James Gunn’s DC Reboot Pays Actors Less – Here’s Why!

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The latest findings show the earnings of the main actors from James Gunn‘s Superman film, supporting my claim I made two years back.

According to Puck News, it’s disclosed that David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were both compensated $750k (with Corenswet being the main character), while Nicholas Hoult received a salary of $2 million for portraying Lex Luthor, the antagonist.

It’s quite probable that Hoult received such a high payment due to his background in films, while Corenswet and Brosnahan are primarily recognized for their work on TV shows.

It’s clear that if Zazzy was given a low salary for the film, it’s likely that the other actors in the movie were also paid less. In fact, Grace Randolph, an industry insider, describes the pay as embarrassing, implying that Zazzy is always looking to save money.

Smaller budget, smaller break-even number

Noteworthy is that, in response to assertions about his Superman film having a $363 million budget, Gunn jokingly dismissed this figure and expressed his desire for such a budget. However, it’s been reported that the actual budget is $225M.

Variety also recently came out and said WB only spent $100 million on marketing.

Another possible phrasing could be: It’s worth mentioning that by leading the marketing campaign, Gunn’s actions might have helped cut costs.

According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, Warner Bros. is content if the box office earnings for ‘Superman’ reach approximately $500 million. This figure represents a break-even point that equals about $560 million in total costs.

Zaslav demanded the cheaper DCU reboot

Two years back, my trusted sources at Comic-Con shared that David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, chose to discontinue the DC Extended Universe. It was conveyed to me that Zaslav pushed for James Gunn to rejuvenate DC with more cost-effective talent.

Additionally, remember I mentioned that Henry Cavill was seeking a substantial amount for his Superman comeback. Interestingly enough, according to Variety, Dwayne Johnson is said to have earned an impressive $22.5 million for playing Black Adam – that’s thirty times more than what Corenswet was paid!

Certainly! So, could it be true that Jason Momoa is reprising his role as Lobo again? Previously, it was mentioned that he accepted a lower salary for the part.

After the release of Aquaman, all subsequent DCEU films failed to perform well at the box office. Similarly, Black Adam underperformed, prompting a change in direction for the DC Universe by executive producer Zaslav. Instead, Gunn and Peter Safran will lead a reboot of the DC Universe, featuring actors who are more cost-effective than Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Jason Momoa.

WSJ also recently confirmed that Gunn and Safran canceled plans for Wonder Woman 3.

DCEU tidbits

In essence, there’s a lot more detail available regarding the initial conclusion of The Flash TV series. Originally, it was intended to carry on the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) narrative and move towards a Batman Multiverse. This is likely why Affleck felt upset when Gunn brought him up in conversation.

Regarding Zack Snyder, I’ve always been told Zack can come back anytime he wants.

It’s important to note that Andy Muschietti isn’t responsible for how The Flash ended up being as problematic as it was. The post-production process, specifically the VFX shots, weren’t completed due to constraints, and adjustments were necessary to avoid extending the DCEU.

Additionally, I had conversations with some confidants who watched Superman in a cinema with an empty audience (I’m not sure how that scenario unfolded). Unfortunately, they weren’t fond of the film at all.

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2025-07-15 03:31