Lawsuit from Superman Estate Could Impact Release of New James Gunn Film

Months ahead of James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman reboot, the estate of one of the character’s original creators, Joe Shuster, has initiated legal action against Warner Bros.and DC Comics. This lawsuit aims to invalidate copyright claims concerning Superman across several regions.

Set for a global release on July 11, 2025, the upcoming reboot has generated significant excitement within the superhero film community. However, on January 31, the Shuster estate filed a lawsuit, reviving a long-standing dispute that dates back decades to the inception of the character.

The filing asserts that copyright ownership of Superman has reverted to Shuster’s estate in specific regions, including the UK, Ireland, and Australia since 2017, with Canada following suit in 2021. This reversion is based on local copyright regulations that recognize Shuster and his contributions as a primary creator of Superman.

Marc Toberoff, the attorney representing the estate, emphasized that “Defendants continue to exploit Superman across these jurisdictions without the Shuster Estate’s authorization — including in motion pictures, television series, and merchandise — in direct contravention of these countries’ copyright laws.” He argues that all co-owners of the copyright must consent to the character’s use in these territories.

Warner Bros. Prepares to Contest the Trademark Claims

Toberoff further noted, “In today’s global economy, studios like DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.cannot expect foreign nations to uphold U. S.copyright laws while they disregard the copyright laws of those countries.” His comments highlight the complexities of international copyright enforcement.

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Superman | Official Teaser Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhUht6vAsMY)

The lawsuit is seeking an order that could potentially prevent the release of the new Superman movie in the aforementioned regions unless Warner Bros.obtains the necessary licensing from the Shuster estate beforehand.

“This suit is not intended to deprive fans of their next Superman, but rather seeks just compensation for Joe Shuster’s fundamental contributions as the co-creator of Superman, ” Toberoff asserted.“The responsibility now lies with DC and Warner Bros.to address this issue appropriately.”

In 1938, Joe Shuster and Jerome Siegel introduced Superman to the world, selling the character’s rights for a mere $130. Since then, both estates have actively pursued the re-establishment of their legal rights to the beloved superhero.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Warner Bros.expressed their strong disagreement with the claims and affirmed their commitment to vigorously defend their rights against this legal challenge.

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