Los Angeles [US], April 26: The highly anticipated Superman film, directed by James Gunn, is officially set to hit cinemas worldwide on July 11, 2025, following a major legal victory for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) and DC Comics.
The decision came after US District Judge Jesse Furman dismissed a lawsuit filed by Mark Warren Peary, the executor of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster’s estate, which sought to block the release of Superman: Legacy in countries such as Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia.
As reported by Deadline, the lawsuit argued that WBD and DC were illegally exploiting Superman’s rights in certain foreign territories. However, Judge Furman ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over the international copyright claims, stating in a 13-page order that “the case must be and is dismissed.”
Despite the dismissal, the core copyright ownership issues remain unresolved, and Peary may pursue further legal action in state or international courts. Peary’s claim centers on copyright laws in countries with British legal traditions, where rights allegedly revert to the author’s estate 25 years after their death. Shuster died in 1992, suggesting those rights should have reverted by 2017 (and by 2021 in Canada), according to the plaintiff.
Warner Bros Discovery, represented by Daniel Petrocelli and O’Melveny & Myers, welcomed the court’s decision. “We are pleased with the court’s decision to dismiss this baseless lawsuit. As we have consistently maintained, DC controls all rights to Superman,” the studio said in a statement.
The legal conflict is the latest chapter in the decades-long ownership battle over Superman, originally sold in 1938 by Siegel and Shuster for just USD 130—a deal widely seen as one of the most regrettable in entertainment history.
Meanwhile, Superman: Legacy marks the relaunch of the DC Universe, with David Corenswet starring as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Maria Gabriela de Faria as The Engineer.
The film will be the first major feature under DC Studios’ revamped vision led by James Gunn, aiming to reset and unify the DC cinematic landscape.