One of comics’ oldest superhero teams — predating the Justice League, the Avengers and the X-Men — the Legion of Super-Heroes also has been, at various points in its 56-year history, among the most successful. However, the past couple of decades haven’t been particularly kind to DC Comics’ teenagers from the future, who have seen their once-devoted readership dwindle amid continuity reboots and retcons, and attempts to reintroduce the team.

Despite its own short-lived animated series and guest appearances on shows like Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited and Smallville, the property hasn’t fared all that well in other media. But Warner Bros. may be looking to change that.

According to Latino Review‘s “sources,” the studio is “quietly” putting a Legion of Super-Heroes film into development as its answer to Guardians of the Galaxy, the Marvel space adventure that’s grossed nearly $300 million domestically — it’s already surpassed Man of Steel — without having any characters most movie-goers would recognize.

Those sources contend the project is in the earliest stages, with Warner Bros. putting out the call for screenwriters to pitch them their Legion ideas.

Introduced by Otto Binder and Al Plastino in 1958′s Adventure Comics #247, the Legion was a “super-club” founded by Cosmic Boy, Lighting Lad and Saturn Girl, 30th-century teenagers who traveled back in time to recruit their inspiration: Superboy. In subsequent appearances in Adventure and Action Comics, the team’s ranks expanded to include the likes of Chameleon Boy, Shrinking Violet, Colossal Boy, Brainiac 5, Triplicate Girl and Supergirl.

Over the years, their membership and history changed, but the Legion’s core concept remained the same: teenage heroes from different planets in the 30th (and, later, the 31st) century uniting for the common good.

It’s fairly straightforward premise that would seem easily translated to the screen. Sure, even readerWas of superhero comics can find Legion continuity impenetrable and its sprawling cast of characters unwieldy, but that “baggage” (it’s what die-hards love about the team) wouldn’t make the journey to film. While dominated by humanoid characters, that sprawling cast also includes “aliens” as wonderfully weird as anything seen in Guardians — from the telepath Tellus to the energy being Quislet to the insectoid Gates. Maybe the world is finally ready for Proty T-shirts and backpacks?

Warner Bros. last month announced nine dates for DC films, extending into 2020, with some of those slots filled by the likes of Justice League and, presumably, Wonder Woman, The Sandman and Shazam, for starters. Even if you were to add Aquaman and a Superman sequel to the mix, there’s still plenty of room — and plenty of time — for Legion of Super-Heroes.

Maybe the studio could even have something together in time for the team’s 60th anniversary, in 2018.

they would have to have a Superguy there to pull in an audience.

as its answer to Guardians of the Galaxy, the Marvel space adventure that’s grossed nearly $300 million domestically — it’s already surpassed Man of Steel — without having any characters most movie-goers would recognize.

I'm sure we can all imagine the conversation pretty easily......

"Marvel has made $300 million with these Guardians characters.....what property do we own that's set in outer space so we can do the same thing?"

"Well, the first one I can think of is the Legion of Super-Heroes, but it's not really the same thi....."

"We need a movie with these Legion people ASAP!!! Get on it!"

DC would likely put a Superdude in a LSH movie as box office insurance.I don't think it's essential either---thanks for reinforcing my point.
Whatever they do with a LSH movie,the one thing it should be is fun.That's something the LSH comics haven't been for years.Don't even have LSH comics anymore.

Kevin and Allen are on the Warner Board of Directors.

What's confusing about having Superboy in it? DC certainly made the Superboy/Legion issue confusing as hell in the 80s, but it doesn't have to be that way. "Superhero kids travel from the future and ask Superboy to join their club." Simple.

What's confusing about having Superboy in it? DC certainly made the Superboy/Legion issue confusing as hell in the 80s, but it doesn't have to be that way. "Superhero kids travel from the future and ask Superboy to join their club." Simple.

If they keep the continuity separate from the Superman movies. The young Clark in that continuity wasn't allowed to be Superboy.