So much for James Gunn being in charge of the DCU as it’s said that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is making decisions about Superman: Legacy — Zaslav who along with Gunn said The Flash is the best superhero movie of all time. Where’s the kryptonite bullet when you need one?
In THR‘s report about the Superman: Legacy test screenings, a list of actors is named where it is mentioned James Gunn held screen tests the weekend of Father’s Day on the Warners lot in Burbank and that Gunn has been showing the tests to “a deciding committee of executives” which includes “Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav among them.”
The Flash is currently bombing so badly that it has recently been reported that after only 30 days of a theatrical release, the flick will be released digitally in a couple of weeks. Warners is also giving away free tickets on Fandango as part of a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.
Both David Zaslav and James Gunn are now getting big-time heat on social media over their comments and the failure of The Flash, as well as appointing Andy Muschietti as the director of the new Batman The Brave and the Bold movie. The pair have already been receiving backlash from the SnyderVerse crowd, but it was at least hoped that Gunn could get the DCU off to a right start with Superman: Legacy.
However, with Zaslav and Gunn’s comments about The Flash probably being the best superhero movie, plus it thought Gunn provided notes about the DCU movies and is said to have changed the ending to The Flash, Gunn’s Superman: Legacy and DCU is not just in question from the SnyderVerse fans, but just about all the fans. Yes, The Flash is that bad.
Update #2: Jeff Sneider confirms David Zaslav had to sign off on the casting:
Corenswet and Brosnahan and their respective teams were notified on Monday night once Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav signed off on the decision. Gunn and Safran were extremely tight-lipped about their own preferences while soliciting objective opinions from WB execs whose input in such a decision would be valued. Warners was motivated to find its Clark and Lois this week before SAG-AFTRA’s current contract with the AMPTP expires on June 30, which is when everyone’s testing deals would’ve expired.
Original article continues:
Superman: Legacy actors
Regarding the actors mentioned in THR’s report, it’s noted that no final decision has been made, as three actors and three actresses are said to be up for the roles of Superman and Lois Lane.
Saturday of that weekend saw Nicholas Hoult, who apparently is still said to be up for the role of Clark Kent and Superman, paired in test screenings with Rachel Brosnahan.
British actor Tom Brittney was paired with Phoebe Dynevor.
Fan-favorite choice David Corenswet was paired with Emma Mackey.
It’s said the actors were given several scenes on Saturday with the male actors in wardrobe as Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent while the females were “plucky” journalist Lois Lane.
The next day, Sunday, saw Hoult, Brittney, and Corenswet do another series of screen tests, this time in costume as Superman. It’s said that only Mackey was brought in that day to portray Lois Lane opposite the actors; however, THR stresses that doesn’t necessarily mean Mackey is the front-runner for Lane, “although it may be hard not to draw that conclusion.”
Alexander and Bill Skarsgard up for Lex Luthor
Two new names are added into the mix for Lex Luthor with the brothers Alexander and Bill Skarsgard (Bradley Cooper also rumored). It was also previously said that Nicholas Hoult was up for the role of Lex Luthor but it’s said it isn’t clear if Hoult wants to play the part. A previous report also said James Gunn was looking at Black actors for the role of Lex, with it also rumored Brainiac will be featured in the flick.
It’s also claimed that Comic-Con might be in doubt for James Gunn and his Superman cast as a result of the failure of The Flash, as Gunn and company might not want to face backlash from the fans, so they might put some distance between the announcements, the fans, and reception to The Flash.
Regardless of how it all goes down, James Gunn has a lot to prove, now more than ever.
Superman: Legacy flies into theaters on July 11, 2025.
