Ta-Nehisi Coates, who won the National Book Award for his 2015 book Between the World and Me and received a Genius Grant from the MacArthur Foundation that same year, has signed on to write a Superman film.
Interestingly, Coates, who previously wrote for the Black Panther and Captain America comic book series for Marvel, was quoted in an interview with Abraham Riesman for Vulture as having no interest in the character as of 2015.
When Riesman asked Coates what DC, the publisher of Superman comics, he had read, Coates responded: “None. I don’t know why I don’t read DC. I don’t even have a good argument. Here’s what I’ll say: For reasons right or wrong, you’ll see the lead character for DC is Superman. So, truth, justice, and the American way. And, not even consciously, I just kind of said, Hmm, maybe not.”
Coates pointed out that he always responded much more to Marvel characters such as Spider-Man and the X-Men who were misfits, and thus easier for Coates to identify with as people who didn’t fit in with American white-majority society.
“Then you pick up X-Men, right, and you see all these weirdos and freaks, you know? And you think, Oh, man, that kind of rings true for me. When I was a kid, I didn’t even think of Peter Parker as white. It didn’t even occur to me,” said Coates.
Evidently, a lot has changed for the write over the last six years. While the project is still in the very early stages of development, the film will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company. Abrams directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker most recently for Disney.
Coates, in an Instagram post, seemed to allude to his newfound and late-coming love for the character in a quote from Nina Simone, writing: “Though I’m way overdue, I’d be starting anew.”
No director is attached to the project as of yet, and they have not begun casting for Superman.
Coates was quoted in a statement expressing excitement to be involved in the project.
“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” Coates said.
“I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”
JJ Abrams, in a statement to the media, was excited about what Coates will bring to the iconic hero.
“There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we’re beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity,” said Abrams.
“Ta-Nehisi Coates’s ‘Between the World and Me’ opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world. We’re confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel,” said said Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
Coates’ work has been adapted as of late, with Between The World and Me adapted to an HBO film last fall, and his book The Water Dancer being adapted for the big screen by producers including Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt.
Coates quit Twitter in 2017 after a public row with scholar Cornel West, who criticized the writer’s worldview.
Superman has had trouble finding footing on the big screen since Christopher Reeve’s starring run in the first four Superman films in the 70s and 80s, with 2006’s Superman Returns and 2013’s Man of Steel both failing to strike a chord with audiences.
Superman & Lois, a new TV series, debuted last week to positive reviews.
