The announcement of the first slate of DCU projects brought confirmation that there's a new Superman movie in the works, meaning the Man of Steel can finally move on from the controversy of the DCEU, Man of Steel 2, and the Snyderverse. Months after it was revealed that Henry Cavill would not be returning as Superman despite his cameo in Black Adam, James Gunn and the DCU team announced plans for a Superman reboot with Superman: Legacy. This marks the first solo Superman movie being developed since Man of Steel. However, it is not the only Superman project that is being talked about, and the iconic hero could be returning in more than one project in a variety of different ways.
As the DCU planned to overhaul its cinematic universe, it was expected by many that a new Superman movie would be developed as part of that. Superman: Legacy is an exciting new adventure for the Man of Steel that will see a new actor playing Superman for the DCU. The movie is said to focus on a young version of the character as he balances his life on Earth and his Kryptonian past. However, the announcement about the Superman reboot and the bold new plans for the DCU brings up a lot of questions about other DC projects in development, including several Superman projects that seem to still be in the works. Along with the excitement of Superman: Legacy, fans might have some more Superman fun to look forward to.
J.J. Abrams & Ta-Nehisi Coates' Superman Movie
In February 2021, Warner Bros. announced that J.J. Abrams was producing a new standalone Superman movie that would not have any connections to the DCU. This is not the first Superman movie the filmmaker has been attached to as Abrams wrote the unmade Superman: Flyby. However, it seems like most of the creative control will be designated elsewhere. Academic and novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates, who worked on comic book titles such as Captain America and Black Panther, was chosen to pen the script.
A few months later, THR reported that J.J. Abrams would not direct the film but rather just serve as producer. Since that initial announcement, there hasn't been much news about this project. However, it was reported in December 2022 (via Variety) that this project was one of the few singled out that would not be affected by the new plans for the DCU. While it was not mentioned as part of the recent DC slate, it can be assumed that if it is moving forward, it will do so as part of the DCU's proposed Elseworld stories.
Michael B. Jordan' Superman HBO Max Show
Before J.J. Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates' upcoming Superman movie was announced, there were already talks of Michael B. Jordan being considered to play the Man of Steel. In fact, Michael B. Jordan was even questioned if he was going to be the lead in the J.J. Abrams film. Despite Jordan's negative, the actor is involved in another Superman project. Jordan is producing a Superman limited series for HBO Max, one that will feature Val-Zod, not Kal-El, as the Man of Steel. The script is reportedly being written by Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters, and it is not yet known if Michael B. Jordan will also star as Val-Zod or if he will just serve as a producer.
Val-Zod was introduced in the DC Comics in 2014 as part of a reimagined Earth-2. In that parallel universe, he was born to unknown parents (presumably the son of General Zod) and was adopted by Jor-El and Lara, parents of Kal-El. As in other iterations, Earth-2's Krypton was doomed, which led to Val-Zod, Kal-El, and Kara Zor-El all being sent to planet Earth. Val-Zod's ship, however, arrived years after the other two. Therefore, by the time he had finally learned to control his powers, Clark Kent had already died at the hands of Steppenwolf, beginning Val-Zod's time as Superman.
The new DCU plans have confirmed to feature live-action HBO Max shows as part of their cinematic universe. This includes the previously announced Lanterns and Paradise Lost among others. HBO Max can handle big shows, and with Green Lanterns and Amazonians on the small screen, Superman is possible as well. Despite the possibilities, there hasn't been any news of the show going forward, nor of it being canceled.
My Adventures with Superman
In May 2021, DC announced that a new Superman animated series, My Adventures with Superman, would be produced for HBO Max in partnership with Cartoon Network. The show will focus on early-20s versions of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen as they start to bond as friends and as a team of investigative reporters for the Daily Planet. Jack Quaid and Alicia Lee will voice Clark Kent and Lois Lane with no actor has yet been announced for Jimmy Olsen.
The DCU's plans involve animated projects that will be connected to live-action projects, such as a Creature Commandos show. It remains to be seen if this animated series could be brought into the DCU as well, serving as an origin story to the young Superman that will be introduced in Superman: Legacy. My Adventures With Superman is expected to premiere in 2023, but so far, no official release date has been announced.
Smallville Animated Series
In June 2021, Tom Welling, who played Clark Kent in Smallville, revealed that he and Lex Luthor actor Michael Rosenbaum were working on an animated Smallville revival that would try to bring in as many actors from the original show as possible. At the time, Welling did not mention which platform — Smallville's original network The CW, HBO Max, or home video — this new Superman show was being developed for.
Later in the same year, Welling and Rosenbaum reaffirmed that the animated series was being developed and that it would tell stories about what had happened since the Smallville finale and show where the characters audiences had followed for 10 seasons were now. In 2022, both Tom Welling and Lois Lane actress Erica Durance once again mentioned the Smallville animated series, indicating that the project is moving forward.
Superman & Lois Season 3
Long before the DCU established its exciting new path, the Arrowverse brought the DC heroes together in a connected universe of projects, including one with its own Superman. With the DCU looking to start fresh with a cinematic universe that would connect the television side of things to the movies, most of the Arrowverse shows were canceled. However, Superman & Lois remains one of the few survivors of the cancelations, with James Gunn assuring fans that it would be safe beyond its third season. Currently, the first episode of Superman & Lois season 3 is due to air on March 14 2023 on The CW.
Superman: Legacy
While several of the other Superman projects may be moving forward, it seems like most of the fan attention will be on Superman: Legacy. It makes sense that James Gunn and his team would choose this iconic hero to kick off DCU's Chapter 1 – Gods and Monsters. A new Superman movie was teased by Gunn months ago when it was confirmed that Henry Cavill would return as Superman. Instead, the DCU would be moving forward with its own brand-new, reportedly younger, take on the Man of Steel.
Despite being announced much later, Superman: Legacy seems to be farther along than most of the other Superman projects in development. Gunn is in the midst of writing it and the movie has already locked in its release date of July 11, 2025. While no actors have been cast, there has been plenty of speculation among fans already about who could play the younger Man of Steel. With the interconnected nature of the DCU going forward, it also seems as those this Superman will eventually meet up with the likes of Batman, Robin, and the Green Lanterns.
