The estate of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster has filed a copyright lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Comics, asserting that the studio does not have the rights to release James Gunn’s Superman. The lawsuit comes just five months before the release of the highly anticipated film is set to debut on July 11.
Plaintiff Mark Warren Peary, executor to the estate, filed the suit on Friday in a New York City federal court seeking “damages and injunctive relief for Defendants’ ongoing infringement in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, as well as declaratory relief establishing the Shuster Estate’s ownership rights across relevant jurisdictions.”
The lawsuit claims that Warner Bros. lost rights to the character in 2017, when it reverted back to Shuster’s estate. As a result, they seek a share of the profits not only from the upcoming film, but all films that Superman has appeared in since 2017 – Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Shazam!, and Black Adam.
While the film will release in the U.S. on July 11, it remains to be seen whether the international release will be delayed, or the film’s overall release date will be pushed back.
Superman, co-created by Shuster (1914-1992) and Jerry Siegel (1914-1996), debuted in 1938 in DC’s Action Comic #1. The beloved DC superhero has since been featured in numerous comics, as well as film and TV show adaptations.
Gunn’s Superman offers a fresh take on Clark Kent and has been lauded for adherence to the costumes and colours represented in the original comics. Henry Cavill passed on the mantle of Man of Steel to David Corenswet, who will star alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced in the upcoming film.
‘Superman’ co-creator Joe Shuster’s estate claims that Warner Bros. And DC Comics lost rights to the beloved superhero in 2017. They seek profits not only from the upcoming film, but all films that Superman has appeared in since that year – Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’, ‘Shazam!’, and ‘Black Adam’ Read More