Tag: Superman

  • James Gunn unveils plans for the new DC universe

    Express News Service

    The co-CEO of the DC Studios James Gunn has announced his plans for the new DC universe. The director, along with producer Peter Safran, were recently brought on board by Warner Bros to restructure their DC-related content. The first part of Gunn and Safran’s plans for DC’s future, titled Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, has finally been unveiled.

    Projects outside of DC’s upcoming mainstream cinematic universe like Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Todd Phillips’ Joker, and the animated series Teen Titans Go! will come under the label of DC Elseworlds from now on. The upcoming film, The Flash, scheduled to release on June 16, will reset the current DC storyline and usher in a new universe, The new DC universe slate for live-action films and series is as follows:

    James Gunn is currently writing a Superman film titled Superman: Legacy, scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11 2025. The film will focus on Superman struggling to come to terms with his Kryptonian origins while also trying to maintain his life on Earth.

    A series titled Paradise Lost will focus on events that take place on Wonder Woman’s island Themyscira. Gunn describes the island as DC’s version of Westeros. Viola Davis’ version of Amanda Waller, the tough-as-nails director of Suicide Squad, is also getting a solo series. A film based on the lesser-known DC superhero ensemble group The Authority is also in development. Billed as a subversive take on superheroes, The Authority will focus on the super-powered team who will go to any lengths to fix the issues that they think are crippling the Earth. The characters will interact with all the primary DC characters.

    A Green Lantern series titled Lanterns is also in development. The series will focus on the green lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they defend the Earth against cosmic forces. Gunn describes the series as, “True Detective with space cops.”

    The mainstream DC universe Batman will be introduced through a live-action film titled Batman:The Brave and the Bold. Based on Grant Morrison’s comic book series of the same name, the film will focus on the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne. Damian is a child assassin who later becomes Robin and is someoneBatman struggles to keep in line.

    The film will go on to build the Bat family. A Booster Gold series is also in the works. Gunn describes the series as a superhero story on imposter syndrome. The filmmaker describes his planned Supergirl film as an epic sci-fi adventure. Titled, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film revolves around Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El. A dark, horror film based on the origins of the superhero Swamp Thing has also been announced. According to the filmmaker, the film will be tonally different from other DC films and will explore the darker corners of the DC Universe while also being connected to other DC stories.

    The co-CEO of the DC Studios James Gunn has announced his plans for the new DC universe. The director, along with producer Peter Safran, were recently brought on board by Warner Bros to restructure their DC-related content. The first part of Gunn and Safran’s plans for DC’s future, titled Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, has finally been unveiled.

    Projects outside of DC’s upcoming mainstream cinematic universe like Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Todd Phillips’ Joker, and the animated series Teen Titans Go! will come under the label of DC Elseworlds from now on. The upcoming film, The Flash, scheduled to release on June 16, will reset the current DC storyline and usher in a new universe, The new DC universe slate for live-action films and series is as follows:

    James Gunn is currently writing a Superman film titled Superman: Legacy, scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11 2025. The film will focus on Superman struggling to come to terms with his Kryptonian origins while also trying to maintain his life on Earth.

    A series titled Paradise Lost will focus on events that take place on Wonder Woman’s island Themyscira. Gunn describes the island as DC’s version of Westeros. Viola Davis’ version of Amanda Waller, the tough-as-nails director of Suicide Squad, is also getting a solo series. A film based on the lesser-known DC superhero ensemble group The Authority is also in development. Billed as a subversive take on superheroes, The Authority will focus on the super-powered team who will go to any lengths to fix the issues that they think are crippling the Earth. The characters will interact with all the primary DC characters.

    A Green Lantern series titled Lanterns is also in development. The series will focus on the green lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they defend the Earth against cosmic forces. Gunn describes the series as, “True Detective with space cops.”

    The mainstream DC universe Batman will be introduced through a live-action film titled Batman:The Brave and the Bold. Based on Grant Morrison’s comic book series of the same name, the film will focus on the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne. Damian is a child assassin who later becomes Robin and is someoneBatman struggles to keep in line.

