Warner Bros. Boss Breaks Silence on ‘Superman’ Sequel After ‘Supergirl’ Bomb

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav believes DC’s next big Superman movie could help keep the franchise moving in the right direction, even after the disappointing box office performance of Supergirl earlier this year.

Speaking during Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest earnings call with Wall Street analysts, Zaslav was asked whether the studio planned to change its DC strategy following Supergirl’s weak theatrical run. According to the CEO, the answer is no. He said DC Studios co-head James Gunn remains fully focused on the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and that the project is already looking impressive behind the scenes.

Zaslav shared his confidence in Gunn’s work, saying, “I saw some pictures yesterday that looked amazing. Actually, yesterday was James’s birthday, and he’s out working. He’s working 16, 18 hours a day. It looks fantastic. We’re super excited about it.”

The comments come after Supergirl struggled at the box office, earning around $126 million worldwide. The disappointing result became one of the factors that hurt Warner Bros. Discovery’s second-quarter results, especially when compared to the company’s stronger theatrical performance the previous year.

Despite that setback, Zaslav made it clear that Warner Bros. Discovery is not backing away from its current DC plans. Since taking over DC Studios in 2022, Gunn and Peter Safran have been tasked with rebuilding the franchise and creating a more connected future for DC movies and television projects.

The new DC era started with 2025’s Superman, which became an important release for the studio and helped establish Gunn’s vision for the franchise. Zaslav also pointed to other successful projects, including The Penguin, as proof that the company’s new approach is working.

“We have a robust pipeline, and Peter and James are hard at work,” Zaslav said during the call.

Beyond Man of Tomorrow, DC has several major projects in development, including Clayface, Lanterns, and the long-awaited sequel to Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Zaslav said he recently spoke with Reeves and praised the director for continuing to put significant effort into the next chapter of the franchise.

The CEO also addressed Warner Bros. Discovery’s wider movie plans, explaining that the studio expects to release more films in the coming years. While the company plans to release 14 movies in 2026, that number is expected to increase to 19 in 2027.

Zaslav said the studio has confidence in its upcoming lineup thanks to its major franchises and creative partnerships. He explained that Warner Bros. Discovery has “the unique benefit of a great creative team, great relationships in the creative communities, and an enormous amount of IP.”

Looking ahead, the studio is preparing a major lineup that includes Man of Tomorrow, The Batman sequel, a new Lord of the Rings movie, and Minecraft 2. Zaslav admitted that 2026 may have fewer major blockbuster releases compared to what is coming the following year, but he said the company is focused on releasing movies when they are ready rather than rushing projects to meet a schedule.

For now, Warner Bros. Discovery appears committed to staying the course with Gunn’s DC Universe. While Supergirl may have stumbled, the studio believes Superman’s next chapter can help prove that the franchise is moving in the right direction.

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