James Gunn has clarified that he won’t be directing a “Young Superman” film, despite the departure of Henry Cavill from the role.

The director is providing further details about his involvement in ‘Superman: Legacy,’ a movie featuring David Corenswet.

James Gunn is indeed working on a Superman film featuring a younger actor compared to Henry Cavill, the former Man of Steel. However, it’s essential to understand that this project isn’t necessarily a “young Superman movie” as some have assumed.

Addressing this misconception, the writer, director, and co-chief of DC Studios, James Gunn, took to Threads to clarify the situation regarding Superman: Legacy and why he opted for David Corenswet (who is 30) over Henry Cavill (who is 40) as the lead.

In response to a fan’s question about whether his project is a “young Superman movie” set in the past, Gunn responded by saying, “I was never making a ‘young Superman’ movie, just a Superman movie!”

To be fair, part of the reason fans had the impression that his project would depict a younger Superman was based on a statement from James Gunn himself explaining why he recast the role. In a December tweet, he mentioned, “In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”

In June, David Corenswet (known for Netflix’s The Politician) was officially announced as the new Superman, along with Rachel Brosnahan taking on the role of Lois Lane. They were among six actors considered for leading roles, with Nicholas Hoult and Tom Brittney also in contention for the Superman role.

Superman: Legacy is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, and Gunn anticipates commencing filming in early 2024. Casting for other characters, including Lex Luthor and the superhero team The Authority, is also in progress. This film marks the first project fully developed under the leadership of Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran.

In an April interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn expressed a deep connection with Superman, stating, “I completely relate to Superman because he’s everything I am. He’s somebody who is an outsider who feels like an alien, but also the ultimate insider because he’s Superman. And that’s kind of like what I feel like.”