DC Studios CEO James Gunn confirmed the J. J. Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates Superman project is still in development.
(L-R): Karen Gillan, James Gunn, and Chris Pratt on the set of Marvel Studios’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. Photo by Jessica Miglio. ©?”
The CEO simply responded, “Yes.”
[caption id="attachment_18921" align="aligncenter" width="848"]
James Gunn on Threads
READ: James Gunn Admits Lack Of DC Content In 2024 Is “Great For Us For The Reset”
Gunn previously shared that he thought their project was “an exciting movie.”
He told Gizmodo at the end of April 2023, “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.”
Calvin Ellis in Final Crisis #7 (2009), DC Comics
Abrams and Coates’ Superman project was announced before Gunn and Peter Safran were announced as DC Studios CEOs and shared their vision for the DC Universe that will kick off on the big screen with Superman: Legacy.
Abrams and Coates’ Superman project was first announced by Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro in February 2023 with D’Alessandro stating, “Deadline has confirmed that author Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing a Superman reboot feature for Warner Bros and DC, which J.J. Abrams is producing under his Bad Robot label.”
Author Ta-Nehisi Coates spoke to a packed house at Oregon State University on Feb. 2, 2017. (photo: Theresa Hogue) Photo Credit: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Coates confirmed his involvement shortly thereafter in an interview with Shadow and Act saying, “To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor.”
He added, “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”
J. J. Abrams speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
READ: Marvel’s New Black Panther is White (Yes, Seriously)
Abrams also told the outlet, “There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we’re beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity.”
Then Warner Bros. Pictures Group Chairman Toby Emmerich also said, “Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world.
“We’re confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel,” he added.
Calvin Ellis as President Superman in Infinite Frontier #5 (2021), DC Comics
The film would seemingly be put on ice as no news about the film would surface other than a report from Variety in December 2022 claiming it was still in development.
There were rumors in April 2022 that the film would use Superman’s alien heritage as an allegory for racism.
GeoPanda24 claimed, ““It’s not about a black superman being a victim of racism, rather it uses Superman’s alien heritage as a parallel to racism. They are, however going through with colorblind casting.”
GeoPanda24 on X
There was a rumor from June 2023 that the film had been canceled as well.
Scooper ThwipT_ shared, “Coates’ black Superman film has been canceled at DC.”
ThwipT on X
READ: Rumor: Supergirl To Appear In James Gunn’s ‘Superman: Legacy’ Film
Matt McGloin at Cosmic Book News also shared, “I think it was axed a while ago. Was told that last year at Comic Con.”
Matt McGloin on X
When the film was first announced it received heavy criticism. One of those critics was Rippaverse publisher Eric July.
He said, “Ta-Nehisi Coates, as far as I am concerned, and I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I’m just going to give it to you straight, he’s talentless.”
July added, “For those that don’t know who he is, he is an activist absolutely, like a guy that literally wins awards for social justice, like in the past, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Award. Social justice.”
What do you make of Gunn confirming the film is still in development?
