Celebrated author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates has been hired to pen a reboot of the “Superman” franchise for Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films.
In addition, J.J. Abrams is producing the project under his Bad Robot label. Abrams previously penned an aborted “Superman” film script twenty years ago called “Superman: Flyby”.
Hannah Minghella will also serve as producer on this new incarnation. There are no story or cast attachments as yet.
Speaking to the website Shadow and Act, Coates said in a statement: “To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor. I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”
Abrams tells the site: “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.”
Coates has also worked on the “Captain America” and “Black Panther” comics with his influential run on the latter one of the reasons the film adaptation got the greenlight.
Current movie Superman actor Henry Cavill, who has played the role across three films starting with 2013’s “Man of Steel,” has expressed eagerness to return to the role. Cavill’s work will be seen again soon when “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” premieres on HBO Max on March 18th.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of the premiere earlier this week of the TV series “Superman & Lois” on The CW starring Tyler Hoechlin in the role and which pulled in the best numbers for the network in its timeslot in two years.
