The highly anticipated Superman film, directed by James Gunn and set to star David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, faces a precarious future as a legal battle over the character’s international rights escalates. The estate of Joseph Shuster, co-creator of Superman alongside Jerome Siegel, has reignited a decades-long dispute with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DC Comics, filing a lawsuit that threatens to disrupt the film’s global release on July 11, 2025. The Shuster estate, led by executor Mark Warren Peary, claims that WBD has been exploiting Superman in key international markets—Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia—without authorization since 2017, when copyrights allegedly reverted to the estate under foreign laws. While a federal court dismissed the initial lawsuit in April 2025, the estate has now filed a nearly identical case in New York state court, seeking an injunction that could halt the film’s worldwide distribution. Amid this legal storm, negotiations between WBD and the Shuster family are reportedly underway, raising hopes for a resolution but also casting uncertainty over the DC Universe’s flagship reboot.

The lawsuit hinges on copyright laws in countries following the British legal tradition, which mandate that copyrights revert to a creator’s estate 25 years after their death. Shuster, who passed away in 1992, saw his rights to Superman revert in 2017 (2021 in Canada), according to the estate’s attorney, Marc Toberoff. The complaint, filed in January 2025 in New York’s Southern District federal court, accused WBD of infringing these rights through films, TV shows, and merchandise, including Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Shazam!. The estate sought damages and an injunction to block Superman’s release in the affected territories. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman dismissed the case on April 24, 2025, ruling that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction over foreign copyright claims, citing the Berne Convention’s non-self-executing nature. Undeterred, Peary filed a new lawsuit in state court the following day, reasserting the same claims and seeking to prevent the film’s global rollout, arguing that WBD’s continued use of Superman violates international law.

The timing of the lawsuit is critical, as Superman is poised to launch the revamped DC Universe under Gunn’s leadership. The film, featuring Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, has generated significant buzz, with its December 2024 trailer becoming the most viewed in DC’s history, according to Gunn’s post on X. The Shuster estate’s push for an injunction could disrupt this momentum, potentially forcing WBD to delay the release or negotiate a costly settlement. Toberoff, a veteran of copyright battles, insists the suit is not about denying fans but ensuring “just compensation” for Shuster’s contributions. He argues that WBD’s profits from Superman, a character sold for a mere $130 in 1938, have been immense, while the creators and their heirs have historically received minimal compensation.

Warner Bros. has vowed to “vigorously defend” its rights, pointing to a 1992 agreement with Shuster’s sister, Jean Peavy, which they claim settled all claims by increasing her annual payments to $25,000. A 2013 9th Circuit ruling upheld this agreement, rejecting the estate’s attempt to reclaim U.S. rights. However, Toberoff argues that the ruling does not apply to foreign copyrights, a legal gray area that remains untested. Posts on X reflect divided sentiment: some fans call the lawsuit a greedy attempt to exploit Superman’s success, while others support the Shuster estate, citing the creators’ historical mistreatment. One user noted, “Shuster and Siegel got screwed for decades. This is about fairness.”

Negotiations between WBD and the Shuster estate are ongoing, with sources indicating that both parties are exploring a settlement to avoid a protracted legal battle. A successful injunction could have far-reaching implications, not only for Superman but also for how studios handle intellectual property in global markets. The case highlights the complexities of international copyright law, particularly in jurisdictions with reversion provisions. For now, the fate of Gunn’s Superman hangs in the balance, with fans eagerly awaiting updates. As one X post put it, “This movie better not get delayed over legal nonsense. We need Superman!” The outcome of these negotiations could shape the DC Universe’s future and set a precedent for creators’ rights worldwide, making this a pivotal moment in Superman’s storied legacy.