Summary
- Superman's debut in the DCU reboot must clear a $872 million box office challenge to succeed in the revitalized cinematic universe.
- Henry Cavill's departure as Superman necessitates David Corenswet's fresh take on the titular hero in James Gunn's new DC universe.
- To establish itself separately from the DCEU, the DCU must surpass expectations with Superman as the first step in the cinematic reinvention.
The DCU reboot is set to launch with 2025's Superman, and the debut movie has a $872 challenge to clear. Following a string of financial bombs, the DCU is set to reinvigorate DC's cinematic efforts with a new slate of interconnected movies set to look markedly different from the cinematic universe that began with 2013's Man of Steel. Superman will be the first to kick things off, with David Corenswet taking on the titular mantle as Henry Cavill's replacement in James Gunn's newly envisaged DC cinematic universe.
The DCEU featured the Man of Steel in one solo movie, with his second slated outing being ousted by the announcement of the DCU reboot. Aside from Man of Steel, Cavill's Superman appeared in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017's Justice League, where he played major roles. Though two out of his three major appearances were in movies that failed to impress critics, Cavill still holds the accolade of starring in Superman's highest-grossing movie to date.
Man of Steel was not overtly a part of the DCEU when it was first released, being retconned as the cinematic universe's debut movie after the fact, meaning Batman v Superman was the first DCEU movie to be released under that banner.