Superman: Legacy

Warner Bros is facing a lawsuit from the estate of Joseph Shuster, one of the creators of the DC Comics hero Superman.

Ahead of the release of Superman, a much-publicised new movie adaptation directed by Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker James Gunn, a suit was filed in New York City’s federal court.

Superman is intended to re-launch DC’s biggest film franchise, as part of a wider attempt to rival Marvel’s cinematic universe. Gunn took over as CEO of DC Studios, a subsidiary of Warner Bros, in 2022, alongside producer Peter Safran.

The character of Superman was created in 1938 by Shuster, an illustrator, and writer Jerome Siegel.

The lawsuit states that the creators had initially licensed the rights to Superman to Detective Comics (which would later become DC Comics). It argues that British law means that Shuster’s rights reverted to his estate in 2017, 25 years after the illustrator’s death.

It is claimed that Warner Bros had unlawfully failed to pay royalties for use of the character in countries outside the US, including Britain, Canada and Australia.

The suit seeks monetary damages from the company, as well as a court order that would prevent depictions of Superman without a license.…..

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-...-lawsuit-warner-bros-james-gunn-b2690332.html