James Gunn's Superman film could become restricted from screening in specific territories after being slapped with a rights lawsuit.
The Son of Krypton could face his most fearsome foe yet, lawyers, as the estate of Superman creator Joseph Schuster moves to sue Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Comics, saying it does not have the rights to release James Gunn's upcoming Superman film (among other works) in specific territories.
Per Deadline, the estate executor, Mark Warren Peary, filed a suit in Federal Court in the Southern District of New York, citing
According to the filing, the case is strong, as
said a WBD spokesman.
Some of you are probably saying, "How could this happen?" The case is complicated but boils down to a foreign copyright issue related to the original Superman character and his time-honored origin, co-authored by Jerome Siegel and Schuster. The suit highlights that the duo sold worldwide rights to DC's predecessor in 1938
To complicate matters,
Woof! This situation does not sound like it will go away overnight. Beyond the film's legal troubles, much is riding on Superman, as the upcoming adventure serves as the springboard for James Gunn and Peter Safran's Gods and Monsters arc of the new DCU. In other words, the movie must "hit" in as many territories as possible. Restricting the film (or other projects related to the Man in the Red Trunks) could spell disaster for DC's plans. Moreover, not releasing the movie in key territories would create a divide among fans, with entire swaths of Superman enthusiasts getting left out in the cold for one of the year's most anticipated theatrical events of 2025.
It's worth noting that there's still time to resolve the matter, but it will require some fancy legal footwork. Seeing as I live in Canada, I'm freaking out a bit. Please don't make me drive across the border to Detroit to see Superman in theaters. We'll keep our eyes peeled for any updates about the case. In the meantime, does this lawsuit affect you? Let us know in the comments section below.