    The film will go on to build the Bat family. A Booster Gold series is also in the works. Gunn describes the series as a superhero story on imposter syndrome. The filmmaker describes his planned Supergirl film as an epic sci-fi adventure. Titled, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film revolves around Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El. A dark, horror film based on the origins of the superhero Swamp Thing has also been announced. According to the filmmaker, the film will be tonally different from other DC films and will explore the darker corners of the DC Universe while also being connected to other DC stories.

  • Henry Cavill confirms he is not returning as Superman after James Gunn announces new film 

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Henry Cavill on Thursday announced he will not be returning as Superman in the upcoming DC films.

    Cavill confirmed his departure from the role, which he has essayed since 2013’s “Man of Steel”, in a post on Instagram.

    The news comes almost two months after he announced his comeback as Superman.

    “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman.

    After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” the actor, who last appeared as Superman in 2017’s “Justice League”, wrote.

    Warner Bros hired “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker James Gunn and veteran executive Peter Safran as co-chairmen and CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios in late October.

    Since then there have been reports that the whole Zack Snyder-created DC Universe could be done away with, including “Wonder Woman.”

    “The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build.

    I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes,” Cavill added.

    The Hollywood star shared the post hours after Gunn announced he is writing a new feature film about Superman.

    The filmmaker said the upcoming movie will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, “so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”

    “Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over the moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.

    Among those on the slate is Superman.

    In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.

    But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future,” Gunn wrote on Instagram.

    Further details about the new DC Studios slate will be announced in January.

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Henry Cavill on Thursday announced he will not be returning as Superman in the upcoming DC films.

    Cavill confirmed his departure from the role, which he has essayed since 2013’s “Man of Steel”, in a post on Instagram.

    The news comes almost two months after he announced his comeback as Superman.

    “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman.

    After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life,” the actor, who last appeared as Superman in 2017’s “Justice League”, wrote.

    Warner Bros hired “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker James Gunn and veteran executive Peter Safran as co-chairmen and CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios in late October.

    Since then there have been reports that the whole Zack Snyder-created DC Universe could be done away with, including “Wonder Woman.”

    “The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build.

    I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes,” Cavill added.

    The Hollywood star shared the post hours after Gunn announced he is writing a new feature film about Superman.

    The filmmaker said the upcoming movie will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, “so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”

    “Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over the moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.

    Among those on the slate is Superman.

    In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.

    But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future,” Gunn wrote on Instagram.

    Further details about the new DC Studios slate will be announced in January.

  • Henry Cavill confirmed for ‘Man of Steel 2’

    By Express News Service

    After years of silence from Warner Bros, it has been officially confirmed that Henry Cavill would reprise his role as Superman in the upcoming DC films.

    The actor first appeared in the role in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel which was released in 2013. 

    David Zaslav, who was recently appointed as Warner Bros CEO, along with Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who heads the films division, have expressed interest in bringing back Henry Cavill to the DC Universe.

    The untitled project would serve as a direct sequel to Man of Steel, with Charles Roven set to produce it. 

    The executives at Warner Bros are reportedly huntings for writers and a director is yet to be finalised. Speculations suggest that Christopher McQuarrie, known for films like Mission Impossible: Fallout and Jack Reacher, is at the top of the consideration list for directors.

    Henry Cavill will cameo as Superman in the upcoming film Black Adam starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The film is currently scheduled to hit theatres on 20 October in India.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    After years of silence from Warner Bros, it has been officially confirmed that Henry Cavill would reprise his role as Superman in the upcoming DC films.

    The actor first appeared in the role in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel which was released in 2013. 

    David Zaslav, who was recently appointed as Warner Bros CEO, along with Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who heads the films division, have expressed interest in bringing back Henry Cavill to the DC Universe.

    The untitled project would serve as a direct sequel to Man of Steel, with Charles Roven set to produce it. 

    The executives at Warner Bros are reportedly huntings for writers and a director is yet to be finalised. Speculations suggest that Christopher McQuarrie, known for films like Mission Impossible: Fallout and Jack Reacher, is at the top of the consideration list for directors.

