Superman Creator's Estate Is Suing Warner Bros. Discovery And DC Comics To Block James Gunn's Movie From Releasing In Certain Countries

By Andy Behbakht

Updated Feb 3, 2025

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Image via Warner Bros.

James Gunn's the Superman movie is set to arrive this summer. While Superman is a few months away from its release, Gunn's film, DC and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing a lawsuit revolving around the movie.

According to Deadline, the estate of Joseph Schuster, who co-created Superman, has hit Warner Bros. Discovery with a lawsuit about the DC Universe movie starring David Corenswet, claiming that DC Studios doesn't have the proper rights to release the new film in selected "key territories." A Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said, “We fundamentally disagree with the merits of the lawsuit, and will vigorously defend our rights.”

What The Superman Movie Lawsuit Means

According to the lawsuit, the estate claims that Warner Bros. Discovery doesn't have the rights to release Gunn's Superman movie in countries like Canada, England, Ireland, and Australia. Schuster and fellow Superman co-creator Jerome "Jerry" Siegel, signed over worldwide rights to the character to DC's predecessor, but the new lawsuit seems to hinge on international copyright law:

The copyright laws of countries with the British legal tradition—including Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia—contain provisions automatically terminating such assignments 25 years after an author’s death, vesting in the Shuster Estate the co-author’s undivided copyright interest in such countries.

If the lawsuit isn't settled ahead of the movie's planned July 11 release date, the Superman movie could potentially be delayed in those territories specifically, or worldwide. However, that depends on the veracity of the lawsuit, and WBD's statement seems confident it doesn't hold water, which may indicate DC Studios has no plans to allow the lawsuit to affect Superman's release.

This isn't the first time that Warner Bros. Discovery has had to deal with Superman lawsuits, as they had to settle one only 11 years ago. That particular lawsuit was settled in Warner's favor, and it's possible this new one will as well. What remains to be seen is how quickly it will be settled.

Superman Creator's Previous Lawsuits And Rights Issues Explained

With the latest lawsuit from Schuster's estate, it s the long list of legal complications over the Superman property going all the way back to the late 1930s. When Shuster and Siegel sold the rights to the Man of Steel, the deal was for $130, which later caused them to sue DC Comics over royalties from the Superman radio show, as well as various merchandise. The publishing of Superboy comics also became a major legal issue, as DC Comics wouldn't compensate Siegel and Shuster for their creation being used under a different title.

Siegel made multiple pleas to National Comics, stressing the financial burden that was affecting him because of the lack of royalties, and there are numerous letters that have been made public detailing the situation. Though DC Comics was making millions off Superman, the original owners were later awarded a $94,000 settlement agreement in 1948. In 1959, Siegel actually ended up being hired again by DC Comics, where he would write runs on Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes before his gig came to an end in 1965, after ending his time with Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.

After 1975, Warner Bros. came to an agreement with Shuster and Siegel for $20,000 every year for the rest of their lives, but on the condition that they would not contest Superman's copyright ownership. However, over the next couple of decades, including after Siegel and Shuster's ings, the legal battles would continue over the rights. The Shuster estate was almost close to getting the Superman rights back if a new Superman film had not gone into production by 2011, which could have resulted in another lawsuit for lost revenue.

Our Take On The Superman Movie Lawsuit

Clark Kent / Superman (David Corenswet) is booed by the people in Superman (2025)

Given how incredibly important the Superman movie is for Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios as the first movie on the first Superman movie trailer left fans wanting to see more of the film. Hopefully, more updates on the Superman lawsuit and whether it will affect the film's release will emerge sooner rather than later.