Which film features the newspaper The Daily Planet?
Quick answer
The Daily Planet is the fictional newspaper in the Superman films, comics and TV shows. It’s based in the city of Metropolis, where Clark Kent, Superman’s secret identity, works as a reporter alongside Lois Lane. It appears in films from Superman (1978) with Christopher Reeve to Superman (2025) with David Corenswet.
The Daily Planet staff
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Clark Kent | Mild-mannered reporter, secretly Superman |
| Lois Lane | Star investigative reporter |
| Perry White | Gruff editor-in-chief |
| Jimmy Olsen | Young photographer |
The building’s rooftop globe is one of the most recognizable images in superhero films.
How it started
Superman was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938. At first, Clark Kent worked for a paper called the Daily Star. It became the Daily Planet in 1940, and the name stuck.
Superman on screen
| Film | Year | Superman |
|---|---|---|
| Superman | 1978 | Christopher Reeve |
| Superman Returns | 2006 | Brandon Routh |
| Man of Steel | 2013 | Henry Cavill |
| Superman | 2025 | David Corenswet |
TV series such as Lois & Clark (1993–1997), Smallville and Superman & Lois also featured the paper.
Why a newspaper?
As a reporter, Clark hears about disasters and crimes first, a handy way to get Superman to the scene. The newsroom also gave writers a workplace drama and the long-running Clark–Lois romance.
Real-world inspiration
Metropolis has often been compared to New York City. The Daily Planet building in the 1978 film was filmed at the Daily News Building in Manhattan, a real newspaper’s headquarters.
Other fictional newspapers
- Daily Bugle: Spider-Man’s paper in New York
- The Daily Prophet: the wizarding newspaper in Harry Potter; see what school Harry Potter goes to
For another famous comic-book villain on film, see where “Why so serious?” comes from.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.