James Gunn Explains Why ‘Superman’ Hits Digital So Much Earlier Than Expected
Warner Bros. has announced that James Gunn’s new Superman movie will be available to rent or buy digitally starting August 15. Fans can also get the 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD versions when they hit stores on September 23.
The home release is packed with extra features, which include deleted scenes, a gag reel, nine featurettes, and a director’s commentary from Gunn himself. One of the biggest bonuses is an hour-long documentary called Adventures in Making Superman, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made.
Other featurettes explore topics like Superman’s cultural impact in Icons Forever: Superman’s Enduring Legacy, and the movie’s villain in Lex Luthor: The Mind of a Master Villain, focusing on Nicholas Hoult’s character.
The early digital release might seem unusual to some. Big blockbuster movies usually stay in theaters longer before hitting streaming platforms. Some people see this as a sign that studios may be trying to make extra money quickly if the film isn’t as profitable as hoped.
ScreenRant spoke with James Gunn while promoting Peacemaker season 2, and he explained the reasoning behind the early release. Liam Crowley from ScreenRant asked him why Superman is coming to digital so soon after its theatrical debut. Gunn said, “Well, it’s very complicated, but the truth is it is because of Peacemaker. I originally thought Peacemaker was going to be coming out next month. There was a lot of things that are beyond our control, so that Peacemaker is coming out now, and, at the end of the day, I wanted everyone to be able to see Superman that wanted to, even those people who couldn’t get to a theater before Peacemaker. And that’s really the reason for it.”
Gunn’s explanation shows that the timing is connected to the Peacemaker TV show. He emphasized that Superman leads directly into Peacemaker and sets up future DC Universe stories.
He told ScreenRant, “It’s a big part, definitely Superman leads directly into Peacemaker; it should be noted that this is for adults, not for children, but Superman leads into this show and then we have the setting up of all of the rest of the DCU in this season of Peacemaker, it’s incredibly important. Lots of guest stars coming up, lots of characters that are showing up that we’ve already met in Superman. I don’t think there’s anything that I’ve ever done that I love more than this season of Peacemaker, so I’m so excited for people to see it.”
This fight is even dirtier than the last one. Season ✌️of #Peacemaker premieres next Thursday, August 21 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/NJ3iUZcZlX
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 14, 2025
The home release gives fans a chance to enjoy the film in full detail, whether they missed it in theaters or want to revisit it. Gunn’s commentary and the behind-the-scenes documentary offer insight into his vision for Superman and the effort that went into the movie. Fans can explore everything from the character’s history to the making of key action sequences and the work of the actors.
With Superman coming early to digital platforms, fans can now watch the movie at home and get ready for Peacemaker season 2. According to Gunn, the timing is intentional to let as many viewers as possible experience Superman before jumping into the show. It also builds excitement for the upcoming DC Universe projects connected to both the movie and the series.
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