Writer and director James Gunn has now taken the reins of the newly emerging DCU, which took off this year with the former MCU filmmaker’s Superman reboot. But this was not his first time tackling the story of an alien being with extraordinary powers who crash lands in Kansas, with Gunn producing this divisive anti-Superman sci-fi horror movie that’s now set its laser-sight on free streaming.
Directed by David Yarovesky, written by Brian and Mark Gunn, and produced by James Gunn, who is, of course, now co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, Brightburn was released back in 2019 and stars Elizabeth Banks as a struggling mother who takes in an alien baby after he crash lands in a forest in the titular Brightburn, Kansas. For Gunn fans, the rest of the cast includes several familiar faces, including Peacemaker stars David Denman, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and frequent collaborator Michael Rooker.
Taking the idea of an “evil Superman” to the extreme, what develops is a violent horror movie that explores what a young Clark Kent could have become had he been, well, evil. Offering an alternate take on this year’s hopeful and heartwarming Superman, Brightburn is all set to land on the free streaming platform, Tubi, on November 1, 2025. You can check out the official synopsis for the sci-fi, superhero horror flick below…
After a difficult struggle with fertility, Tori Breyer’s dreams of motherhood come true with the arrival of a mysterious baby boy. Brandon appears to be everything Tori and her husband, Kyle, ever wanted — bright, talented and curious about the world. But as Brandon nears puberty, powerful darkness manifests within him, and Tori becomes consumed by terrible doubts about her son. Once Brandon begins to act on his twisted urges, those closest to him find themselves in grave danger.
Will ‘Brightburn 2’ Ever Happen?
Brightburn was met with a divisive response from both critics and audiences alike, as reflected in its respective Rotten Tomatoes scores of 57% and 67%. While the former found fault in the delivery, Brightburn was praised by some for being a seriously dark subversion of the superhero genre.
The final moments of Brightburn tease not just future adventures for Jackson A. Dunn’s Brandon Breyer, aka Brightburn, but also the emergence of other dark reflections of famous DC superheroes. So far, nothing has come of the sequel, with James Gunn saying in 2024 that he’s doubtful Brightburn 2 will ever happen due to complications surrounding the rights.
“We talked about it early on. But the rights are all f*cked up (I only own half) so it’s unlikely that it will ever happen.”
Of course, James Gunn is now super busy bringing the DCU to life on both the big and small screens, with the writer, director, producer, and boss currently working on a Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, while overseeing the development of other projects such as Supergirl, Clayface, The Brave and the Bold, and more.
Brightburn director David Yarovesky, meanwhile, will continue to terrify audiences with the upcoming horror flick He Never Dies. “The man they killed keeps coming back. Bigger. Stronger. Less human. No matter what they do…HE. NEVER. DIES,” the synopsis teases.
- Release Date
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May 24, 2019
- Runtime
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90 Minutes
- Director
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David Yarovesky
