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James Gunn’s Superman is poised to usher in a new era for the DC Universe when it hits theaters in 2025. Originally announced as Superman: Legacy, the film’s title was simplified to Superman on the first day of production, reflecting a shift in the creative direction behind the highly-anticipated project. While the change surprised some fans, Gunn has provided insight into why he believed the adjustment was necessary.
During a Superman set visit attended by Heroic Hollywood, Gunn explained the process that led to the title change. He detailed a pre-production exercise called a “pre-mortem,” where he and his department heads explored potential pitfalls. “We go into a room with me and all the department heads and we say, let’s say this movie is a colossal f— up. We find out two years from now when this movie comes out, it goes terribly wrong. What are we doing right now that we’re not talking about, that we’re doing this, making this movie wrong?” Gunn said. This open forum encouraged input from every department and helped refine the movie’s vision.
The Reason Behind The Superman Title Change
One key observation during these discussions was that the word “Legacy” gave the impression of a story tied too closely to the past. “I thought maybe the title was… it had a looking-back feeling about it. And this isn’t about looking back, this is about looking forward,” Gunn said. He assured fans, however, that the theme of legacy remains central to the film, exploring Superman’s connection to both his Kryptonian and human roots.
Gunn added that the thematic elements tied to “Legacy” are deeply woven into the movie’s story. “It’s about Clark and his relationship to the script. How many parents lose their relationship to human parents and whose legacy is he really?” Gunn said, teasing the emotional depth at the heart of Superman’s next cinematic solo outing.
The change also reflects Gunn’s broader approach to reimagining the DC Universe under his and Peter Safran’s leadership. Superman is the first live-action film in their revamped franchise, setting the stage for upcoming projects like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and Lanterns. The movie is expected to define the tone and direction for this ambitious new chapter in DC storytelling.
Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe.
