CLEVELAND LOCATIONS USED IN THE MOVIE, WHAT THE DIRECTOR IS SAYING ABOUT CLEVELAND, SUPERMAN'S HOMETOWN, 'SUPERMAN' 2025 CAST

Cleveland takes center stage as Metropolis in new 'Superman' movie: Here are the local filming locations to watch for

It's finally here!

After months of anticipation, the new "Superman" movie is flying into theaters nationwide -- and Cleveland is one of the stars of the film as the backdrop for Metropolis.

CLEVELAND LOCATIONS USED IN THE MOVIE

Last summer, director James Gunn and his crew -- including "Superman" himself (actor David Corenswet) -- arrived in Northeast Ohio to film a variety of scenes for the superhero flick.

So what locations were included? Gov. Mike DeWine's office provided the following outline of Cleveland-area spots used for the film:

A central piece of downtown Cleveland, Public Square — including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument — was transformed into Metropolis’ bustling city center.
The Leader Building, Cleveland’s last remaining historic newspaper building, was used as the exterior of the Daily Planet — the news hub of Metropolis and workplace of reporters Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Clark Kent.

Progressive Field, home to the Cleveland Guardians, was transformed into Metropolis Meteors’ baseball stadium for a major action sequence.
The Cleveland Arcade, America’s first indoor mall and a favorite among both Clevelanders and visitors, served as the backdrop for a romantic, airborne kiss between Superman and Lois Lane.

Cleveland City Hall was used as a fitting stand-in for Metropolis’ own city hall, while Terminal Tower, which offers a 360-degree view of the city, was featured in several sweeping shots of Metropolis’ skyline.
Ontario Street, and the former Cleveland Greyhound Station, were part of fast-paced street scenes, and PNC Plaza provided the dynamic urban views that only the largest skyscrapers can offer.
Key Tower was depicted as the fictional headquarters of Stagg Enterprises, a research-and-development firm founded by billionaire Simon Stagg.
Mentor Headlands Beach State Park was used to depict a vintage U.S. Army base.

3News was there to capture some of the action, too! Here's a glimpse of what we saw when crews were in town last summer:

You can see these locations featured heavily in the film's trailer. How many can you spot? Watch below...

"Superman" also filmed scenes in Cincinnati at the Lytle Tunnel on I-71 and the Cincinnati Museum Center, which "had served as the inspiration for the original Hall of Justice in the DC Comics."

“There’s something so special about sitting in a theater, watching the summer’s biggest movie, and recognizing your own skyline,” said State Tourism Director Sarah Wickham. “Ohio isn’t just in the background, it’s part of the story, and we’re proud to welcome anyone who wants to step into that story and experience these incredible locations in person.”

"Superman" was filmed under the code name "Genesis" while production was underway. The Department of Development awarded the movie an $11 million Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit in February 2024.

WHAT THE DIRECTOR IS SAYING ABOUT CLEVELAND

“I had the greatest time in Cleveland,” Gunn told our news partner Cleveland.com in a one-on-one interview. “The Cleveland people were great. I think they know how much I like them if they’ve seen any of my posts or whatever. They were just fantastic throughout and I’ve got a billion Cleveland T-shirts that I wear to this day.”

“We looked all over for the place that was the best Metropolis,” Gunn said in the Cleveland.com conversation, which you can watch in the video below. “We liked Cincinnati a lot, but we really liked Cleveland. A lot of it’s because of all the old Art Deco architecture that people really don’t know about in Cleveland. So although we were making whatever city we filmed in a much bigger city than it is, Cleveland worked best for all of the basic architecture we’re using up close.”

This isn't the first time Gunn has gushed his appreciation for Cleveland.

"From the moment we first came here on a scout a tad less than a year ago and Terminal Tower was lit up with the colors of Superman, I knew you were a special place," Gunn said of Cleveland in an Instagram post July 17, 2024, as the crew left Northeast Ohio for their next location in Cincinnati.

SUPERMAN'S HOMETOWN

The legacy of "Superman" dates back decades to right here in Northeast Ohio when the iconic character was created by two Cleveland teens -- Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster -- who Gov. DeWine's office said "dreamed up the superhero while attending high school in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood in the early 1930s."

“The story of Superman has captivated generations of families from all over the world -- from grandparents who grew up reading the original comics to kids who'll be heading to the theaters to enjoy the newest iteration of this classic adventure,” said Gov. DeWine. “This is a proud moment for Cleveland, for Ohio, and for all of us who still believe in the power of imagination.”