Warner Brothers Bringing A Black Superman to Theaters

By Reggie's Take on May 5, 2021

If you are a fan of Superman than you will be overjoyed that Warner Bros. is moving forward with a new movie, just not with Henry Cavill.

The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday reported that Warner Bros. is searching for a director and lead actor to reboot the Superman franchise. In February, Warner Bros. announced that author Ta-Nehisi Coates will be writing the screenplay, but they did not address who might direct. Sources inside Warner Bros. and DC are now saying that the studio is fully committed to hiring a Black director to bring the first ever Superman movie starring a Black actor.

J.J. Abrams, will produce, but will not be considered for the director’s chair. The search will not be easy for Warners with Marvel also looking to hire a Black director for its upcoming Blade movie and the list for both studios pretty much look the same.

This new Superman movie will not be connected to a larger universe, at least for now. According to THR, Ta-Nehisi Coates script will feature Kal-El from the original Superman comics and its protagonist will also come from Krypton. At this time Warner Bros. has not set a release date for this new Superman movie.

Reggie’s Take:
I know some out there will not share my opinions on this, but I like the idea of seeing a black Superman up on the big screen. Whether that be the character of Kal-El / Clark Kent or Kalel / Calvin Ellis version of Superman, I am good either way.

I loved Christopher Reeve’s first two Superman movies in ’78 and ’80, I liked Man of Steel in 2013 with Henry Cavill and I enjoyed Superman Returns with Brandon Routh in 2006. I have always thought Superman Returns was a good movie, just not a good Superman movie. I felt they asked a lot of Brandon Routh to try and continue the same incarnation of Superman that Christopher Reeve started, they just did not give him a good enough script to be successful.

I have read many on social media saying they don’t mind having a black Superman it just can’t be the character of Kal-El / Clark Kent and I ask why not? In my mind it seems Warner Brothers is not quite sure how to handle the character of Superman on screen, after all Superman only has one weakness and that is kryptonite, but you cannot always use that in every movie.

If Warner Bros. were to set this new Black Superman movie in the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s maybe even the 1960’s you could use racism, segregation, bigotry, the KKK, prejudice for a Black Superman to have to contend with at the same time he is trying to save those very same people from being destroyed.

I know there are those on-line who have an issue with the character of Kal-El / Clark Kent being black saying he has always been white and should always be is not a good reason as to why Warner’s should not. Warner Bros. is looking to take a character we are all familiar with and asking us to see the character in a different light.

In the end I am looking forward to seeing what Warner Bros. gives me with a Black Superman movie. The movie could be great, it could also be a dude, but I will judge the movie on its merits, not the skin color of our hero.