Editing Superman (2025) (section)

=== Development ===
In April 2022, [[Discovery, Inc.]] and WarnerMedia merged to become [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] (WBD), led by president and CEO [[David Zaslav]]. The new company was expected to restructure [[DC Entertainment]] and Zaslav began searching for an equivalent to Marvel Studios president [[Kevin Feige]] to lead the new subsidiary. Zaslav and WBD felt DC lacked a "coherent creative and brand strategy" and were underusing Superman. James Gunn was hired around late August to work on a new ''Superman'' film that was separate from a ''Man of Steel'' sequel, and Zaslav spent some time with Gunn while he was writing the script. That October, Cavill made a cameo appearance in the post-credits scene of the DCEU film ''[[Black Adam]]'' (2022) and Warner Bros. was reported to again be pursuing a ''Man of Steel'' sequel starring Cavill. Roven was producing the new film and the studio was searching for writers. They wanted McQuarrie to direct, but he was unlikely to be available due to his commitments to ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' (2023) and an untitled eighth ''Mission: Impossible'' film (2025). Abrams' and Coates' film was still in development. Cavill's role in ''Black Adam'' was approved by Warner Bros. film chiefs [[Michael De Luca]] and [[Pamela Abdy]] when they were approached directly by ''Black Adam'' star [[Dwayne Johnson]]. Johnson began promoting the idea of a Black Adam vs. Superman film co-starring Cavill. The latter had signed a one-off deal for ''Black Adam'' and only received a verbal agreement that he would continue playing the character in the DCEU. Cavill publicly announced that he would return as Superman for future projects, and said his ''Black Adam'' cameo was a "very small taste" of future plans. He said Superman would be "enormously joyful" going forward. [[Steven Knight]] wrote a script treatment for the sequel around that time, which reportedly included Brainiac as the antagonist, but Warner Bros. executives were not thrilled with his take.

Gunn and ''The Suicide Squad'' producer [[Peter Safran]] were announced as the co-chairs and co-CEOs of the newly formed [[DC Studios]] at the end of October 2022. A week after starting their new roles, the pair had begun developing an eight-to-ten-year plan for a new [[DC Universe]] (DCU) that would be a "soft reboot" of the DCEU. In mid-November, Gunn was publicly revealed to be writing a new DC film. [[Andy Muschietti]], director of the DCEU film ''[[The Flash]]'' (2023), expressed interest in directing a ''Superman'' project with a similar tone to [[Richard Donner]]'s ''[[Superman (1978)|Superman]]'' (1978).In early November, Cavill expressed interest in a future project that explored Superman's "capacity to give and to love" the people of Earth and to inspire others, and said he was looking forward to meeting with Gunn to discuss future opportunities. Work on the ''Man of Steel'' sequel stalled later that month while Gunn and Safran were developing their plans.

In December 2022, Gunn said Superman was a big priority, if not the biggest, for DC Studios, before publicly announcing that he was writing a new ''Superman'' film that would focus on a younger version of the character and would therefore not star Cavill. There was potential for Gunn to also direct the film. It would not be an origin story for Superman, and would focus on him as a young reporter interacting with key characters, such as Lois Lane. Gunn and Safran met with Cavill to explain their decision and discuss potentially working with him for a different role in the future. On January 31, 2023, Gunn and Safran unveiled the first projects from their DCU slate, which begins with Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Their ''Superman'' film was the first film in that chapter and was officially titled ''Superman: Legacy''. It was given a release date of July 11, 2025. Safran wanted Gunn to direct the film. Gunn said the film would take specific inspiration from the comic book ''All-Star Superman'' (2005–2008) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, and the next day that comic appeared on Amazon's list of best-selling comic books. DC later stated that the film was also inspired by the ''Superman: Birthright'' (2003–04) comic book limited series by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu, and Gerry Alanguilan; the 2008 "Brainiac" story arc from Action Comics by [[Geoff Johns]] and Gary Frank; and the comic book crossover event ''Superman: Ending Battle'' (2002) by Johns, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Mark Schultz.

Tom King, a comic book writer working on the DCU, stated in March that Gunn was also directing the film, which Gunn confirmed later that month. At that time, Safran was confirmed to be producing the film. Gunn was hesitant to direct the film, despite encouragement from Safran and others, until he realized how focusing on Superman's heritage with his aristocratic Kryptonian parents and adoptive farmer parents from Smallville, Kansas, would inform the character. Gunn felt emotionally connected to this aspect of the film because of his late father, whose birthday was shared with the film's intended release date. Gunn said in April that the film's tone would differ from his ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' films.