Superpowered: The DC Story Trailer and Release Date Revealed by Max

06/27/2023 12:00 pm EDT

DC's comic canon has become a beloved and storied part of our popular culture, both on the page and on the big screen. With a new era of the franchise's storytelling on the way under DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, the company is also finding a way to look back at its history. On Tuesday, Warner Bros. announced that the upcoming documentary series Superpowered: The DC Story will be released exclusively on Max on Thursday, July 20th. Originally announced to be in the works in 2021, the three-part documentary will chronicle DC's past on the page and screen. It is directed by Leslie Iwerks (100 Years of Warner Bros., The Imagineering Story) and Mark Catalena (Johnny Carson: King of Late Night, Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times).

Superpowered: The DC Story will feature over 60 new and archival interviews from people tied to DC, including Melissa Benoist, Greg Berlanti, Tim Burton, Mike Carlin, Lynda Carter, Henry Cavill, Kaley Cuoco, Gal Gadot, James Gunn, Patty Jenkins, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Jim Lee, Zachary Levi, Damon Lindelof, Tom Mankiewicz, Jason Momoa, Christopher Nolan, Robert Pattinson, Christopher Reeve, John Ridley, Margot Robbie, Bruce Timm, Michael E. Uslan and Mark Waid.

What Is Superpowered: The DC Story About?

Narrated by Rosario Dawson, SUPERPOWERED: THE DC STORY takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company's origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium. Featuring a wealth of interviews with the industry's most prolific creators and the actors who bring their iconic characters from the page to the screen, SUPERPOWERED: THE DC STORY reminds us that at the heart of DC are the comics – the four-color fantasies that forever spark the imagination and instill hope.

• EPISODE 1: THE HERO'S JOURNEY
  For over 85 years, DC has been home to a universe of iconic characters and unparalleled storytelling, but its origins began with the brilliant minds who created a Super Hero trinity: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. From survival to revival, DC navigates the birth of the sidekick, parental concerns after WWII, and a corporate takeover amid a struggle to stay current.
   
• EPISODE 2: COMING OF AGE
  During a period of declining comic book sales, a bold move resets DC's entire universe, as the company decides to also take a gamble on a new Superman movie. While rivals begin to address pressing social issues, a determined DC introduces their first Black Super Hero and breaks story boundaries under their new imprint, Vertigo Comics, with the hopes of maturing comic books into an everlasting adult art form.
   
• EPISODE 3: A BETTER TOMORROW
  Tired of being left out of the conversation, a group of diverse creators form Milestone Media to give voice to marginalized characters and stories born out of their own experiences. After more than eight decades of history, DC visionaries look toward a future that is representative of all in their ever-expanding universe.

As mentioned above, Superpowered: The DC Story will debut exclusively on Max on Thursday, July 20th. 

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.