‘Superman’ release could face delay due to lawsuit

James Gunn’s highly anticipated 'Superman' movie could face delays in key international markets due to a lawsuit filed by the estate of one of the superhero's co-creators. 

Scheduled for release internationally on July 9, 2025, with a U.S. debut two days later on July 11, the film marks the beginning of Gunn’s new DC Universe (DCU) franchise. Warner Bros. and DC are counting on the movie’s success, as Gunn has admitted that the future of the DCU hinges on 'Superman' performing well.

However, the lawsuit, filed by Mark Warren Peary, executor of the estate of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster, threatens the movie’s release. The estate claims that Warner Bros. and DC do not have the rights to release the film in several countries.

While Shuster and co-creator Jerome Siegel assigned worldwide rights to DC Comics' predecessor, Detective Comics, the lawsuit argues that copyright laws in countries following British Law automatically terminate such assignments 25 years after an author’s death.

As a result, the Shuster estate contends that the rights to 'Superman' reverted to them in 2017, meaning Warner Bros. no longer has the legal authority to release the film in regions like Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

The Shuster estate is seeking monetary damages and a cease-and-desist order to prevent Warner Bros. from releasing the film in these territories without proper licensing. While Warner Bros. has pledged to vigorously defend its position, the case could lead to significant delays if it is not resolved before the film’s international premiere. As 'Superman' is critical to the success of the DCU, fans will be watching closely to see how this legal dispute unfolds.