DC Studios’ Superman: Legacy is not a “young Superman” movie, according to writer-director (and studio co-head) James Gunn.
In a post to Threads (via IGN), Gunn took the time to clear up some confusion regarding the continuity of the new DC Universe following the release of Blue Beetle. A fan asked if Gunn’s “young Superman movie” was set in the past, seeing as how Blue Beetle protagonist Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) knows who Superman is. Gunn replied, “I was never making a “young Superman” movie, just a Superman movie!”
Superman: Legacy will be the first film in Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU. The rebooted franchise replaces the DC Extended Universe, which featured Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman. Cavill will not play Superman in the DCU, with the role instead going to David Corenswet. Because of this, some have labeled Superman: Legacy as a “young Superman” movie. To Gunn’s point, however, while Corenswet is indeed 10 years younger than Cavill, he is still a 30-year-old man (and will be 32 by the time the movie comes out).
Furthermore, Gunn has stated that the DCU’s Superman will be the same age as Corenswet. In other words, Superman: Legacy will not be a retread of early Smallville, in which a 20-something Tom Welling played a high school-age Clark Kent who still lived in Kansas. Rather, Gunn’s Superman reboot is expected to take place during a grown-up Clark’s early days in Metropolis.
Who else stars in Superman: Legacy?
Of course, Corenswet’s Man of Steel won’t be flying into the new DCU alone. Superman: Legacy also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane (a role previously occupied by Amy Adams in the DCEU). Additional cast members include Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.
Superman: Legacy opens in theaters on July 11, 2025.
