James Gunn, who co-chairs DC Studios and directed the latest Superman film, earned an impressive $15 million for his work on the reboot. Released this year, the movie has already earned $155 million domestically and $95 million internationally, totaling $250 million worldwide against a production budget of $225 million, excluding an additional $125 million spent on marketing. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav called the film a promising start to the new DC Universe’s planned decade-long revival.
Gunn’s Role and Compensation Highlighted in Industry Reports
As the creative force behind the movie, serving as director, writer, and producer, Gunn topped the cast’s earnings. Industry source Variety reports his $15 million paycheck surpasses any other individual involved in the project. Beyond his film work, Gunn’s reported seven-figure salary as DC Studios’ co-chairman and CEO further underscores his premium status within the company.
Cast Salaries Reflect New Talent and Established Actors
Actors David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, portraying Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane respectively, each received $750,000, a typical amount for actors starring in their first superhero roles. By comparison, Henry Cavill earned $300,000 for 2013’s Man of Steel, which was double Chris Hemsworth’s salary for Thor in 2011 but less than Andrew Garfield’s $500,000 for 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man.
Nicholas Hoult, playing Lex Luthor, received the highest cast salary at $2 million. Hoult’s earnings reflect his established reputation from major franchises such as Fox’s X-Men series and Warner Bros.’ Mad Max: Fury Road.
Potential Bonuses and Strategic Casting Choices
According to Hollywood insider Matt Belloni of Puck News, the lead actors Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult may be eligible for box office bonuses, contingent upon the film‘s financial performance, although specific details were not disclosed.
Belloni also noted the absence of any major movie stars within the main cast, a deliberate strategy by Gunn. The ensemble includes talents like Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Gunn regular Nathan Fillion portraying Green Lantern’s Guy Gardner, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho. Uncredited cameos feature Milly Alcock as Supergirl and Bradley Cooper as Superman’s father, Jor-El, adding notable names without inflating salaries.
Comparing Superman’s Cast to Previous Versions
Bradley Cooper stands out as the most recognizable cast member when compared to the star-studded lineups of past Superman films. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel included actors such as Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, and Russell Crowe. The 1978 Superman film featured Christopher Reeve, who was relatively unknown at the time, alongside well-known actors Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman.
Gunn explained his casting philosophy in an interview with CNN, emphasizing his preference for discovering new talent to maintain reasonable budgets. He stated,
I think I’m really good at finding people who become huge stars,
and added,
I think David Corenswet is the biggest movie star in the world and people don’t know it yet. And that’s what I said about Chris Pratt early on, too. There are very, very few people that have the acting chops, the comedy chops and happen to be extraordinarily handsome at the same time.
—James Gunn, Director and Co-Chairman of DC Studios
Superman’s Strong Start Signals DC’s Revival Potential
The new Superman reboot is DC’s most successful release since 2022’s The Batman, which earned $402 million domestically and $369 million internationally, culminating in $772 million globally. Though Superman’s overseas numbers are lower, the film is anticipated to reach around $600 million worldwide, overcoming the negative impact of several recent DC failures from 2020 to 2023.
Jeff Goldstein, President of Global Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, commented on the film’s reception, saying,
What we always hoped to achieve with Superman was winning back the trust of our DC fans and indeed, they have enthusiastically embraced our first entry in an exciting new theatrical universe,
highlighting the film’s role in rebuilding audience confidence as the foundation of DC Studios’ long-term strategy.
Superman’s Run in Theaters Marks New Chapter for DC Universe
The film is currently available exclusively in theaters, marking a significant step in DC Studios’ revival plan. Its performance will likely influence upcoming projects within the franchise and set the tone for the studio’s future, including the development pace of other key properties such as Wonder Woman, which DC Studios may fast-track following Superman’s box office momentum.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. Ozu inspired the updated, computer-animated version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie. Gunn, who grew up in a Catholic family, says prayer is still important to him. However, he also describes himself as having an “anti-religion” attitude in some respects.
