Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has confirmed that director James Gunn is dedicating significant time to the upcoming Superman sequel, "Man of Tomorrow," following the commercial disappointment of the recently released "Supergirl." Zaslav indicated that Gunn is working up to 18-hour days on the production.
Speaking to investors, Zaslav expressed optimism about the future of the DC Universe, emphasizing that Gunn's slate remains on track with "Man of Tomorrow" as the next major release. He reported seeing "amazing" footage from the film and noted Gunn's intense dedication to the project, even on his birthday.
"We're super excited about it," Zaslav stated, according to Deadline. He also mentioned that other DCU projects, including "Clayface" and "Lanterns," are in development, and Matt Reeves is actively working on "The Batman" sequel, slated for release in 2028.
Regarding "Supergirl," which failed to meet box office expectations and incurred financial losses for Warner Bros., Zaslav acknowledged that "a handful of recent films have underperformed expectations." He described the media industry as inherently containing "hits and misses."
Although not directed by Gunn, "Supergirl" was intended as a significant component of the new DCU, following last year's "Superman." Milly Alcock's portrayal of Kara Zor-El, introduced in "Superman," was set to return in "Man of Tomorrow." However, the solo film struggled to attract audiences and critics, concluding its theatrical run with approximately $126 million against a production budget of around $180 million.
DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran previously commented on "Supergirl's" performance, noting that while it "didn't meet our box office expectations, it's just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in." The film experienced a substantial drop in attendance after its opening weekend and has not ranked among the year's top-grossing movies.
IGN's review of "Supergirl" rated the film 6/10, suggesting that while it borrowed from successful elements, Alcock's performance was somewhat lost amidst the narrative's construction. The focus now shifts to "Man of Tomorrow" to potentially reinvigorate the franchise's cinematic trajectory.