Could Legal Troubles Delay Cleveland’s Highly Anticipated Superman Movie?

CLEVELAND, OH — Warner Bros. Discovery is facing a lawsuit from the estate of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster, which could impact the release of the upcoming "Superman" film directed by James Gunn. The lawsuit, filed last Friday, claims that Warner Bros. no longer holds exclusive rights to Superman in certain international territories, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.

According to the complaint, Shuster and co-creator Jerome Siegel sold the global rights to Superman to DC Comics in 1938 for just $130. However, under the British legal tradition, intellectual property rights revert to an author’s estate 25 years after their death. Shuster died in 1992, meaning the rights allegedly reverted to his estate in 2017. The estate is now arguing that Warner Bros. has continued to exploit Superman in those regions without authorization, violating copyright laws that require the consent of all joint copyright owners.

“Defendants continue to exploit Superman across these jurisdictions without the Shuster Estate’s authorization—including in motion pictures, television series, and merchandise—in direct contravention of these countries’ copyright laws," the lawsuit states. The estate is seeking a share of profits from past Superman-related films and merchandise, as well as an injunction to halt the release of future projects, including the new "Superman" movie slated for a July 11 debut.

Legal experts suggest the lawsuit has a strong basis under international copyright law. Betsy Rosenblatt, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, explains that these "British Reversionary Rights" are unique to Commonwealth countries. "In these Commonwealth countries, there is an automatic reversion that happens 25 years after the author's death," Rosenblatt said. "Anything they transferred away automatically reverts back to their heirs unless there's a contract that prevents that from happening."

While Warner Bros. still retains U.S. copyright rights to Superman, its legal standing in the contested regions remains uncertain. The case echoes previous legal battles over Superman’s rights. Siegel and Shuster previously sued DC Comics in 1947 over the introduction of Superboy, resulting in a settlement. Over the decades, both families have attempted multiple legal challenges against Warner Bros. and DC Comics. In 2001, Siegel’s heirs secured a multimillion-dollar settlement, but subsequent lawsuits have largely ruled in favor of the company.

This latest dispute comes at a critical moment for Warner Bros., as the studio is heavily investing in a full relaunch of the DC Universe under James Gunn. If the injunction is granted, it could block the film’s release in key international markets, potentially affecting box office revenues.

Rosenblatt believes that the lawsuit might ultimately serve as a negotiation tool rather than a complete blockade of the film's release. “This may settle before July, which is how a lot of these things go, or it may continue in the courts, in which case it's very unlikely to be resolved by July unless the court dismisses it entirely," she said.

Meanwhile, members of the Siegel & Shuster Society, an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Superman’s creators, are watching the case unfold. Leigh Goldie, a cousin of Shuster and a founding member of the organization, says she was unaware of the lawsuit until she read about it online and is not involved. She emphasized the importance of honoring Superman’s legacy. “Everybody wants to dream about how they can be super, and that’s what Superman illustrates," Goldie said.

The society is currently fundraising for a Superman tribute plaza and statue in downtown Cleveland, the city where Siegel and Shuster first created the iconic character. Goldie says they have reached the halfway mark of their funding goal and are seeking further donations to complete the project.

The lawsuit adds another layer of intrigue to the production of "Superman," which was filmed in Cleveland, the character’s birthplace. Cleveland 13 News previously covered an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the work that went into bringing the film to life, highlighting the contributions of local crew members, set designers, and stunt performers. You can see the story about the behind-the-scenes efforts that made this film possible below.

As the legal battle unfolds, Warner Bros. has yet to release a public statement regarding the lawsuit. Whether the dispute results in a settlement or affects the release of the new "Superman" film remains to be seen.

---------------

At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.