Superman Movie Release in Jeopardy: New Lawsuit Seeks Global Block Before July Premiere

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James Gunn’s Superman still isn’t off the hook just yet. After a federal court dismissed the lawsuit initiated by the Shuster estate and attorney Marc Toberoff regarding foreign rights to Superman, due to lack of jurisdiction, Toberoff has now re-filed his case in a New York state court.

Tobberoff is seeking a court order that prevents the distribution of the “Superman” movie in multiple international locations prior to its July release date.

Toberoff Refiles Superman Case in New York Court

We get word about the new lawsuit filed in New York via Puck News:

In a follow-up to the initial dispute, it’s clear as day that the legal battle over Superman isn’t finished… and Marc Toberoff, a tenacious lawyer, isn’t one to back down easily. You might remember that just last month, a federal judge dismissed his case against Warner Bros., arguing that the Superman rights should have reverted to the estate of Joe Shuster, the co-creator of the DC Comics superhero, in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia, due to a lack of federal jurisdiction. (Shuster passed away in 1992.)

However, it was kept under wraps until now, Toberoff has re-submitted his case in a New York state court and it currently remains there pending resolution. Furthermore, he is seeking a swift injunction to prevent Warner Bros. from utilizing Superman in foreign territories, which could potentially disrupt the global release of James Gunn’s Superman reboot on July 11.

I was quite surprised to hear about the New York Supreme Court order that demands Warner Bros. to submit their opposition papers by this week and appear in court next month, potentially delaying the global release of Superman. It’s worth keeping a close watch on how this unfolds.

Why the Superman Lawsuit Was Refiled in New York

It appears that, although not providing legal counsel, it seems Toberoff is optimistic that a New York court will rule in his favor regarding the dispute between the Shuster Estate and the claim that foreign rights to Superman reverted back to them 25 years after the death of Joe Shuster in 1992, given his previous loss in federal court.

Tobberoff and the Shuster Estate contend that Warner Bros. should not be permitted to distribute the movie in international territories. They claim this is due to foreign copyright laws, but Warner Bros. counters that since it’s a global copyright issue, it falls outside of U.S. legal jurisdiction.

It appears that Toberoff chose to file in New York due to the substantial business operations of Warner Bros. in that state. This allows Toberoff to claim that New York has legal jurisdiction over the case.

In simpler terms, the preliminary order is intended to halt Warner Bros. from releasing or promoting Superman in certain international territories like the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, etc., until the court has had a chance to examine and make a decision on the case. This hearing might occur after the movie’s planned July release date.

In essence, if the court ultimately favors WB – Toberoff and the Shuster Estate in this case, they are likely to emerge victorious due to a possible settlement from Warner Bros., should the release of Superman be impeded by legal challenges.

We’ll find out more on June 4 when WB is slated to appear in the New York court.

Release info

Directly from WB: DC Studios Presents a Production Between Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company, Directed by James Gunn, titled “Superman.” This film will hit theaters and IMAX screens across the U.S. on July 11, 2025, and internationally starting July 9, 2025, with distribution handled by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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2025-05-22 05:31