How’d you like to be like Clark or Lois? The week of July 7, 2025, will go down in Cleveland lore as one of the most exciting in recent memory when NE Ohioans celebrated the official release of Warner Bros.’ latest iteration of Cleveland’s iconic homegrown DC superhero – Superman.
Whether you were among the nearly 500 folks who attended the Fan Experience and pre-screening of the film at Phoenix Theaters in North Olmsted, or the over 200 who concurrently graced the public official’s pre-screening gala at Great Lakes Science Center, a good time was had by all.
A common theme among both events, as well as the Superman Movie Party put on by Bedrock at Tower City on July 12th, was the intense pride of all attendees in seeing our fair city highlighted in its full regalia on the big screen. The feeling was palpable. Bravo to James Gunn and the entire cast and crew! The former even provided a wonderful “Thank You to Ohio” video introduction that was shown prior to the film’s start.
Please join me in congratulating my colleagues from the Greater Cleveland Film Commission for their tireless efforts in successfully bringing the Man of Steel home to author his latest thwarting of an evildoer’s scheme to do bad things.
The movie is excellent. While David Cornswet (Clark/Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois) were fabulous in their roles, a special shout-out to Cleveland’s own homegrown hero, Isabella Merced, as Hawkgirl. Those who love the genre will appreciate the story, the performances, the action, the humor, and how Cleveland was transformed into Metropolis.
One spoiler alert, I can now say that I work in The Daily Planet building, known to locals as the Leader Building!
I would be remiss if I didn’t emphasize that films such as Superman don’t come to shoot in Cleveland by accident.
Greater Cleveland Film Commission, one of Cleveland’s best-kept secrets, sets the table through its advocacy efforts around the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit (OMPTC), the number one reason that films choose a filming location. We actively and aggressively pitch studios as to why they should bring projects here. It took nearly a year of communicating the business case for DC/Warner Bros. to choose NE Ohio as a location for Superman.
Additionally, we train locals interested in working in production in the movie business, as well as schooling vendors seeking to expand their goods and services on how to best compete for these lucrative individual and business opportunities.
Over the past year alone, thousands of production crew and background actor jobs have been created, along with thousands of dollars in revenue spent with hundreds of local vendors, and thousands of hotel room nights generated by a few of the projects filmed here, including Superman and Eenie Meanie.
That is real, economic, and workforce impact!
It is important to note, however, that Greater Cleveland Film Commission is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that doesn’t get to share in any of that economic windfall. We depend on support from people just like you to keep films rolling in NE Ohio. One very cool way for you to help is to become a member of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.
If you are an industry professional who has worked on one of the many projects like Superman, been a vendor who has benefited from the workforce and economic windfall, or simply a movie buff, join us today in the effort to make NE Ohio a regular stop along the superhero trail.
Be a Cleveland Film Hero yourself and tell a friend too!
Cheers,
Lowell Perry
Chief Diversity Officer, VP Corporate & Community Engagement