David Zaslav Allegedly Scrapped Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Superman Project Over “Woke” Concerns

A few years ago, Warner Bros. had plans for a very different Superman movie. It was written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, the well-known writer and journalist, and it was going to feature a Black Superman living during the civil rights era. The idea was to reimagine the character in a new and powerful way. J.J. Abrams was set to produce the project.

But according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav didn’t like where it was going. In 2022, he reportedly stopped the project from moving forward, saying it was “too woke.” People familiar with the situation told the WSJ that Zaslav didn’t think the film fit into his larger plan for DC.

The movie hasn’t been officially canceled. James Gunn even said in April 2024 that it’s still in development. But it’s clearly not a priority right now. It was supposed to be released under DC’s Elseworlds label, the same label that covers stories outside the main universe, like The Batman and Joker. Still, nothing is happening with it at the moment.

Instead of that bold, different take on Superman, Zaslav chose a safer path, according to WSJ. He handed the keys to James Gunn, the director best known for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Gunn wrote and directed a new Superman movie with a more traditional story. It stars David Corenswet, features familiar characters like Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, and even has Superman’s dog, Krypto. The budget was around $225 million.

This new film is the start of a brand new DC universe. More movies and shows are already in the works, including ones about Supergirl and Green Lantern. The plan is to bring all of DC’s biggest heroes together again, just like Marvel did with the Avengers.

Zaslav has made it clear he sees DC as one of the biggest chances to turn Warner Bros. around. After the merger with Discovery, the company’s stock dropped and hasn’t recovered. Zaslav has told investors that DC “could and should be a game changer.”

Before choosing Gunn and producer Peter Safran to lead DC, Zaslav tried other things. Zack Snyder had created a darker and more serious DC universe, but it divided fans. His version of Justice League was a mess behind the scenes. At one point, Warner Bros. even reached out to Marvel boss Kevin Feige to see if he’d jump ship. He didn’t.

In 2022, Zaslav had a long Zoom call with Gunn and Safran. That meeting changed everything. They talked for three hours about Superman and what the character means. Zaslav decided they were the right people to fix DC and gave them full control. Gunn now runs all of DC’s movies, shows, and games while also directing Superman himself.

This move makes Gunn one of the most powerful people in Hollywood right now. But it also puts a lot of pressure on him. This new Superman movie has to work. DC fans are watching closely, and the company is depending on it. As one fan, Loren Schroder, said at the premiere, “The torch has been passed to James Gunn. This is his introduction to prove that he can do it.”

Still, the choice to ignore Coates’ Black Superman story is a big part of the conversation. For many people, it shows how Hollywood still struggles with projects that take risks and push for more diversity, especially when money is on the line. Even though the idea hasn’t been fully scrapped, it’s clear Zaslav chose the safer bet.

If the new Superman movie is a hit, maybe Gunn and Safran will revisit Coates’ version later. But for now, it’s all about playing it safe and hoping this reboot is the one that finally works.