When is Superman (2025) Coming to Disney Plus?
If you're checking Disney Plus for James Gunn's Superman (2025), the reboot with the Man of Steel launching a fresh DC era, you're in for a letdown. This DC icon—firmly not part of Marvel, despite Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy roots—is off-limits for Disney's streamer and always will be. The corporate divide, production backstory, and box office buzz explain why, plus we'll explore any shot at Hulu based on DC history there, the Hulu-Disney Plus integration, and the Disney+/Hulu/Max bundle.
Here’s the TL;DR…
Release Status: Superman (2025) won't come to Disney Plus, as it's DC/Warner Bros.-owned.
Production Start: James Gunn, post-Marvel, co-leads DC Studios; rebooted this in 2022 as DCU Chapter One.
Box Office Hit: Debuted July 11, 2025, with $122 million opening, 86% Rotten Tomatoes critics, 95% audience score.
Streaming Path: Digital VOD August 26, 2025; likely Max in fall, not Disney platforms.
Hulu Likelihood: Unlikely directly soon due to Warner Bros. exclusivity, but past DC films have licensed to Hulu; accessible via Disney+/Hulu/Max bundle.
DC Not Marvel: Superman is core DC since 1938; Gunn's Marvel past doesn't bridge the Disney-Warner gap.
Short Answer: Probably Never.
Superman (2025) skips Disney Plus entirely. Sorry, DC Comics fans.
Why It's Not Disney Plus
As a Warner Bros. Discovery production, it's DC Comics turf—not Disney's Marvel realm. Streaming follows ownership: Warner films head to Max, not competitors like Disney Plus. This wall keeps crossovers rare, especially with Gunn reshaping DC.
Production Journey
Gunn, after Marvel's Guardians, joined DC Studios as co-CEO in 2022, scripting and directing Superman as the DCU's kickoff. David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Filming ended in July 2024, with the movie releasing on July 11, 2025—a date chosen to honor Gunn's late father.
Explosive Success
It opened to $122 million, dominating charts and sparking sequels. Rotten Tomatoes lists it at 86% with critics praising its heroic refresh, while audiences have given it a glowing 95% for emotion and visuals. As of August 12, 2025, it's still flying high at the box office, surpassing recent DC flicks and solidifying its place as a franchise relaunch.
Why Confuse with Marvel?
Gunn's Marvel successes like Guardians can blur lines for casual viewers, but Superman has been DC since 1938, from the Christopher Reeve era to today. These are separate universes: Marvel is Disney-owned, DC is Warner Bros. Gunn's career move simply underscores the split—no crossover exists here.
Streaming Details
The digital release arrives August 26, 2025, for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and other platforms, with physical copies landing September 23. It will likely begin streaming on Max in October, staying firmly within Warner’s home turf—not Disney Plus.
Likelihood on Hulu
Directly? Slim for now, as new Warner films like this premiere exclusively on Max. However, past DC titles such as Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Batman, Joker, and animated entries like Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths have landed on Hulu through licensing deals.
Hulu’s ongoing integration into Disney+—with the standalone app set to end in 2026—could alter availability, but DC content will still remain Warner-controlled. The Disney+/Hulu/Max bundle at $16.99 per month offers indirect access to Max’s DC library without a full merger.
For Superman, expect Max exclusivity at first, with any potential Hulu licensing coming much later, if at all.
Sources
News compiled and edited by Ivy Adams for Pirates & Princesses.