James Gunn's Third Superman Spinoff Finally Gets Exciting Update After 11 Months

The DC Universe continues to expand, as several stories are being developed for theatrical and streaming releases.

While Supergirl is struggling at the box office, that doesn’t mean the DCU is ending anytime soon, as James Gunn’s superhero reboot continues to work on various movies and series that will flesh out his comic book continuity. After the success of the 2025 film, one of the Superman cast members in the David Corenswet-starring feature is closer to getting more time to shine in the franchise, as they became one of the most well-received characters in the summer blockbuster.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the next Superman spinoff project has landed a major creator. The potential series, which will focus on Mister Terrific, has reportedly tapped Allan Heinberg to write the pilot. This marks a return to the DC brand for Heinberg, as he served as The Sandman showrunner for Netflix and was also one of the writers behind 2017’s Wonder Woman.

The TV and film writer also has a decent history of working in the world of comics, having co-created the Young Avengers team. As of writing, Heinberg and DC Studios have yet to comment on the Mister Terrific story.

Mister Terrific’s solo drama was first revealed to be in development in July 2025, when the Wall Street Journal shared that multiple Superman spinoffs were being developed at DC Studios. The latest update also comes only a few months after it was revealed that Edi Gathegi is reprising the DC role in Gunn’s upcoming Man of Tomorrow movie, which is currently in production.

If his spinoff goes forward, it would likely be another HBO Max original, at the very least, as that has become the primary platform for DCU TV properties. However, depending on how they approach the series, Mister Terrific could be another show that lands on HBO, while also releasing new episodes on the streaming platform, which is the format that Lanterns will follow when it premieres on August 16.

Another Superman player who is getting his own show is Jimmy Olsen, with Skyler Gisondo set to return in the untitled crime-investigative series, which will have each season follow a specific DC foe that he is looking into, as Gorilla Grodd will be the first one. Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda have been tapped as the showrunners, with the yet-to-be-titled show reportedly starting filming this fall.

Even though Gunn has commented on Gathegi’s supposed 2027 return or the hypothetical offshoot, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Man of Tomorrow story ends up doing a little setup for Mister Terrific’s own adventure, or at least hints at what Heinberg’s property will explore.

In the comics, Michael Holt has his own team, known as the Terrifics, which could be a possible group that gets introduced through his solo show. While it is in active development, there are no confirmed plot details for the Superman spinoff.

If DC Studios proceeds with it, this would be the first live-action project to feature Mister Terrific as the lead, as the beloved hero has mostly shown up as a supporting player in animation and live-action incarnations such as Arrow, where Echo Kellum played Curtis Holt, who was loosely inspired by Michael.

Since it hasn’t been picked up to series yet, there is no estimated release date, and it’s key to remember that Mister Terrific’s spinoff is only in development, as it will not formally move forward until there is a clear creative vision set. That is why other DCU TV shows, such as Paradise Lost, Booster Gold, and Waller, have not been greenlit yet, as DC Studios wants to make sure there is a clear direction for the stories they tell on the big and small screens.

Following the reported problems with Supergirl, the DCU may simply just slow down the development process,for their other Chapter 1 projects, including Mister Terrific. As Gathegi’s superhero became a breakout character with critics and audience members, the spinoff doesn’t need to be rushed, especially if the show is in the early stages.

Superman is available through home media release and streaming.