DC Comics's Superman franchise, based on the character of the same name created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in June 1938, has seen the release of various films since its inception.

The serial featured the same main cast including Kirk Alyn as Superman, with the addition of Lyle Talbot as Lex Luthor, also known as the "Atom Man".

[15][16] To replace Hamilton, the Salkinds hired Richard Donner, who in turn brought on Tom Mankiewicz to polish the script, giving it a serious feel with Christ-like overtones.

[22] For the third installment, Ilya Salkind wrote a treatment that expanded the film's scope to a cosmic scale, introducing villains Brainiac and Mister Mxyzptlk, as well as Supergirl.

The final product co-starred comedian Richard Pryor as computer genius Gus Gorman, who is manipulated into making fake Kryptonite that corrupts Superman.

[35] Nolan admired Singer's work on Superman Returns for its connection to Richard Donner's version, and previously used the 1978 film as casting inspiration for Batman Begins.

David S. Goyer and Zack Snyder respectively wrote and directed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), a follow-up to Man of Steel and the second film in the DC Extended Universe.

[39] Over the next six months, Ben Affleck (as Batman),[40] Gal Gadot (as Wonder Woman),[41] Jesse Eisenberg (as Lex Luthor) and Jeremy Irons (as Alfred Pennyworth)[42] were added to the cast.

The film was released on March 25, 2016; initially was slated to July 2015, but was delayed in order to give the filmmakers "time to realize fully their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story".

[62] After filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran were appointed in October 2022 to serve as the co-chairmen and co-CEOs of the then-newly formed DC Studios to develop plans for a new DC shared universe slate, Gunn stated in December that Superman was a huge priority for the studio,[67] before announcing that he was writing a new Superman film that would focus on a younger version of the character,[68] who would be depicted as a cub reporter interacting with key characters such as Lois Lane.

[70] The film's title was revealed to be Superman: Legacy in January 2023, with Gunn describing it as the "true start" to the studio's overarching narrative of the new DCU franchise and is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025.

[83] Coates said he was looking forward to "meaningfully adding to the legacy of America's most iconic mythic hero", while Abrams said the film would tell a "new, powerful and moving Superman story".

Newby also noted that Coates' history as a non-fiction author and journalist focusing on African-American issues would give him "the insight and experience to delve further into the [Superman] mythos in a way never seen on screen".

[92]: 196  Peters saw a cover of National Geographic, containing a picture of a skull, going to art department workers, telling them he wanted the design for Brainiac's spaceship to have the same image.

Disappointed by the lack of progress on the film's production, aspiring screenwriter/comic book fan Alex Ford was able to have a script of his (titled Superman: The Man of Steel) accepted at the studio's offices in September 1998.

[114] The following year, Batman vs. Two-Face writer Michael Jelenic revealed that he originally pitched an animated film based on Smith's Superman Lives script, saying that Warner Bros seriously considered it for a long time.

[119] The film includes a scene rendered through computer-generated imagery where Cage as Superman, exactly as he looks in the 90s test footage, fights a robotic spider, as an homage to the demand that Jon Peters gave to Kevin Smith.

[124] Ultimately, Andrew Kevin Walker was hired in August that year after pitching Warner Bros. an idea titled Batman vs. Superman, attaching Wolfgang Petersen as director.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura—Warner Bros' executive vice president for worldwide motion pictures—though liking Abrams' script, nonetheless planned to release Batman vs Superman first.

[151] Joel Edgerton turned down a chance to audition as Superman in favor of the villain Ty-Zor, before Ratner dropped out of the project in March 2003, blaming casting delays,[152] and aggressive feuds with producer Jon Peters.

[154] McG approached Shia LaBeouf for Jimmy Olsen, with an interest to cast an unknown for Superman, Scarlett Johansson as Lois Lane and Johnny Depp for Lex Luthor.

[173] In February 2007, the studio commissioned husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney to write a script for a Justice League film,[174] halting development for the Superman Returns sequel.

[176] The script would have featured a different Superman in a separate continuity from Singer's film; Routh was not approached to reprise his role for Justice League: Mortal,[177] which ended up going to D. J.

In February 2007, during pre-production for The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. hired husband and wife screenwriting duo Michelle and Kieran Mulroney to script a Justice League film[183] featuring a younger Batman in a separate franchise.

[186] Production offices were moved to Vancouver Film Studios in Canada for an expected July 2008 start and a planned summer 2009 theatrical release date,[187][188] but Warner Bros. ultimately canceled Justice League following the success of The Dark Knight.

[190] Warner Bros. chose to prioritize Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as the second DCEU film after Man of Steel failed to meet the company's financial expectations, despite turning a profit.

Director Zack Snyder said that Brainiac and the Kryptonians imprisoned in the Phantom Zone were considered as antagonists for the Man of Steel sequel before Warner Bros. decided to proceed with Batman v Superman.

[198] Before the release of Mission: Impossible – Fallout in July 2018, director Christopher McQuarrie and co-star Cavill pitched their take on a new Superman film, but Warner Bros. did not pursue the idea.

[89] Cavill was revealed to have signed a one-off deal for Black Adam, though Warner Bros. was interested in having him return for future projects including another solo film,[206] though there was only a verbal agreement on this.

[213] The project however was not moving forward quickly as Gunn and Safran were preparing their long-term plans for a DC shared universe, and Cavill did not sign a formal deal to return and no writer or director were attached.