Los Angeles rolled out the red cape this week as Superman, the first feature film from DC Studios’ new cinematic universe, held its world premiere in Hollywood. Among the film’s shining stars in attendance were Edi Gathegi and Wendell Pierce, who both make their DC Universe debuts under the visionary direction of James Gunn.
Gathegi, best known for his work in X-Men: First Class and The Harder They Fall, takes on the role of Mister Terrific, a genius-level inventor and tactician with a rich comic legacy. Pierce, a veteran of stage and screen whose credits include The Wire and Suits, will portray Perry White, the no-nonsense editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet and mentor to Clark Kent.
As the summer’s biggest box office wildcard, early industry tracking shows Superman flying toward a $130 million domestic opening, though Warner Bros. is being more cautious with projections in the $100 million-plus range. Overseas, the film is expected to match those numbers across 78 markets, giving it a potential global debut of over $200 million.
Gunn, who directs from his own script, is officially launching what’s being called the DCU: Chapter One – “Gods and Monsters.” This iteration of Superman promises a reinvention of the Man of Steel, played by David Corenswet. Rachel Brosnahan stars alongside him as Lois Lane.
Unlike past Superman adaptations that leaned heavily into darkness or nostalgia, Gunn’s version blends blockbuster action with heart and humor, a signature style fans have come to expect from the filmmaker behind Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad. His dual role as co-head of DC Studios alongside producer Peter Safran gives him unique authority to shape the franchise’s trajectory.
As the summer’s biggest box office wildcard, early industry tracking shows Superman flying toward a $130 million domestic opening, though Warner Bros. is being more cautious with projections in the $100 million-plus range. Overseas, the film is expected to match those numbers across 78 markets, giving it a potential global debut of over $200 million.
Superman opens in theaters worldwide on July 11, kicking off a new era of DC storytelling.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. via Getty Images
