gunn’s DCU without giving it a chance, many of whom already bashed the filmmaker for usingJohn Williams’Supermantheme in the film’s motion poster. Others expect signs that Gunn is moving Superman in a brighter and more hopeful direction.
In other words, fans have high expectations, but not necessarily the same kind. If moviegoers don’t show up forSupermanwhen it is released, Gunn’s leadership at DC Studios could be questioned and Warner Bros. must return to the drawing board. Howthe firstSupermantraileris received could determine whether audiences will eagerly await the film or if Warner Bros. has a long road ahead to win them over.
Supermanis scheduled to be released in theaters on Jul 28, 2025.
Superman
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.' rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill departed from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way.”
