David Zaslav Reportedly Shut Down Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Superman Film for Being “Too Woke”

A few years ago, Warner Bros. had plans for a Superman movie that would’ve been very different from what fans are used to. Written by author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, the script imagined Superman as a Black hero living in the civil rights era.

It was meant to reimagine the character in a bold way. But according to people familiar with the situation, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav didn’t want it to move forward. He reportedly dismissed it in 2022, calling it “too woke.”

That project, backed by producer J.J. Abrams and part of a wave of more inclusive superhero stories, was quietly shelved as Zaslav pushed for a different vision.

While the Coates film hasn’t been officially canceled, it’s not being actively developed either. Some insiders say it could still happen someday, but it’s no longer a priority. This was first reported by WSJ.

Instead, Warner Bros. is launching a new Superman film written and directed by James Gunn.

The new film stars David Corenswet as Superman and cost around $225 million to make. It introduces a cast of mostly unknown actors, brings back classic characters like Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, and even includes Superman’s dog, Krypto. It’s supposed to kick off a whole new DC universe, with more movies and TV shows already in the pipeline.

This is all part of a big plan Zaslav has been promoting since he took over the company. He says DC is one of their biggest opportunities to make money and turn the studio around.

The company’s stock hasn’t done well since Warner and Discovery merged, and Zaslav is under pressure to deliver results. He told investors that DC “could and should be a game changer.”

Zaslav made this decision after years of failed DC projects and behind-the-scenes chaos. Previous attempts to build a superhero universe didn’t work out. Zack Snyder’s dark and serious style split audiences, and “Justice League” was a mess. At one point, Warner executives even tried to poach Marvel boss Kevin Feige, but he wasn’t interested.

Eventually, after meeting with Gunn and Safran in a long Zoom call, Zaslav decided they were the right people to fix DC. Soon after, he made it official. Gunn, who previously made Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” would direct the new Superman movie and shape the future of DC at the same time.

Now the new Superman film will set the tone for all future DC projects. It’s also a chance for Gunn to prove himself on a bigger stage. Fans are hoping this new version finally delivers. As comic book fan Loren Schroder said at the premiere, “The torch has been passed to James Gunn. This is his introduction to prove that he can do it.”

But the decision to reject the Black Superman idea still hangs in the background. For some, it’s a reminder of the limits of Hollywood’s support for diverse storytelling when business risks are involved.

The last update we had regarding the black-led Superman movie was actually back in April 2024 when Gunn confirmed that the movie is still in development:

Naturally, the movie was supposed to be released under the Elseworlds label, which houses DC-based “alternative universe” projects such as Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman,’ ‘The Penguin’ show, and ‘The Joker’ among others.

Gunn and Safran could revisit that project someday, but for now, Zaslav’s focus is on making a more familiar Superman work first.

And with DC’s future riding on this film, he’s betting everything that this version is the one fans want.

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