Ta-Nehisi Coates Writing New Superman Film, J.J. Abrams Producing

A new Superman film is in the works at Warner Bros. and DC, with Ta-Nehisi Coates writing the movie and J.J. Abrams producing. Shadow and Act reports (and Deadline has confirmed) that the studio is in early development on the film, which Coates will script and Abrams will produce through his Bad Robot label. Hannah Minghella will also produce the film.

The film is still very much coming together with no casting, plot details, or release date set as of yet. S&A reports that there has not yet been a search for an actor to play the lead role,. That would suggest that this could be a Superman film without Henry Cavill, who has expressed interest in returning to the role. By the same token, this would certainly not be the first major role being played by different actors in different films; Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck are both playing different versions of Batman in The Flash while Robert Pattinson is playing the Dark Knight in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Coates is best known as an author and journalist, writing for The Atlantic up until 2018 as well as authoring several nonfiction books. He is far from an unknown quantity in comics though, having written a critically-acclaimed and best-selling run on Black Panther since 2016 (his run comes to an end in April). He is also currently the writer for Marvel’s Captain America series since July of 2018. His first novel, The Water Dancer, released in 2019.

“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” Coates told Shadow & Act in a statement. “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”

“There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we’re beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity,” Abrams added in the statement.