It’s normal for initiatives to be introduced in Hollywood that in the end by no means see the sunshine of day. There may be preliminary pleasure surrounding a venture, and typically that adjustments, or there’s a regime change on the high that believes there isn’t any longer curiosity within the concept. Nonetheless, when high-profile names are concerned, it may possibly nonetheless be a bit stunning when sure initiatives do not come collectively, and much more stunning when the true cause is revealed. Look no additional than Warner Bros. Discovery’s Black Superman movie from author Ta-Nehisi Coates, which was introduced in 2021, with J.J. Abrams’ involvement. That identify alone ought to point out an computerized inexperienced mild, however now it has been revealed why the interval piece was given the axe by none apart from WBD CEO David Zaslav.
In keeping with a report featured in The Wall Avenue Journal, a screenplay written by Coates and produced by Abrams for a Black Superman movie, was stated to be “too woke” by Zaslav, which was why the venture was in the end canned. The movie was meant to be a standalone interval piece set throughout the American civil rights period. Regardless of the dismissal of the venture, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has stated that if timing permits and Coates has provide you with an outstanding screenplay, the venture may “completely occur” and performance as an “Elseworlds story like Joker.”
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DC has established that the Elseworlds label might be used to inform tales that exist outdoors the brand new DC Universe, corresponding to The Batman and its upcoming sequel, The Batman – Half II. It must also be famous that the canceled Superman venture was in growth earlier than Warner Bros. merged with Discovery, which then put Zaslav within the driver’s seat for a lot of of those selections as soon as the merger befell.
There Have been Reportedly Two Black Superman Tasks In Improvement
There have been really two Black Superman initiatives in growth on the similar time. Along with the Abrams and Coates’ movie, there was a restricted sequence supposed for HBO Max that was in growth below Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society manufacturing banner. The restricted sequence was primarily based on the character Val-Zod, an alternate model of Superman from Earth-2, and was supposed to be written by Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters. This was one other venture that was in growth earlier than the merger that seemingly died as soon as issues have been restructured with the corporate, leading to Gunn and Peter Safran working issues below DC Studios as co-CEOs.
Whereas Jordan was selling Creed III, the actor needed to area many questions relating to rumors that he may be portraying the Black Superman for DC. This was throughout the time that Abrams and Coates’ movie was nonetheless in growth on the studio, and followers started taking to the web to fan-cast Jordan within the position. As these rumors have been taking form, Jordan was inquisitive about bringing the HBO Max restricted sequence to life. It was by no means confirmed if the actor was inquisitive about taking up the position, however, apparently, each of those concepts ran alongside one another earlier than getting shelved, with the previous getting the too-commonly-used buzzword “woke” connected to it.
Within the meantime, Warner Bros. and DC Studios can rejoice the discharge of Gunn’s Superman, which has garnered strong evaluations and is probably going headed for a stellar opening weekend. Possibly the potential success of this movie will make them reevaluate a few of these different Superman concepts that they initially dismissed or postponed.
Superman is now taking part in in theaters nationwide.
Supply: The Wall Avenue Journal
Superman
- Launch Date
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July 11, 2025
- Runtime
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130 Minutes
- Director
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James Gunn
- Producers
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Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran