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James Gunn’s upcomingSupermanmovie may not be released in select countries as the upcomingDC Universefilm is in the midst of a copyright lawsuit. With only months left beforeGunn’sSupermanmoviegets released, the anticipation for David Corenswet’s DCU debut continues to get higher. However, while the world is ready forSuperman, things are getting complicated behind the scenes that could seemingly affect the summer release of Gunn’s DCU installment in certain countries.
In a new report fromPuck, an update on the lawsuit between Warner Bros. Discovery and the estate of Joseph Schuster (co-creator of Superman), Toberoff & Associates’s Marc Toberoff is reportedly wanting an injunction, which would"block the studio from exploiting the franchise,“specifically in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and Canada. At the time of this story’s publication,Warner Bros. Discovery has yet to respond to the latest reported development.
UPDATE: 2025-06-03 15:30 EST BY MOLLY FREEMAN
Warner Bros. Files A Motion To Dismiss Superman Lawsuit
Varietyreports that DC Studios parent company Warner Bros. Discovery filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit that sought to block the release of James Gunn’s upcoming movie in certain countries over copyright claims. The studio’s lawyer said the"complaint fails on every ground.“Whether theSupermanmovie lawsuit will be dismissedremains to be seen.
What The Superman Movie Lawsuit Update Means
If the injunction were to happen, it could blockSupermanfrom releasing in Ireland, Canada, the U.K., and Australia,which would be a hit to the film’s worldwide box office. In terms of other international markets that would still be able toreleaseSupermanin theaters,this lawsuit likely wouldn’t affect the film’s release. TheSupermanmarketing campaign is already fully underway, with the firstSupermantrailer having already been released, but those four specific countries are heavily regarded as key territories for a big DC movie like this one.
Previously, a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson commented,“We fundamentally disagree with the merits of the lawsuit and will vigorously defend our rights.”While there may be some response from them if the injunction is approved, this is something that has to be settled sooner rather than later, given thatSupermanwill be one of the instrumental films for theDCU movie slategoing forward. But this is specifically if the injunction is even able to go forward.
The Superman Movie Lawsuit Explained
The currentSupermanmovie lawsuit began on January 31 of this year,when the Shuster estate officially filed the suit challenging Warner Bros. Discovery on its rights for the Man of Steeland specifically where media related to Krypton’s last son was being released and distributed. Per this lawsuit, the Shuster estate claims DC Studios doesn’t possess the official rights to debutDavid Corenswet’sSupermanmovie in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. The estate stated in their claim that the"defendants continue to exploit Superman across these jurisdictions without the Shuster Estate’s authorization,“which does include theatrical products.
12 years ago, Warner Bros. (before becoming Warner Bros. Discovery) had a similar legal situation around the time of Zack Snyder’sMan of Steel. In the 2010s, the Shuster estate almost regained the Superman rights,as a lawsuit at the time had put the demand on Warner Bros. to either put aSupermanmovie into production by 2011 or be sued for lost revenue. The legal rights for Superman have been a long-running topic since the 1930s, when Shuster and co-creator Jerry Siegel sold the property for only $130.
From this point, DC Comics have been sued numerous times for royalties from products such as merchandise, theSupermanradio show, and the publication ofSuperboycomics when the creators didn’t receive compensation for the hero under a new title. A new agreement was made between Shuster, Siegel, and DC Comics in 1975 that the duo would get paid a stipend every year for the rest of their lives,on the condition that they’d never contest the copyright ownership of Superman. Similar agreements with the estates over the years appear to have played a role in why the court ruled in favor of DC in the 2013 lawsuit.
Our Take On The Superman Movie Lawsuit Update
While time will tell how things play out fortheSuperman lawsuit,it will potentially be complicated for the Schuster estate to prove what kind of"irreparable harm"would come from releasing Gunn’s movie in those markets. Given how this isn’t the first Superman-related lawsuit that Warner Bros. Discovery has had to face over the years, they are most likely working as fast as they can with their legal department to address this lawsuit. Hopefully, more updates about theSupermanlawsuit will emerge as soon as possible in the coming weeks.
Superman
Cast
Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
