AceShowbiz - The estate of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming the studio lacks the legal rights to release the upcoming James Gunn-directed Man of Steel film in several key international territories.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that under international copyright law, the Shuster Estate regained ownership of the Superman character in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia upon the expiration of the original copyright agreement.

"By operation of law, Shuster's foreign copyrights automatically reverted to his estate in 2017 in most of these territories (and in 2021 in Canada). Yet Defendants continue to exploit Superman across these jurisdictions without the Shuster Estate’s authorization," the lawsuit states.

However, a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson argues, "We fundamentally disagree with the merits of the lawsuit, and will vigorously defend our rights."

The Shuster Estate says that by continuing to exploit Superman in these territories without their consent, Warner Bros. Discovery is infringing on their copyright. They are seeking "damages and injunctive relief" as well as "declaratory relief establishing the Shuster Estate’s ownership rights across relevant jurisdictions."

This legal battle casts a shadow over the highly anticipated "Superman" film, a cornerstone of DC Studios' ambitious new cinematic universe. The film, starring David Corenswet as the iconic superhero, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, is scheduled for release on July 11.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of the Superman franchise and set a precedent for how copyright law applies to classic characters in an increasingly globalized entertainment landscape.