Almost 8 years after his last solo feature, and 4 after his last theatrical appearance (unless you count Shazam!’s headless cameo), Warner Brothers has officially made the first move to put Superman back on the big screen. The catch? It might not be Henry Cavill’s version.
An exclusive from Shadow and Act has revealed the studio has tapped African-American author Ta-Nehisi Coates to write the screenplay for the J.J. Abrams production. Abrams is not expected to direct the film as once thought, given the announcement states he only seems to be interested in producing through his Bad Robot production company.
The film is in the earliest stages of pre-production, with no other creative or director attached other than Coates (writer), Abrams (producer), and Hannah Minghella (producer). Coates’s official statement on the matter was “To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor – I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”
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.
– J.J. Abrams
“Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world, we’re confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel.”
– Toby Emmerich
Coates is a writer and journalist, making a name for himself as correspondent for The Atlantic magazine for a period of 10 years. His non-fiction book on race and African-American racial politics Between the World and Me earned widespread acclaim upon its release in 2015, making it to the finalist list for a Pulitzer Award. On the superheroic side of things, he was the author on the Marvel Comics series Black Panther, and Captain America. Often writing on the matters of race, class, and African-American identity, Coates’s material has led many to already speculate his take on Superman might present the character as black, a casting choice Warner Bros. has previously shown an interest in.
The new Superman film has no set release date, cast, or crew. Nonetheless, more information on the new movie is expected to be released as the year goes on.
Source: Shadow and Act