The estate of Joe Shuster, one of the co-creators of Superman, is taking legal action against Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), claiming the studio doesn’t have the rights to release James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman movie. This lawsuit comes at a critical moment—just five months before the film’s scheduled release on July 11, 2025.
Mark Warren Peary, the executor of Shuster’s estate, officially filed the lawsuit in a federal court in New York City on January 31. The lawsuit seeks financial damages and a legal ruling that Warner Bros. is violating copyright laws in several major international markets, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Additionally, the estate wants official recognition of its ownership rights over Superman in these regions.
Why Is Shuster’s Estate Suing?
According to the lawsuit, Warner Bros. lost the rights to Superman in 2017, when they supposedly reverted back to Shuster’s estate. Because of this, the estate argues that WBD has been profiting from the character illegally for years. They aren’t just going after the new movie, either—they want a share of the profits from all Superman-related films released since 2017, including:
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League
- Shazam!
- Black Adam
This raises major questions about the upcoming film’s international release. While Warner Bros. still plans to release Superman as scheduled in the U.S., it’s unclear whether this legal battle will delay its international distribution—or even push back the movie’s overall premiere if things escalate in court.
Warner Bros. Responds
Unsurprisingly, Warner Bros. isn’t backing down. A spokesperson for the studio stated that they “fundamentally disagree” with the lawsuit’s claims and are prepared to fight the case aggressively in court.
Superman’s Legacy & James Gunn’s Vision
Superman, created by Joe Shuster (1914–1992) and Jerry Siegel (1914–1996), made his comic book debut in 1938’s Action Comics #1. Since then, the character has become one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, appearing in countless movies, TV shows, and comics.
James Gunn’s Superman is meant to usher in a new era for DC films, offering a fresh take on Clark Kent while staying true to the classic look of the original comics. The film has already generated major buzz, especially with David Corenswet taking over the role from Henry Cavill. Corenswet will star alongside Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, and Anthony Carrigan, among others.
While the film’s U.S. release seems safe for now, the legal battle over Superman’s rights could create unexpected roadblocks in the months ahead. Stay tuned to see how this plays out—because this fight might be as intense as any Superman showdown on the big screen!