David Zaslav Celebrates ‘Superman’ Success and Unveils Ambitious 10-Year DC Universe Plan: ‘The Vision Is Clear, The Momentum Is Real’
Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO David Zaslav is celebrating the strong start of the new “Superman” movie. The film made $122 million in the U.S. and $217 million worldwide during its first weekend.
This is a big deal for the DC Universe, which had some tough years with recent movies like “The Flash,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” and “Blue Beetle” all underperforming.
To fix this, Zaslav brought in James Gunn and Peter Safran in 2022 to lead DC Studios and create a fresh vision. Together, they planned a 10-year journey filled with connected stories and spin-offs, including upcoming movies like “Supergirl” and “Clayface,” and a new “Wonder Woman” film in development.
Speaking about “Superman’s” opening weekend, Zaslav said, “Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world. James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.”
Zaslav was looking for someone like Marvel’s Kevin Feige to help bring new energy to DC. When he met James Gunn, who directed “Superman” and oversees the studio with Safran, he felt confident. He said Gunn talked about DC characters as if “they were like his family.” Gunn is best known for directing Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies.
The opening weekend numbers and positive reviews suggest that “Superman” could do well this summer. But the movie cost $225 million to make, so it will need to keep drawing audiences to be considered a true hit. For comparison, Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” had a strong start but quickly dropped at the box office, while the last Superman movie in 2013, “Man of Steel,” began with $116 million but didn’t build enough momentum for more sequels.
Still, Zaslav was full of hope and excitement. He said, “This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step. Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Clayface’ in theaters and the series ‘Lanterns’ on HBO Max, all part of a bold 10-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”
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