When James Gunn, Co‑Chairman and Co‑CEO of DC Studios, mentioned archival footage of the original Superman duo during a live commentary, he didn’t realize he’d just handed fans a spoiler worth a million‑plus stream sign‑ups.
The slip‑up happened on Thursday, October 10, 2025, at about 4:30 PM EDT, while Gunn was recording a director’s commentary for the blockbuster Superman (2025)global theatrical release. He assumed the much‑anticipated Peacemaker Season 2 FinaleMax streaming would drop before the commentary made its digital debut, but the commentary had been moved up a week.
How the Mistake Unfolded
During the 1‑hour‑22‑minute commentary, at precisely the 1:22:17 mark, Gunn said, “This scene’s energy reminds me of the moment when Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder return in the Peacemaker finale—we shot their cameos last Tuesday at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank, Stage 16.”
Reeve, the original Superman who first flew on screen in 1978, died in 2004; Kidder, the iconic Lois Lane, passed away in 2018. Both actors are long gone, so the “cameos” are actually newly reconstructed digital performances created from 1970s footage.
Behind the Digital Resurrection
The restoration was handled by Lola VFX in Culver City, California, using more than 7,800 frames of 35 mm film. Each minute of de‑aging cost roughly $2.3 million, according to senior media analyst Sarah Chen of Ampere Analysis. The two 90‑second sequences featuring Reeve and Kidder alone required a budget of about $3.5 million.
The Christopher Reeve Foundation gave the green light, stipulating that the work follow the 2023 Actor Biometric Rights Act. In a statement at 7:02 PM EDT, the foundation’s Washington, D.C., office confirmed licensing fees of $4.7 million. The Margot Kidder Estate, managed by executor Robert Miller in Vancouver, received $3.2 million.
Immediate Fallout and Numbers
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent of DC Studios and the Max platform, reported a 12.7 % spike in same‑day subscriptions after the leak – roughly 853,000 new sign‑ups between 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM EDT on the same day. The company later said it would institute a “spoiler review” process for all future commentaries.
CEO David Zaslav sent an internal memo at 8:30 AM EDT on October 11, urging the continuity department, led by Director of Narrative Strategy Amanda Waller (no relation to the fictional character), to vet any public‑facing material that could reveal plot details.
Why the Spoiler Matters
Beyond the subscription surge, the accidental reveal raises questions about how legacy footage is integrated into modern superhero storytelling. Fans of the original Superman movies have long speculated about a possible on‑screen reunion with Kidder, and the mere hint that it’s happening fuels both excitement and debate about digital resurrection ethics.
Industry insiders note that the cost of such de‑aging tech limits its use to marquee moments. With each minute costing over $2 million, studios are forced to weigh nostalgic payoff against budget constraints. The Peacemaker finale, titled “The Kryptonite Job,” rounds out an eight‑episode season that cost $126.4 million in total – a figure that’s already eating into the $1.2 billion DC Universe reboot budget announced in 2023.
Production Timeline and Future Plans
Peacemaker’s second season wrapped on September 28, 2025, after a six‑month shoot that spanned Atlanta’s Trilith Studios and Warner Bros. sound stages in Burbank. The de‑aging work continued through November 2025, overlapping with the final stages of the Superman theatrical run.
The Max release schedule, announced on May 12, 2025, locks the finale for a midnight premiere on January 15, 2026, across 63 countries. That timing means the spoiler will sit in the public consciousness for three months before anyone actually sees the scene.
What Comes Next?
Fans can expect the “spoiler review” protocol to become a permanent fixture at DC Studios. The continuity team, a 14‑person unit spread across Burbank and London, will now have a final sign‑off on any commentary, interview, or behind‑the‑scenes material. Meanwhile, the de‑aging technology that brought Reeve and Kidder back is already being pitched for a potential cameo in an upcoming Justice League spin‑off.
In short, Gunn’s off‑the‑cuff comment has turned into a case study on how legacy media, modern VFX, and streaming economics collide. Whether the surprise cameo lives up to the hype will only be clear when the episode finally drops in January.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the spoiler affect fans of the original Superman movies?
Long‑time fans see the digital return of Reeve and Kidder as a nostalgic bridge, but many worry about the ethics of recreating deceased actors. The spoiler sparked heated discussions on social media, with some praising the tribute and others urging stricter consent standards.
What financial impact did the leak have on Max subscriptions?
Warner Bros. Discovery reported 853,000 new Max sign‑ups within four hours of the commentary, translating to an estimated $12 million boost in monthly recurring revenue. The surge accounted for a 12.7 % rise in same‑day subscription numbers.
Why was the Superman commentary released early?
Positive box‑office performance prompted DC Studios to move the digital commentary from its slated October 17 release to October 10, aiming to capitalize on audience momentum. The shift unintentionally placed the commentary before the locked‑in Peacemaker finale date.
What technology was used to de‑age Reeve and Kidder?
Lola VFX employed AI‑driven frame‑by‑frame reconstruction, blending original 35 mm film with modern motion‑capture rigs. The process, overseen by Industrial Light & Magic, cost about $2.3 million per minute of finalized footage.
Will future DC commentaries have spoiler safeguards?
Yes. Warner Bros. Discovery issued an internal directive mandating that every future director commentary pass through DC Studios’ continuity department for a “spoiler review” before release, aiming to prevent similar leaks.