Everything we know about ‘Superman’ filming in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio

Writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quietly's Superman from DC's All-Star Superman

Among the films awarded 2024 film tax incentives by the Ohio Department of Development is Genesis, a Warner Bros. production that DC Comics fans know is nothing more than Superman’s secret identity. The film was one of 23 film, television, and theater projects awarded incentives through the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program.

Superman, formally titled Superman: Legacy, kicks off writer/director James Gunn’s DC Universe. Here’s everything we know about the production.

Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, caricatured by Shuster

Superman will film on location in Cleveland and Cincinnati

Superman will film in Cleveland and Cincinnati, according to OhioData. On-location work in Cleveland is expected to start June 17 and last through July 16, according to an April 23 casting call from Angela Boehm Casting. Neither Warner Bros., the Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC), nor Film Cincinnati have issued an official announcement regarding the movie.

However, because film and television projects that receive tax incentives do not have to accept the incentives if they choose to shoot elsewhere, location information can change. For example, two films awarded tax incentives in 2023 - Trap, M. Night Shyamalan’s film, and Disney’s Ella McKay - eventually chose locations outside Ohio. Those incentives were then disbursed to new projects.

The Cleveland Public Library's Superman exhibit

Where will Superman film in Cleveland?

With no official word from Warner Bros. or the GCFC, it’s hard to speculate what Northeast Ohio locations the movie will use. The plot focuses on a more experienced Superman, portrayed by David Corenswet, as he grapples with his dual identity as Clark Kent and the Man of Steel.

Filmmakers may use Cleveland as a stand-in for Metropolis in the same way Cleveland portrayed Manhattan in The Avengers and Washington, D.C. in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Guy Gardner, one of DC's Green Lanterns, will appear in the film, as will Hawkgirl. Cleveland could play Baltimore, Gardner’s hometown in the comics, or Hawkgirl’s home base of Chicago.

The again, maybe Cleveland will star as - Cleveland.

Clark Kent hard at work for the Cleveland Evening News

Will the Cleveland Evening News appear in Superman?

It’s well known that Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the Man of Steel and based many of Superman’s early adventures around Cleveland businesses and locations they were familiar with.

That includes the Cleveland Evening News, possibly the first newspaper where Clark Kent works as a reporter. The Cleveland Evening News appears in both Action Comics No. 2 and No. 11, according to Comic Book Tidbits, just before Kent makes his move to The Daily Star, a precursor to The Daily Planet.

When will Superman film in Cleveland?

On-location work in Cleveland is expected to start June 17 and last through July 16, according to an April 23 casting call from Angela Boehm Casting.

Cincinnati's Union Terminal, the inspiration for the Hall of Justice

Where will Superman film in Cincinnati?

With no official word from Warner Bros. or Film Cincinnati, it’s hard to speculate what Cincinnati locations the movie will use - except for one very obvious location: Union Terminal.

Al Gumer's animated Hall of Justice

Union Terminal, Cincinnati’s iconic art-deco train station, built between August 1929 and March 1933, looks remarkably like the Justice League’s Hall of Justice.

For good reason.

In the early 1970s, Super Friends artist Al Gumer based the Hall of Justice on Union Terminal’s famous façade.

When will Superman film in Cincinnati?

On-location work in Cincinnati is expected to shoot for two days on July 17 and July 18, according to an April 23 casting call from Angela Boehm Casting.

How can I be an extra in Superman?

Angela Boehm Casting announced on April 23 that it is casting stand-ins and extras for Genesis (aka Superman). The casting company provided this link - https://bit.ly/GenesisABC - for those interested in providing general information about themselves.

The form is only for prospective extras and stand-ins general information, explains Angela Boehm Casting, noting that when it has specific dates for specific roles, it will issue a separate form for those.

Cleveland casting agencies:

• The Talent Group: A full-service agency for Pennsylvania and Ohio models, actors, voices, and live promotional talent.
• Angela Boehm Casting: Providing casting services for commercials, films, TV, and more.
• Bill Marinella Casting: Involved in casting for film and TV productions.
• Nancy Mosser Casting: Handles casting for various media, including film, TV, and commercials in the region.

Cincinnati casting agencies:

• Heyman Talent Artists Agency: Represents both seasoned and new actors for commercials, films, TV, web series, and industrials.
• D. Lynn Meyers Casting: Involved in various film and theater projects, including Hillbilly Elegy and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
• Helen Wells Agency: Specializes in model and talent management.
• PCG Talent Agency: A full-service talent agency with offices in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus.

Film crew at work on the horror short Ring, Ring

How do I work as a crew member on Superman?

Superman is now accepting resumes for crew, according to The Greater Cleveland Film Commission. Potential crew members should send resumes to genesisproductionohio@gmail.com. The production will hire more than 3,200 crew and cast members. 

Follow the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and Film Cincinnati’s social media accounts for more information. Sign up for email marketing and newsletters from both, as well.

Then do the same with Film Columbus, Film Dayton, Film Hamilton, Film Toledo, and the Youngstown Regional Film Commission.

And it doesn’t hurt to follow the film’s official social media accounts, as well as Warner Bros. and Gunn for any news.

Superman: Legacy cast members include, from left, Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), and David Corenswet (Clark Kent/Superman) 

Who stars in the cast of Superman?

The Superman cast features:

• Clark Kent/Superman: David Corenswet
• Lois Lane: Rachel Brosnahan
• Lex Luthor: Nicholas Hoult
• Jimmy Olsen: Skyler Gisondo
• Guy Gardner: Nathan Fillion
• Hawkgirl: Isabela Merced
• Mister Terrific: Edi Gathegi
• Maxwell Lord: Sean Gunn
• Eve Teschmacher: Sara Sampaio
• Angela Spica (The Engineer): María Gabriela de Faría

Cleveland native Isabela Merced in Madame Web

Is Isabela (Hawkgirl) Merced from Cleveland?

Yes. Born on July 10, 2001, in Cleveland, Merced’s upbringing was influenced by her Peruvian heritage. Remarkably, at just 15 years old, she was already accepted into college.

Merced’s passion for acting ignited early. Inspired by classic movies featuring Shirley Temple and Judy Garland, she began performing in local community theater at age six. Her Broadway debut came at 10, where she sang in Spanish alongside Ricky Martin in the production of Evita.

Notable roles include:

• CJ Martin in the Nickelodeon series 100 Things to Do Before High School (2014–2016).
• Voicing Kate in Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014–2017).

Film appearances as Izabella in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Lizzy in Instant Family (2018), Isabel in Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), and Dora in Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019). Most recently, she portrayed Anya Corazon in Sony's Madame Web (2024).