James Gunnhas shared a delightful cast photo of his highly anticipated new DCU film,Superman: Legacy. He captioned it by writing, “After the table read with the #Superman cast. Eve, Mr. Terrific, Superman/Clark, Otis, Lex, producer Peter Safran, Jimmy, Metamorpho, Lois, Hawkgirl, me, Guy, The Engineer all together for the first time! What a wonderful day.” Check it out below:

Gunn also provided some much-needed clarification regarding the involvement of TV host Bassem Youssef in the upcomingSuperman: Legacy. The filmmaker and DCU mastermind confirmed (viaThreads) that Youssef’s exclusion from the movie was not a result of his controversial comments about Israel during a Piers Morgan interview. Instead, the character Youssef was to portray had already been removed from the script prior to the interview’s broadcast. This clarification comes amidst a flurry of speculation and fan discussions on social media platforms.

James Gunn Threads Response to Bassem Youssef’s Superman Legacy Departure

Youssef, visibly disheartened by the turn of events, expressed his disappointment in an interview, questioning the freedom to criticize foreign governments in the United States. Youssef stated:

“I was kind of very sad, like why, in the United States of America, you’re able to talk about Joe Biden, and you can talk about Donald Trump, but you cannot criticize a foreign government? Which is kind of very sad,” Youssef said during the interview. “Because of that, I was cast in the movie, Superman, and then they told me, ‘We changed the script,’ after this Piers Morgan interview.'”

Nicholas Hoult in an edited image with Lex Luthor in the background, standing next to the sunset and city skyline.

Gunn, who has been quite vocal about his vision forSuperman: Legacyon social media, shared a touching story that highlights his emotional connection to the project. The film’s release date coincidentally falls on his late father’s birthday, a detail that moved his brother to tears. Gunn credits his father for supporting his passions for comics and film, which ultimately paved the way for his involvement in this iconic superhero saga.

Superman: Legacy: Nicholas Hoult Is Actually the Right Pick for Lex Luthor

While some remain hesitant about Nicholas Hoult’s Superman: Legacy casting, they’d do well to remember his abilities as an actor.

The director also reflected on his journey to helming the project, revealing that he initially declined the opportunity to direct Superman years ago due to a lack of a unique and heartfelt approach. However, a newfound perspective onSuperman’s dual heritage, inspired by both his Kryptonian and Kansas farmer parents, eventually led him to accept the role.

Superman

Superman: Legacy Set to Explore the Hero’s Kryptonian Roots and Smallville Upbringing

Fans were thrilled and surprised by the news that James Gunn and Peter Safran would lead DC’s film division, as they looked forward to Gunn’s interpretation of Superman. The studio’s description ofSuperman: Legacyhighlights the tale of Superman’s endeavor to merge his Kryptonian heritage with his life as Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas, representing the ideals of truth, justice, and the American way.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav expressed his optimism about Gunn and Safran’s leadership, highlighting thepotential for DC to be a significant growth driverfor the company. With the first draft of the Superman script completed, Zaslav believes that this is a crucial moment to showcase the strength of the DC brand on a global scale for long-term sustainable growth.

As the film industry and fans alike await the release ofSuperman: Legacy, Gunn’s heartfelt connection to the project and his commitment to honoring the character’s legacy promise a film that will resonate with audiences worldwide.

Superman: Legacy is scheduled to premiere on July 20, 2025.