Summary
A newSupermanset photo reveals that James Gunn may have a clever way to pay tribute to several iconic names who have contributed to the Man of Steel’s legacy.
Gunn’sSupermanmovie is currently in production, with set photos revealing first looks at the DCU’s version of several iconic characters. While there has been a lot of focus on the costumes for characters like Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl or the mysteriousSuperman villain fans believe to be Ultraman, one photo reveals a map of a Metropolis that contains nods to some of the famous people who have lent their talents to the Man of Tomorrow on the page and screen.
A photo shared by Reddit userDoctorBeatMakershows a map of Metrpololis not unlike those found in any real metropolitan area. Close inspection of the map reveals that several streets and drives share the last names of prominent people in Superman’s history, including Jeff Loeb, Grant Morrison, andSuperman: The Moviedirector Richard Donner. The map also includes Goyer Dr., undoubtedly a nod toMan of Steelwriter David S. Goyer. There’s also Snyder Street, which could be a nod toJustice Leaguedirector Zack Snyder and comic book writer Scott Snyder, who penned the DC Comics miniseriesSuperman Unchained.
As most fans know,Zack Snyder led the DCEUuntil a string of box office disappointments prompted Warner Bros. to abandon his vision for a multi-film story arc. The DC movies that followed were a mixed bag of successes and flops, critically and financially. Warner Bros. then restarted the DC film and TV franchise with Gunn and Peter Safran as co-CEOs of DC Studios, which will now launch a new era of DC projects starting withCreature Commandoeson the TV side andSupermanon the feature film side. While some DC fans support Zack Snyder and Gunn, others have criticized one or the other and assume there must be bad blood between the two filmmakers. Despite these assumptions, Gunn and Zack Snyder have publicly expressed support for each other, and the Zack Snyder easter egg in the Metropolis map could be seen as Gunn’s way of giving a nod to Zack Snyder’s contributions to Superman.
While some fans would love to seeZack Snyder return to the DC universe—either to continue his DCEU storyline or direct a standalone Elseworlds project—the director stated that he is not knocking on Gunn’s door to direct a DC project and his priority is original content, like hisRebel Moonfranchise for Netflix. This is unlikely to please the DCEU fans who want Warner Bros. to let Zack Snyder continue the Snyderverse story arc. However, Snyder is seemingly content moving on and crafting new projects with the creative freedom Netflix appears to be giving him.
As for Gunn’s future with the DCU? I will almost certainly depend onSuperman’s critical and box office fortunes. While Gunn announced an extensive slate of DCU projects, Snyder’s experience with DC proves Warner Bros. isn’t opposed to changing course if they feel the plan isn’t working. However, Gunn had success with Marvel Studios’Guardians of the Galaxyfranchise andtheSupermanset photoshave inspired confidence in most fans, so there’s reason to be optimistic.
Supermanis scheduled to be released in theaters on June 28, 2025.
Superman
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.' rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill departed from the role, honoring the character’s roots as “the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way.”
