‘Superman’ reboot in the works: Here’s everything you need to know

Author Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing a Superman reboot feature for Warner Bros and DC Films. 

The upcoming reboot was confirmed on 26 February and is still in the development stages. No release date is available yet.

Rather than a sequel to the 2013 release Man of Steel, the new film will be a Superman reboot. 

The Superman reboot will be produced by JJ Abrams under his label Bad Robot. Hannah Minghella will be a producer, but the film does not yet have a director.

WHO IS TA-NEHISI COATES?

Author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates is no stranger to the comic book world. He has written issues of Black Panther and Captain America. He also wrote the books The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power and The Water Dancer. Coates said he was honoured to be working on the Superman reboot.

“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros, DC Films and Bad Robot is an honour,” Coates said in a statement to Shadow and Act.

“I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”

WHO WILL STAR IN ‘SUPERMAN’ REBOOT?

The role of Superman was first played in 1978 by Christopher Reeve in Superman: The Motion Picture. Reeves also starred in three subsequent films. He then passed the cape on to Brandon Routh in 2006, who starred in Superman Returns. 

Henry Cavill stepped into the role in 2013 for Man of Steel, followed by the 2016 release Batman vs Superman, and Justice League in 2017.

There is no confirmation on whether Cavill will be replaced as the search for an actor for the Superman reboot has not started. 

In February, DC broke diversity barriers casting Sasha Calle as the first-ever Latin Supergirl. 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ‘SUPERMAN’ REBOOT 

Not much information on the Superman reboot is available yet, but Abrams said there was a new, powerful story to be told. 

“There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we’re beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros for the opportunity,” Abrams told Show and Act. 

A BLACK SUPERMAN STORY

A source told The Hollywood Reporter that the Superman reboot story was being set up with a black Superman at its centre. The studio had been trying to wrap its head around this for a while now, the source said. 

Michael B Jordan previously tried to develop a black Superman story when he first arrived at the studio, but was not successful.