Man of Steel fans, get ready for yet another feature film. On Feb. 26, it was announced that a Superman reboot is currently in the works [1] over at Warner Bros. and DC [2]. If Henry Cavill is replaced in the role, it would mark the fourth time an actor gets to sport the iconic red and blue in film; following Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and of course, Cavill himself. Very few details about the project are known at this time, outside of who is writing the script and what producers are involved. Below we've broken down some of the most important details including whether or not Cavill will be returning to the role and hints at a potential plot.
Who Is Writing the Script?
On Feb. 26, Deadline confirmed that author Ta-Nehisi Coates [4] would be writing the script for the new feature. "To be invited into [5] the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honour," said Coates in a statement to Shadow and Act. "I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America's most iconic mythic hero."
Coates is best-known for penning The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, Between The World And Me, and The Water Dancer. In the comic book world, he's written issues of Black Panther [6] and Captain America.
Who Is Producing?
J.J. Abrams will be producing under his Bad Robot label [7], Deadline verified on Feb. 26. "There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we're beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity," Abrams told Shadow and Act. Hannah Minghella will also serve as a producer.
What Is the Plot?
Plot details are currently under wraps, although Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich had this to say in a statement, "Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world. We're confident that his take on Superman [8] will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel."
A source told The Hollywood Reporter the project is currently "being set up as a Black Superman story [9]." This wouldn't the first time a Black Superman story option has been explored as Michael B. Jordan tried to develop a similar project in 2019 [10].
Will Henry Cavill Be Returning to the Role?
Although the project has been poised as a reboot, there's still a possibility that Cavill could return as Superman. Deadline previously stated that he was in talks to reprise [11] the role in the DC universe and that he was eager to return.
Shadow and Act also reported that the search for an actor [12] to play Kal El/Superman hadn't yet started.