It’s a hen… it’s a aircraft… it’s a field workplace hit!

At the least that’s how Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is touting the preliminary outcomes for “Superman,” which climbed to $122 million domestically and $217 million globally in its opening weekend.

The comedian e book adaptation, starring David Corenswet because the Man of Metal and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, marks a significant reset within the DC Universe. After its final iteration of superhero adventures combusted with 4 main cash losers in “The Flash,” “Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom,” “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” and “Blue Beetle,” Zaslav employed Gunn and Peter Safran in 2022 to overtake DC Studios. The duo has outlined a 10-year-plan of interconnected tales and spinoffs, together with “Supergirl” and “Clayface” in 2026 in addition to a brand new tackle “Surprise Lady.”

“Three years in the past, I employed James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the artistic route of DC below one management workforce, by respiration new life and pleasure into some of the iconic storytelling franchises on the planet,” Zaslav mentioned on Sunday of “Superman’s” opening weekend. “James and Peter’s dedication to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe whereas forging one thing new and enthralling is impressed.”

In his bid to match the industrial success of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, Zaslav was looking for a Kevin Feige-like determine to reinvigorate the perpetually floundering DC Studios. He recalled his first assembly with Gunn, who directed “Superman” whereas overseeing the studio in flux with Safran. Zaslav says he knew Gunn, finest recognized for steering Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, was the perfect individual to helm the rebooted universe’s first function as a result of he spoke in regards to the DC characters “they have been like his household.”

A gap weekend above $200 million globally is one thing to have fun, and optimistic evaluations in addition to a robust viewers response point out that “Superman” will stick round through the busy summer season season. Nevertheless, the $225 million-budgeted tentpole would require field workplace endurance to qualify as a blockbuster. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger was equally celebratory about Marvel’s newest journey, “Thunderbolts,” solely to see the comedian e book installment collapse on the large display screen in subsequent weekends. In the meantime, Superman’s final solo outing, 2013’s “Man of Metal” with Henry Cavill, began sturdy with $116 million however did not generate the sort of lasting enthusiasm that spawns a permanent cinematic universe.

None of those potential headwinds stopped Zaslav from popping the Champagne over the weekend.

“This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s ardour and imaginative and prescient got here to life on the large display screen. Superman is simply step one,” Zaslav mentioned. “Over the following 12 months alone, DC Studios will introduce the movies ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Clayface’ in theaters and the collection ‘Lanterns’ on HBO Max, all a part of a daring 10-year plan. The DC imaginative and prescient is evident, the momentum is actual, and I couldn’t be extra excited for what’s forward.”