James Gunn Confirms J.J. Abrams' SUPERMAN Film Project Is Still in Development
Several years ago it was announced that J.J. Abrams was producing a new Superman reboot for Warner Bros., and that DC author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing the script. This film was said to focus on a Black version of Superman.
There hasn’t been any update on the project for years, and with James Gunn and Peter Safran coming in to lead the charge at DC Studios, some fans assumed that this project was dead, but that’s not the case.
A fan reached out to Gunn on social media and asked if the Elseworld Superman film was still in development, and Abrams’ responded with a simple, “Yes.”
It was previously revealed that “Coates is crafting a Kal-El in the vein of the original Superman comics and will have the protagonist hail from Krypton and come to Earth. While the story is currently being crafted and many details could change, one option under consideration is for the film to be a 20th century period piece.”
It was also said that J.J. Abrams “is not among the many possibilities being considered” as a director. “Warners and DC are committed to hiring a Black director to tackle what will be the first cinematic incarnation of Superman featuring a Black actor, with one source adding that putting Abrams at the helm would be ‘tone-deaf.’”
Some directors that have been mentioned to be up the project in the past include Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II’), J.D. Dillard (Slight), Regina King (One Night in Miami ), and Shaka King (Judas and the Black Messiah).
When previously talking about the project Coates said, “To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor. I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”
While Abrams said, “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.”
While this movie is still in development, we aren’t going to see it for a long time. There are a ton of other projects planned out for the next five years, and this isn’t one that was announced.