    Henry Cavill will cameo as Superman in the upcoming film Black Adam starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The film is currently scheduled to hit theatres on 20 October in India.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

  • CW renews The Flash, Superman & Lois series 

    By Express News Service

    CW has renewed seven of its scripted series including The Flash, Superman & Lois, Kung Fu, All America, Nancy Drew, Walker, and Riverdale.

    While Kung Fu, Walker, and Superman & Lois will be back for their third seasons, All American has been renewed for its fifth season, Nancy Drew for a season 4, and The Flash for its season 9. Teen drama series Riverdale will be back for its seventh season. 

    According to reports, the final decisions about the remainder of CW’s slate will be made in May. These scripted shows include 4400 (the spinoff of All American: Homecoming), Batwoman, Stargirl, Charmed, Legends of Tomorrow, In the Dark, Legacies, Naomi, and Roswell, New Mexico.

    Meanwhile, there has been a batch of unscripted renewals including Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion (both returning for their ninth season) and season 3 of World’s Funniest Animals.

  • Jamie Dornan reveals he lost Superman role to Henry Cavill

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Actor Jamie Dornan recently revealed that he lost out on the role of Superman to actor Henry Cavill. Despite missing out on the opportunity, Dornan shared that he has met with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and expressed his interest in joining the MCU.

    The actor opened up about losing the Superman role and approaching Marvel to star in superhero movies in an interview with The New York Times, reported People magazine.

    “I’m more ambitious than I’ve ever let on before,” Dornan said, crediting his drive to becoming a father.

    “It’s like a necessity to deliver and provide, very caveman-esque: I must succeed for these precious little people,” he added.

    The actor further said, “Also, since my dad died, it’s lit this extra fire within me, this extra burner of wanting to succeed.”

    Dornan also reflected on walking the tightrope between being involved in potentially two franchises, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and a possible Marvel or DC movie. The actor admitted he admired Robert Pattinson, a friend of his, for having gracefully segued from ‘Twilight’ to ‘The Batman’.

    “I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I feel like him and his people have played it really cleverly,” Dornan said.

    “Everything he’s done since Twilight has been really smart and beautifully crafted, and those films aren’t financed on his name had he not been in these movies that made billions of dollars,” he added.

    Dornan’s own filmography has included an array of diverse roles since ‘Fifty Shades’ from ‘The Fall’, ‘A Private War’, ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’, ‘Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar’ and, now, ‘Belfast’. ‘Belfast’, written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, is told through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Ireland during the tumultuous late 1960s. Dornan and Caitriona Balfe play the young boy’s parents.

    Described as “a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s,” the film tells the story of how the family’s life is changed by the upheaval around them. The family contemplates leaving their home forever amid the “civil war” that’s broken out in the streets.

    The movie is based on Branagh’s own experiences growing up in Ireland as a young boy. ‘Belfast’ also stars Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Lewis McAskie and Jude Hill.

  • DC’s new Superman comes out as bisexual in latest comic

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Jonathan Kent, the son of original Superman Clark Kent and journalist Lois Lane, is coming out as bisexual in DC Comics’ latest iteration of the superhero’s adventures.

    As per Variety, DC Comics made the announcement on Monday, which is also National Coming Out Day. Jon Kent, currently known as “the Superman of Earth,” will come out in the November 9 issue of ‘Superman: Son of Kal-El #5’ when he starts a romantic relationship with reporter Jay Nakamura — indicating the Kryptonian apple does not fall far from the tree.

    The decision to have the superhero currently carrying the mantle of the Man of Steel come out as bisexual is the most high-profile example yet of comic book publishers expanding the scope of LGBTQ representation within their pages.

    In August, DC published an issue in which Tim Drake — aka Robin, Batman’s loyal sidekick — also came out as bisexual. Other major LGBTQ comic characters include DC’s Batwoman, Harley Quinn and Alan Scott (aka the first Green Lantern), and Marvel’s Iceman, America Chavez (aka Miss America) and Northstar — one of the very first openly gay comic book characters when he came out in 1992.

    Tom Taylor wrote ‘Superman: Son of Kal-El #5’, and John Timms is the artist.

    “I’ve always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I’m very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea,” Taylor said in a statement.

