Court throws out lawsuit regarding Superman distribution rights.

      A judge has dismissed a lawsuit contesting Warner Bros.' right to release James Gunn's Superman in ten countries, including the U.K. and Ireland. The lawsuit, initially filed in January by Mark Peary, the nephew of the late Superman co-creator Joe Schuster, claimed that Schuster's estate had the authority to terminate the Superman copyright in specific regions.

      In a ruling made public on April 24, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman stated that the court lacks the power to address the estate's rights under international laws. "The Court concludes that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over this case; therefore, it must be and is dismissed," he wrote.

      After the dismissal, Peary filed a nearly identical lawsuit in a New York state court on April 25, seeking an injunction that could potentially hinder the release of Superman, which is scheduled to premiere on July 11.

      The Superman copyright has been disputed for many years since Schuster and Jerome Siegel created the character and sold the copyright for $130 in 1938. In 2013, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the Shuster estate's claim that they still possessed the copyright, determining that Shuster's sister had relinquished all rights following his death in 1992.

      Peary's lawsuit contends that this ruling resolved the copyright issue for the United States but left foreign copyrights unresolved. However, as the film's release date approaches, the chances of this lawsuit successfully delaying its launch are diminishing.

      Joe Allen is a freelance writer at Digital Trends, where he covers movies and television. He often writes about streaming.

      Henry Cavill's James Bond audition has surfaced online. Did Superman almost become 007?

      Henry Cavill nearly traded his cape for a tuxedo. In 2005, Cavill auditioned for the part of James Bond in Casino Royale. Director Martin Campbell mentioned that Cavill and Daniel Craig were the finalists to succeed Pierce Brosnan as 007. Fans have speculated about how Cavill would have portrayed Bond, and thanks to a recently leaked video, they can finally see it.

      Cavill's audition tape has been posted online on Ron South's YouTube channel, showcasing him reading lines from a scene in the 1995 film GoldenEye. In the video, Cavill is just 22 and has long black hair. The video's description notes that it originated from a "VHS tape found in a recycling bin at a movie studio."

      As the story unfolds, Craig eventually secured the role and depicted the legendary spy in five films. Producers decided on an older version of Bond—Craig was 37 in 2005—rather than a spy in his early twenties. Despite missing out on the role, Cavill impressed Campbell, who commended his "tremendous" audition.

      The initial trailer for Superman generated significant excitement for James Gunn's vision of the iconic character. However, the emergence of a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery regarding the film’s release could mean it won't be accessible in certain countries.

      The lawsuit, brought by the estate of Joseph Shuster, one of Superman's original creators, aims to block the film's release in several important territories including Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the U.K. Mark Warren Peary, the estate's executor, filed the action, asserting that the studio lacks the right to distribute the film there. The lawsuit seeks "damages and injunctive relief for Defendants’ ongoing infringement" as well as declaratory relief affirming the Shuster Estate's ownership rights in relevant jurisdictions.

      James Gunn has shared the first image of Milly Alcock as Supergirl.

      Filming has commenced on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. To mark the start of production, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn released an image of Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El (Supergirl).

      “Excited to see cameras rolling at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden on Supergirl, with Craig Gillespie directing and the incredible Milly Alcock starring as our Kara Zor-El,” Gunn wrote on X. “Craig brings a remarkable sensibility to this story, and Milly embodies the unique #Supergirl envisioned by Tom King, Bilquis Evely & Ana Nogueira.”

      Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is inspired by Tom King’s 2022 comic book series of the same name, illustrated by Bilquis Evely. In the comic, Kara, Superman's cousin, travels across the galaxy and encounters Ruthye Marye Knoll, a noble warrior seeking vengeance against the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills.

      Eve Ridley will portray Ruthye Marye Knoll, while Matthias Schoenaerts will take on the role of Krem. David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham will play Supergirl's parents. After his role in Aquaman, Jason Momoa joins Gunn's new DC Universe as Lobo, who will appear in Supergirl.

      Dumb Money's Craig Gillespie is directing