Warner Bros. and Chernin Entertainment Developing Hourman Film

As Zack Snyder’s Justice League arrives on streaming, a new DC Comics adaptation is quietly taking shape. Warner Bros. and DC are reportedly in the early stages of developing a feature film centered on Hourman, a lesser-known but thematically rich character from the DC catalogue.

Chernin Entertainment is set to produce the project, marking the company’s first major entry into the superhero genre. Chernin is best known for co-producing the modern Planet of the Apes series and the Oscar-nominated Ford v Ferrari, and its involvement signals a studio-level commitment to bringing a unique DC character to the big screen.

The screenplay is being written by Gavin James and Neil Widener. Neither writer is yet a household name for mainstream tentpoles, but both have solid filmmaking backgrounds: James has worked on set in various capacities, including as additional crew on Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables, while Widener has several commercial projects attached to his name, including work on potential sequels such as Now You See Me 3 and a follow-up to San Andreas. Their collaboration suggests a fresh creative team tackling a character that blends pulpy superhero action with more grounded, character-driven themes.

Hourman’s comic-book origins date back to Adventure Comics #48 in 1940. Created by writer Ken Fitch and artist Bernard Baily, the original Hourman—Rex Tyler—has no innate superpowers. Instead, he relies on a chemically developed compound called Miraclo, which grants him super-strength, enhanced speed, and heightened endurance for exactly one hour at a time. The limited, timed nature of Miraclo is central to the character’s identity and storytelling potential.

Over the decades, multiple characters have taken up the Hourman mantle. Rex Tyler’s son, Rick Tyler, later became Hourman as well, and the stories have explored mature and complex themes—most notably addiction and dependency—when both Rex and Rick struggled with reliance on Miraclo. That emotional and moral complexity gives the character strong dramatic potential for a modern film adaptation, allowing filmmakers to balance blockbuster thrills with personal stakes.

Hourman has appeared on screen previously in television. The character made a live-action debut on The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow, portrayed by Patrick J. Adams, and other interpretations have surfaced in the Stargirl series. At this stage, it has not been disclosed which version or era of Hourman the new film will adapt, and no casting announcements have been made.

The announcement of an Hourman screenplay comes amid a broader studio interest in adapting lesser-known DC heroes. Recently, Angel Manuel Soto was attached to direct the Blue Beetle film, another example of Warner Bros. and DC expanding beyond marquee names like Batman and Superman to develop stories about more obscure but narratively rich characters. For fans, this shift represents a welcome diversification of the DC film slate and the chance to see different corners of the DC universe explored on screen.

Timing for the Hourman project remains unclear. With Zack Snyder’s Justice League receiving its long-awaited streaming release, DC Films is in a moment of renewed attention, and the studio appears willing to invest in varied storytelling approaches—ranging from massive ensemble films to more focused origin tales of lesser-known heroes. An Hourman movie could join that mix by offering both the genre elements audiences expect and the character-driven exploration of issues such as heroism, addiction, and legacy.

For now, official details are limited: the project is in early development, Chernin Entertainment is attached as producer, and Gavin James and Neil Widener are writing the screenplay. As the production progresses, further announcements regarding casting, a director, and a release timeline are likely to follow. Fans of DC comics and those interested in character-first superhero stories will be watching closely as this adaptation develops.