    “Superman’s symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics,” Taylor added.

    In the upcoming issue, Jon Kent’s Superman will find comfort in Jay’s arms after he’s totally wrung out from trying to save the world. The story is unfolding, according to a press release, “in the main continuity of the DC Multiverse.”

    “We couldn’t be prouder to tell this important story from Tom Taylor and John Timms,” said Jim Lee, DC’s chief creative officer and publisher.

    “We talk a lot about the power of the DC Multiverse in our storytelling and this is another incredible example. We can have Jon Kent exploring his identity in the comics as well as Jon Kent learning the secrets of his family on TV on Superman & Lois. They coexist in their own worlds and times, and our fans get to enjoy both simultaneously,” added Lee.

    Classic comic franchises have been making efforts to be more LGBTQ-inclusive. The news comes a few months after a version of Marvel’s Captain America made headlines by coming out as gay. 

  • Zack Snyder’s Justice League movie review: This cut is leagues above the original

    Express News Service
    Commissioner Gordon switching on the Bat-Signal to summon the caped crusader is a familiar idea from the comics, cartoons, and why, even films. But picture this… A dark night gets illuminated by a spotlight, bearing the bat symbol, in the sky, while rain falls in sheets. It’s almost a black and white visual, save for blue flashes of lightning. The man, behind the signal, James Gordon (JK Simmons), is seeking shelter under a fluttering, almost tattered plastic sheet. And like a moth, or should I say a bat, to the flame, a brute of a man, dressed in so much black that he could be a piece of the all-consuming darkness, makes his presence known. Another flash of blue shows you the statue of a gargoyle beneath him. And this is the whole series of shots covering the arrival of the Batman after he’s summoned. It’s also what separates an actual scene from the writing, excellence in execution from an idea on paper, between Zack Snyder and… let’s just say, others who aren’t visionaries enough to create a compelling product that does not feel mass-produced.

    The Zack Snyder cut of Justice League ends with a dedication, ‘For Autumn’, to his daughter, whose demise caused him to leave the 2017 film midway. The final frame of this film also served to start a movement with millions of fans demanding this version of the film that is now finally out on BookMyShow’s new streaming site (BookMyShow Stream). The idea that the journey is more important than the destination, is never more clearer than here, in a film whose ending has been known for years. Snyder’s answer is a four-hour marathon, which, at twice the runtime of the original, is an experience far more gratifying than what we endured, four years ago.

    The original film had disproportionate highs and lows. The characters felt underdeveloped when they were all forced together. DC’s rivals, meanwhile, had spent four years and five films before uniting its ensemble cast (The Avengers, whose director Joss Whedon took over the 2017 Justice League after Snyder’s departure). While the length of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (ZSJL) might be a deal-breaker for the impatient, it must be noted that the six chapters and the epilogue are not merely indulgences; they serve to flesh out the characters in a way that makes them integral to the story. Instead of an abrupt opening scene like in the first, ZSJL begins right at the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This version answers a lot of the whos and hows, and serves up a bigger canvas in which the picture is painted in vivid, carefully chosen colours, thus resulting in a deeper, more logical, more moving experience. We get the origins story for characters who weren’t adequately introduced in earlier films. We get a cameo from Aquaman’s mentor, Nuidis Vulko (Willem Dafoe); we encounter new characters like Ryan Choi (Zheng Kai) and Iris West (Kiersey Clemons), and many famous comic book characters whose appearances are sure to send fans into a tizzy.

    The duration also serves to explain the past and the present of Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher), who Snyder has often called the ‘heart’ of this film. During the opening credits, the film’s title appears when Cyborg is on the frame. The serial number allocated to the MacGuffin happens to be 61982, a hat-tip to June 1982, when the first comic book edition of Tales of the New Teen Titans that featured Cyborg, came out. While the 2017 film showcased him as an anger-fuelled teenager, ZSJL is more interested in capturing the psyche of a person who has lost everything. Even the secondary characters bring more heart into this film. One of them, for some instance, is shown losing her house to the bank. Whoever heard of a superhero facing a financial struggle (Marvel finally gets into this space with its latest series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Justice League’s villain, Steppenwolf, in this film, answers to a bigger master and even gets a purpose as someone who is “undone by his self-pride” and “got a debt to pay”. It may be sacrilegious to suggest it, but I almost wished a bit more time had been spent on his story to make him more compelling. It’s also interesting that this version of the film introduces us to one of the biggest villains in the whole of the comic book world.

