James Gunn Cancels His Other Superman Sequel
Five years after James Gunn teased fans about a sequel to Brightburn film, the filmmaker has changed course, essentially putting the project into perpetual limbo. Gunn recently broke the news on an Instagram Threads in response to a fan’s request for a project update. Due to the rights being “f***** up” it’s probably never going to happen.
The news comes as a disappointment to many fans, who were hopeful to see the direction a new film would take the young supervillain.
Rights to Brightburn And Gunn’s Busy Schedule Got In The Way
Given the mid-credits footage from the film, it seemed as though a sequel was sure to follow. Shortly after James Gunn’s film was released to theaters, he stated that a sequel was definitely being discussed. Gunn’s busy schedule at the time appeared to be a hurdle, as he was at the helm of The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Adding to his hectic workload years later are his duties as co-chairman and CEO of DC Studios.
Brightburn Is A Dark Superman Story
While not a financial blockbuster like the aforementioned James Gunn films, Brightburn still held a good measure of financial success at theaters. Working on a modest budget of an estimated $10 million, the supervillain picture was able to more than triple that amount in ticket sales. The film’s premise of reimagining a Superman-type character growing into adolescence and using his powers for evil rather than justice was an interesting twist and left many fans wanting more.
Brightburn Was Ready To Launch A New Superhero Franchise
It seems as though James Gunn set the film up for a sequel, or perhaps even the beginnings of a new cinematic universe. The film’s ending and additional footage that aired mid-credits appeared to lay a foundation for at least one more film, with the potential for the havoc to continue on a much more massive scale. Sadly, until the unspecified issues surrounding the rights are sorted out, fans will be left in the dark thinking about what could have been.
James Gunn Helming DC’s Next Superman Movie
With the rights dispute likely blocking a sequel from being produced, James Gunn has taken his new role at DC Studios by the horns. He’s using his film experience and influence to create one of the most widely anticipated reboots in recent years, bringing DC fans the long-awaited reimagining of Superman. Set to be released in 2025, the film not only has James Gunn at the helm, but also penning the screenplay.
David Corenswet’s Superman Soars Into Theaters In 2025
The upcoming film will serve as the latest notch in James Gunn’s film belt. The director’s roots are with the campy horror studio Troma Pictures, working alongside schlock legend Lloyd Kaufman as a screenwriter for the 1997 film Tromeo and Juliet. From there, James Gunn broke into more mainstream horror writing and directing (Slither, Dawn of the Dead) before eventually rising to become one of the most in-demand directors in the world of superhero films.
Superman will star David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. No official release date for 2025 has been set, although Gunn recently stated the film is nearly 20 percent completed.
