A new report about Warner Bros. claims that, much like the Man of Steel himself, James Gunn’s Superman movie is facing sky-high stakes and that a lot is riding on the movie.
It’s said if Gunn’s Superman isn’t a big success that “a lot of people will be in trouble.”
Warner Bros. Marketing Shake-Up Raises Questions
News about Superman comes from Variety‘s report on Warner Bros.’ recent decision to fire worldwide marketing chief Josh Goldstine. The exact reasons remain unclear, but I think Variety hit the nail on the head by suggesting it’s related to cost-cutting measures. I’ve heard for years that WBD is broke AF (I’ve been told Zaslav demanded that Gunn recast DC with cheaper talent).
Furiosa and Joker 2 Failures Spark Debate
The site also claims the failures of Furiosa and Joker 2 could be to blame, but I disagree. Furiosa was just another female-empowered movie no one asked for, and Joker 2 was simply awful. No amount of marketing could have turned those films into successes.
Back to James Gunn’s Superman, the report features a quote from an anonymous industry executive who thinks the film will be a big success but that all of the rest of WB’s upcoming releases are in question:
“Their next five movies are really in trouble, so it’s curious they’d do this [executive overhaul] now. ‘Superman’ will be a massive hit. Everything else on their entire slate is a question.”
Warner Bros. Banking on a Billion-Dollar Superman
Variety also reports that James Gunn’s Superman is expected by the studio to be a billion-dollar blockbuster, with the film seen as Warner Bros.’ best hope. After the trailer’s release—which I found disappointing—I predicted the movie would be lucky to hit $400 million (though I admit that estimate is probably too low). The number of trailer views is meaningless.
It’s worth noting that when Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel failed to reach a billion dollars, the studio canceled plans for Man of Steel 2 and The Batman, which would have featured a younger Batman in his second year as a hero (sound familiar?). Instead, they brought in Ben Affleck, leading to the mess that became the DCEU. So what happens if Gunn’s Superman doesn’t hit a billion?
The Stakes for Superman and the Future of the DCU
Variety says:
All of this ups the already sky-high stakes for “Superman,” which relaunches the DC Universe under the direction of Gunn and Peter Safran. The film is the studio’s best hope at fielding a billion-dollar blockbuster in 2025, but even the Man of Steel isn’t impervious to box office Kryptonite. The superhero adventure is arriving at bust times for the once-impenetrable genre.
The article also includes quotes from Chapman University’s film school dean Stephen Galloway who says July 11 is a big day for Warner Bros, James Gunn and the DCU:
“There is a ticking clock for everyone at the studio. July 11 is D-Day,” says Galloway, referring to the date that Clark Kent makes his theatrical return. “If ‘Superman’ can’t storm the beaches of Normandy, a lot of people will be in trouble.”
Supergirl, Lanterns, and the Future of the DCU
In addition to Superman, the Supergirl movie is presently filming for its June 26, 2026 release and they’ve brought in Jason Momoa as Lobo to add in much needed testosterone. The Lanterns series is supposed to start filming soon, Peacemaker Season 2 gets released later this year, and Creature Commandos has been greenlit for a second season. So if Superman fails, it seems the DCU will continue, but for how long (I’ve also been told Zaslav is setting up WBD for a sale and has been for years)?
Matt Reeves’ Batman and the DCU: Will They Unite?
It’s also been said Gunn wants Matt Reeves’ Batman in the DCU. Speculation says that Reeves is waiting to see how well Gunn’s Superman does this summer before deciding if he wants to combine universes.
James Gunn’s Superman is set to hit theaters on July 11th, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. With so much riding on its success, both for Warner Bros. and the future of the DC Universe, all eyes will be on how this highly anticipated film performs at the box office.