    What’s a DC ensemble film without Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot)… In a scene that has her engaged in a standoff with Steppenwolf, the latter orders his Parademons to stay away from her: “This one is mine”. In the original film, she responds with a weak, “You overestimate yourself,” but here, she thunders: “I belong to no one.”

    There are plenty of whistle-worthy moments that did not make it to the first iteration of this film, but Snyder’s strength is still subtlety. When Aquaman (Jason Momoa) disappears into the sea, he doesn’t create an underwater sonic boom, like in the old film. He disappears, leaving just ripples behind. When Cyborg and The Flash (Ezra Miller) dig up the coffin of Superman, there is no dramatic sound of the spade striking the buried casket. We simply move to a shot of them loading the box into the trunk of their car. Snyder has also largely cast away the awkward humour sprinkled across the first film. Remember when Superman (Henry Cavill) asks Batman (Ben Affleck) the franchise’s most iconic line, “Do you bleed?”, and the battered Bat replies, “Yeah, something is definitely bleeding”? The subtlety of Snyder takes over here, thankfully. We also now have a Flash who, amidst saving his future love interest from a car crash, in one of the film’s many brilliant slow-mo shots, also takes time to steal a sausage from a wrecked hot dog stall… so he can feed dogs. Such everyday actions make these unrelatable heroes, more real.

    In an integral scene showing how Superman gets his black suit, we hear the voices of both his biological father Jor-El and adopted father Jonathan Kent. Snyder’s ability to understand and respect the source material while integrating his style of filmmaking into this comic book world, can be seen throughout this film. It really shows why DCEU needs more filmmakers like Snyder, Patty Jenkins and James Wan to keep the Marvel-DC rivalry livelier. The choice of the background score, the colour scheme and even visual effects excellence, place the new film leaps and bounds beyond the previous one. There is no question that this is one of the most visually stunning superhero films ever made. While the 4:3 aspect ratio can take time getting used to, it is important to understand that the film was designed to be watched on an IMAX screen.

    Despite the much-awaited Knightmare sequence not taking off as you would expect, ZSJL shows more heart across its ambitious length. For DC fans like yours truly, who have sieved through mush searching for a shimmer of gold, the film is almost a miracle. If this version had released way back in 2017, it might have resulted in new characters branching out into their own franchise films. While it is disheartening to note that we might not get to see many of these characters again, the current trending hashtag #RestoreTheSnyderVerse does give a glimmer of hope. It is the same hope that got us ZSJL in the first place, that got us asking if it would be a stretch to associate the ‘S’ on Superman’s chest–meaning hope in Kryptonian–with the director of this film…

    Movie: Zack Snyder’s Justice League

    Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher

    Director: Zack Snyder

    Streaming on: BookMyShow Stream

    Stars: 4/5

    (This copy was originally published on cinemaexpress.com)

  • Henry Cavill’s Superman not part of Shazam sequel

    By Express News Service
    While it was previously speculated that Henry Cavill’s Superman will be a part of the upcoming Shazam sequel, Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, it’s now confirmed the Man of Steel will not be seen in the sequel. The film’s director David F. Sandberg took to Twitter to address the rumours making the rounds.

    The tweet read, “Not going to comment on casting rumours for several reasons. One being you can’t be sure about anything until it’s happened. Halfway through shooting Shazam the plan was still for Cavill to be in it.

    Scoopers could have scooped that and been right at the time but wrong in the end.” He also added, “Though I can confirm with 90 per cent certainty that Shazam will appear in Shazam 2. So if you’re a fan of that character you might enjoy Shazam 2.”

    Actor Zachary Levi will reprise the titular character in the film that also stars Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Meagan Good, and Faithe Herman. The sequel was scheduled to release in April 2022 but because of the Covid breakout, it has been pushed further.