James Gunn Reveals Why ‘Superman’ Is Getting an Early Digital Release

The DC Studios co-CEO confirms the move was a strategic decision to prepare viewers for Peacemaker Season 2, which directly follows the events of the blockbuster film.

August 16, 2025: James Gunn has explained why his summer blockbuster Superman came out on digital so early. The movie came out on digital platforms on August 15, just over a month after it came out in theaters. It was made available to get people ready for the start of Peacemaker Season 2 on August 21.

Gunn told that he enjoys a “good, long theatrical campaign,” but the early digital release was required. Gunn stated, “The truth is that it’s because of ‘Peacemaker.'” He went on to say that the events of the Superman movie are “incredibly important” and “lead directly into” the new season of the John Cena-led show. Gunn said he wanted to make sure that those who couldn’t see the movie in cinemas could still enjoy it before Peacemaker comes out.

Fans have had various reactions to the choice. Some people are happy with how easy it is, while others are upset and say that a movie that makes a lot of money at the box office should stay in theaters longer. Superman has been a huge success, bringing in over $334 million in the U.S. and around $600 million around the world. This makes it the highest-grossing Superman movie of all time in the U.S.

The early release also brings attention to a major part of Gunn’s new DC Universe: the intended connections between movies and TV shows. Characters from Superman, such Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner, will be in Peacemaker Season 2. This will connect the two projects even more and mark the start of a new age of storytelling that makes sense. Even though it came out digitally, the movie will still be shown in cinemas for fans who like to see movies on the big screen.