James Gunn to Direct Next Chapter in DC’s "Super-Family" Saga Following The Success of SUPERMAN
Fresh off the box office success of Superman, James Gunn is officially locked in to write and direct “the next installment in the Super-Family,” according to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav during the company's earnings call.
While Gunn had previously teased he was working on a new story involving Superman star David Corenswet, he played it coy about whether it was a direct sequel or something more expansive. Zaslav didn’t clear that up either, simply referring to it as the “next movie in the Super-Family.”
But what’s now confirmed is that Gunn will once again take the reins as both writer and director, just as he did with Superman.
Superman soared to a $125 million opening weekend domestically and has since racked up $315 million in North America and a worldwide total of $550 million. It’s safe to say the new DCU is flying high.
Up next for DC fans is Peacemaker Season 2, followed by Supergirl and the Lanterns series, both arriving in 2026. Also on deck is Clayface, which begins filming this year. Gunn’s approach to this evolving universe is refreshingly diverse. Speaking with CBS Mornings, he said:
“‘Clayface’ is a totally different thing. Although it’s in the same universe, it’s a complete horror film, and that’s one of the things we want to do. There’s not a company style. It’s not like every movie is gonna be like ‘Superman.’ The artists and the directors and the writers that create each one will bring their own sense to it. … We don’t want people being bored.”
When Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in 2022, they were handed the monumental task of breathing life back into a fractured franchise that had long trailed behind Marvel’s cinematic dominance.
With Superman as the launchpad, they laid out an ambitious 10-year plan filled with sequels, spinoffs, and fresh takes on iconic characters like Wonder Woman.
Zaslav is clearly thrilled with the direction things are headed, crediting Gunn and Safran for “breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world.”
Still, he acknowledges that while Superman had the benefit of a globally recognized hero, upcoming titles like Supergirl and Clayface will need to win audiences over with lesser-known leads.
Regardless, Zaslav is all-in. “The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real,” he said. “I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”
And now, with Gunn continuing to shape the heart of the Super-Family, fans have every reason to get excited too.
Source: Variety