Any true Superman fan knows that Superman himself originated in Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks to then-local high school students, writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, who teamed up to create the iconic superhero and his ordinary alter ego, Clark Kent, in 1933, we’ve oohed and aahed over the protector and his life-saving measures for decades, and the franchise has continued to deliver to this day.
The latest installment is a reboot of the Superman movie franchise, set to hit theaters on July 11, which was filmed in its birthplace of Cleveland last summer. A trailer for the film was released in May, showcasing many of the city’s recognizable landmarks, including Progressive Field, Terminal Tower, Public Square, the Detroit-Superior Bridge, and the Leader Building, which serves as the fictional newspaper, the Daily Planet.
The film — which stars David Corenswet as the titular superhero, alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced — inspired us to explore further the Midwestern town and how travelers can experience a Superman-themed trip. And there’s no better time, as the Summer of 2025 also marks the debut of the new Superman tribute plaza and statue downtown, debuting in line with the film’s premiere (via Cleveland Jewish News).
We dove deeper into some of Cleveland’s celebrated attractions below and the ode many have had in the franchise. Also, read on for more about the upcoming Superman reboot and how it’s carrying on the comics’ legacy.
Progressive Field
For many sports enthusiasts, a trip to Cleveland isn’t complete without visiting Progressive Field, home of the Major League Baseball team The Guardians. Superman fans would also marvel over the venue as it was significantly transformed in the newest reboot into LordTech Field, the center of the fictitious Metropolis Meteors. The made-over stadium appears in trailer footage, showing Superman battling a villain in the empty ballpark, a cool feature for those familiar with the area.
Fans can further revel in the glory on July 23 when Progressive Field hosts a theme night in tribute to the dubbed Man of Steel and James Gunn’s latest adaptation. According to WKYC Studios, guests can enjoy a “Superman Night,” including Metropolis Meteors t-shirt giveaways to the first 15,000 fans arriving at the park and a limited-edition Superman bobblehead for package purchasers. Per MLB.com, the Cleveland Guardians will be facing the Baltimore Orioles for the third game in the series.
Terminal Tower
The Terminal Tower is another notable landmark featured in the Superman reboot, and it’s a piece of history for the city. According to the Cleveland Historical website, the structure is 52 stories and 708 feet tall, making it the second-tallest skyscraper in town, behind the Key Bank Tower, and once held the title of the second-tallest between New York and Chicago.
Guests are encouraged to see the sights from the Terminal Tower Observation Deck, which showcases the spectacular view of the entire city and Lake Erie. Hours are typically on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer, though they are subject to change.
As for its connection to the new Superman film, the tower is a prominent backdrop, and, according to multiple reports, it influenced the creators’ mission of defying gravity.
Public Square
Another well-known filming location in the new Superman movie is Cleveland’s Public Square. In July 2024, WKYC reported that Will Reeve, the son of the original Superman actor Christopher Reeve, was spotted filming in Public Square, portraying what appeared to be a TV reporter. Enthusiasm grew as film crews were visible throughout Northeast Ohio for several weeks during that time, as production was underway.
However, Public Square might look a little different on screen to locals as it and the surrounding area were transformed into Metropolis, but many didn’t mind the downtown disruption. A June 2024 article by News 5 Cleveland reported that patrons were unbothered by the extra traffic and roadblocks in town due to filming, which they noted racked up over $147 million in production costs because they were excited about the project. Some even hoped that cameras would catch them in the background.
The Detroit-Superior Bridge
Cleveland residents, or anyone who visited the area, would recognize the Detroit-Superior Bridge spotlighted in the latest Superman film. Multiple outlets reported that filming took place on the bridge, with a particular focus on a scene involving a mass evacuation using vehicles and extras.
In July 2024, Cleveland’s official website shared photos of the chaotic scene showing a major car pileup and crew members surrounding the destruction. The publication noted that the scene took hours to film, though none of the main cast members were seen. Why or how things play out is unknown, but the recently released trailer shows a skyscraper collapsing onto the bridge, hinting that it’s a significant part of the movie.
According to the Cuyahoga County, Ohio website, the bridge, also referred to as the Veterans Memorial Bridge, serves as a vessel for vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic via its upper deck, while the lower once carried streetcars until the service halted in 1954.
The Leader Building
The building that once housed the Cleveland Leader Newspaper in the early 1900s has revived its old roots for the big screen as the historic Leader Building served as the site for Metropolis’ newspaper, the Daily Planet. The property was initially built as a news hub for the city before being converted into a multi-tenant office and now mixed-use building, according to the Cleveland Historical website. At the time, it was also the tallest building on the south side of Superior Avenue before the development of multiple high-rises nearby.
A June 2024 article on the Superman Homepage shows photos of the building’s entryway with mock signage of the Daily Planet headquarters. The site also pointed out that in earlier issues of Action Comics — the comic book series by DC that introduced Superman — the protagonist, Clark, worked as a reporter for the Cleveland Evening News, which in real life was located inside the Leader Building in the 1920s.
The DC Universe’s Newest Venture
It seems that the DC Universe has granted us an endless stream of content in recent years (i.e., the Wonder Woman prequel series, Paradise Lost, announced in January 2023, and the highly anticipated 2027 release of The Batman: Part II, among many others. Superman is the latest film sparking eagerness to venture to the cinemas, especially with Gunn and Peter Safran leading production.
The reboot is also DC Studios’ first feature film under Gunn and Safran’s partnership to grace theaters and will be available to see in IMAX this summer under Warner Bros. Pictures, per DC’s trailer description on YouTube. Like the other DC productions, the movie promises plenty of action, humor, and heart from the cast playing the notable characters. And for Cleveland folks, it offers a piece of nostalgia and a memorable film set to add to the city’s already rich history.