James Gunn is all set to revamp the DCU with the first entry in his new and improved cinematic universe, Superman: Legacy. The film stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent a.k.a Superman, replacing Henry Cavill in the role. It also stars Rachel Brosnahan, known for her role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Gunn has been updating the world about his preparation for the film, which is set to release on July 11, 2025. He recently mentioned that the film would follow the storyline of the classic 1939 political satire film Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. While no exact plot details have been revealed about the film, it is rumored to feature a younger and idealistic Superman.
What Do We Know About James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy?
After much speculation and management changes, WB Studios appointed James Gunn and Peter Safran to head DC Studios and revamp the existing cinematic universe of DC-based superheroes. This marked the end of the DC Extended Universe, which was started by Zack Snyder with the Henry Cavill starrer Man of Steel.
Gunn announced that the new and improved DCU would begin again with a Superman film, which he would be directing. Titled Superman: Legacy, the film would feature a younger Superman/Clark Kent who would interact with many important characters in Kent’s world such as Lois Lane. Safran told Empire about what the Superman film would explore,
“It’s not an origin story. It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.”
James Gunn later announced that the film would be taking inspiration from the comic series All-Star Superman which explores a dying Superman making peace with the world and accomplishing many heroic deeds before his death. Gunn also mentioned that other characters from the upcoming DCU film The Authority would be introduced in the film.
David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were confirmed as the cast for Superman: Legacy with Corenset donning the red capes after Henry Cavill. The casting sparked a lot of controversy. The film is also set to feature Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner a.k.a Green Lantern, Isabella Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.
Also read: Henry Cavill’s Co-Star From The Witcher Earns A Spot In James Gunn’s Creature Commandos
Will Superman: Legacy Be Based On Mr. Smith Goes To Washington?
One of the biggest questions about James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy was the plot line. While the official plot mentions that it would follow Superman reconciling with his Kryptonian heritage as well as his Smallville childhood, there have been no clear-cut plot details. Recently, however, Gunn teased that the film would resemble the classic political satire Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
In a Threads post, a user asked James Gunn whether fans could expect the plot of Superman: Legacy to be similar to that of the Frank Capra-directed political satire. Gunn responded in the affirmative saying, “It’s exactly the same”. This sparked numerous theories on how the classic could fit into Superman’s narrative of a young and naive hero in the big bad world.
Post by @jamesgunnView on Threads
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington was a comedy-drama about a naive US Senator played by James Stewart in his breakout role, who goes against the corrupt Government. The film was controversial upon release for showing the Senate as a joke and as a corrupt entity. The film was so impactful that many senators who attended the screening of the film reportedly walked out.
The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Stewart and Best Director for Frank Capra. It eventually won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Story. James Gunn’s seeming confirmation about the inspiration for the film has led to fans speculating that it would feature a young and naive Superman who grapples with losing faith in humanity.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
