Judge Clears Global Release of James Gunn’s Superman After Legal Challenge from Shuster Estate

A New York judge has ruled in favor of Warner Bros., allowing James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie to be released worldwide without delay. The decision came on Wednesday, putting an end to a legal effort from the estate of Joe Shuster, one of Superman’s original creators, to block the international rollout of the film.

The legal battle over the rights to Superman has been going on for years, but things took a more serious turn back in May. At that time, the Shuster estate tried to stop the global release of Superman, which is set to premiere in the U.S. on July 11, 2025.

They argued that they still had claims related to the character’s international rights. If the court had agreed with them, it could have delayed or even derailed the film’s release in key countries.

Marc Toberoff represents the family of Joe Shuster, one of Superman’s original creators. He says the rights to Superman have gone back to the Shuster estate in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.

The first version of this case was dismissed by a federal judge, who said the court didn’t have the right to decide it. Many thought the case was over. But Toberoff didn’t give up. He refiled the case in New York state court, and now it’s active again.

Toberoff is known for fighting hard in big Hollywood cases. He clearly believes the Shuster estate still has a claim to Superman’s rights, at least in some parts of the world.

Toberoff is then asked the court to stop Warner Bros. from using Superman in those countries until the case is resolved. If the court agrees, this could delay or even block the international release of James Gunn’s Superman, which is supposed to hit theaters on July 11.

But the judge denied the request for an injunction this week, clearing the way for Warner Bros. Discovery to move ahead with international distribution. According to the ruling, the film can now be released as planned in places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.

This is a big win for Warner Bros., especially since Superman is one of the studio’s most important movies of the year. The ruling also helps set a legal precedent for similar rights disputes that might come up in the future. While it solves the current issue, the broader legal fight over Superman’s rights likely isn’t over.

Superman, directed by James Gunn, will open in theaters and IMAX across the U.S. on July 11, 2025. It will begin hitting international theaters starting July 9, 2025. The film is being released by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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