A recent report has revealed the surprisingly modest salaries paid to lead actors in James Gunn’s Superman movie, highlighting a sharp contrast to previous DC productions. The salary details emerged as part of an ongoing reboot effort, with the industry taking note of how budget constraints have reshaped casting payments.
According to Puck News, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, despite being central characters in the film, each received just $750,000 for their roles. Meanwhile, Nicholas Hoult, cast as the villain Lex Luthor, earned $2 million. This disparity likely reflects Hoult’s greater experience in feature films compared to Corenswet and Brosnahan, who are better known for their television work.
Industry insiders suggest that even other cast members were paid considerably less, with commentator Grace Randolph describing the compensation as “embarrassing.”
Zazzy’s always looking to save a buck.
—Grace Randolph, Industry Insider
Reduced Budget Brings Lower Financial Stakes
James Gunn addressed rumors that the Superman movie had a $363 million budget by dismissing that figure and stating he wished the budget were that large. Reports now estimate the actual production cost at approximately $225 million. Warner Bros. reportedly spent only $100 million on marketing, significantly less than typical blockbuster campaigns.
Gunn’s decision to personally take on a prominent role in marketing efforts is also believed to have helped keep promotional costs down. According to the Wall Street Journal, Warner Bros. Discovery executives would consider the movie successful if it reaches roughly $500 million at the box office, with the estimated break-even point around $560 million. This lower financial threshold is part of the studio’s strategy to manage risk more tightly.
David Zaslav’s Directive for a Cost-Conscious DC Reboot
Comic-Con insiders confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav ordered the cancellation of the previous DCEU and mandated a reboot featuring talent with significantly lower wage demands. This directive came after several post-Aquaman DC movies underperformed, including Black Adam, which reportedly paid Dwayne Johnson $22.5 million—around 30 times more than Corenswet’s salary.
Reports also indicate that Jason Momoa accepted a pay cut to reprise his role as Lobo. As a result, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been tasked with reshaping the DC Universe by assembling a cast more aligned with the new financial guidelines, moving away from big-name stars like Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Johnson, and Momoa. The Wall Street Journal further confirmed that plans for Wonder Woman 3 have been canceled under Gunn and Safran’s leadership.
Background on the DCEU and Future Directions
Details from insiders reveal that the original ending for The Flash was intended to continue the existing DCEU storyline and set up a Batman Multiverse, which helps explain actor Ben Affleck’s frustration when James Gunn referenced him. Despite changes, sources say director Zack Snyder remains welcome to return to the franchise at any time.
Criticism has also been directed toward production issues affecting The Flash. Reportedly, the visual effects were incomplete due to studio decisions, and alterations were made specifically to avoid continuing the previous DCEU narrative.
One insider shared having viewed Superman alone in a theater and expressed strong disappointment with the film, reflecting skepticism about the reboot’s reception.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is James Gunn leaving Marvel?
A. In 2018, Marvel let James Gunn go after old tweets of his resurfaced. These tweets, which included inappropriate jokes about serious topics like pedophilia, rape, and abuse, caused widespread public anger.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. The revamped CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman adaptation was inspired by Ozu. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and still values prayer in his life, yet he also describes himself as “in some ways, anti-religion.”
Q. What religion is James Gunn?
A. Gunn grew up in a Catholic household and has talked about how prayer still matters to him. However, he also describes himself as “somewhat anti-religion.”
