With the news that J.J. Abrams signed another mega deal with Warner Bros., it is learned that his Black Superman movie is stuck in limbo.
What is said about the Black Superman movie?
in Variety‘s report about Abrams’ new deal, the site says:
On the big screen, plenty of hype surrounded an Abrams-produced Black Superman film with a script by Ta-Nehisi Coates. That project is technically still alive but has seen no forward movement since early 2023.
The info lines up with how DC insiders filled me in that the J.J. Abrams Black Superman is no longer happening. Variety adds that WB is instead focusing on James Gunn’s new Superman movie starring David Corenswet:
Instead, Warner Bros.-DC has the James Gunn-directed “Superman” reboot hitting theaters on July 11.
What has James Gunn said?
James Gunn actually touched upon the Black Superman last year, a few months after he was announced as the head of DC Studios and while promoting the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 3. Gunn said it could happen as part of DC’s “Elsewords,” which includes projects like the Matt Reeves Batman universe and the Joker movies:
“Those two things are totally unrelated,” Gunn told io9. “That’s an exciting movie. I know that Chantal Nong, who is the executive on that project, is extremely excited about it. So if it comes in and it’s great, which I haven’t read the script, and if the timing is right, that could absolutely happen. That’s totally unrelated. It would be an Elseworlds tale like Joker.”
What we know about the Black Superman movie?
The details for the Black Superman movie include that J.J. Abrams won’t be directing because the trades explain that he is white.
The film is being written left-wing political activist Ta-Nehisi Coates with rumors offering his take on the Man of Steel will be “Superman’s alien heritage as a parallel to racism.”
It’s claimed: “Superman is heavily nerfed, being taken back to his golden age roots. He can no longer fly, but he can instead ‘leap tall buildings in a single bound.’ He also lacks heat vision, frost breath and x-ray vision. He’s also described as moving at Mach 7.”
The claimed leaks add, “They do have descriptions of the characters in the script which gives away their races. Lois Lane is written with an Asian Actress in mind Perry White is written as an African American man and Jimmy Olsen is described as a freckled redhead (no racebending with Jimmy).”
The villain is said to be the Ultra-Humanite, a white gorilla in the comics: “The Film is currently utilizing The golden age version of The Ultra-Humanite as the main antagonist although this may change. At no point in the story does he use the Albino Gorilla body.”
It’s also claimed the Black Superman movie is not being written as a superhero story but to provide an agenda: “The script is rather long, clocking in at 165 pages. This may be due to the fact that the film is being written as an awards contender rather than a regular Superhero film. It portrays Superman as a champion of the oppressed. The government hates him but the people love him.”
What has J.J. Abrams said?
Worth mentioning is that the movie was first announced back in 2021 before David Zaslav took over Warner Bros., Abrams said:
“There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told,” Abrams said, with Toby Emmerich, then-Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, also previously stating, “We’re confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel.”
What has Ta-Nehisi Coates said?
Ta-Nehisi Coates added the following at the time:
“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” said Coates in a statement received only by Shadow and Act. “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”
Note: This Black Superman movie is also different than the Black Superman project Michael B. Jordan is/was supposed to be doing that focuses on an alternate universe Superman, Val-Zod.
