BREAKING… UPDATE: Official Press Release Below… The Superman logo was just superimposed with the Batman logo on the screen at the close of the much anticipated Warner Bros–Legendary Pictures panel inside the 
San Diego Convention Center at Comic-Con. This momentous DC Entertainment development from Warner Bros was not on the schedule, according to Deadline contributor Ross Lincoln covering the event. Instead, Zack Snyder came out on stage and announced, “It’s official that we are going to make another Superman movie. I’ve pored through the DC universe for a way to tell this thing.” With that, Harry Lennix 
who plays General Swanwick in Man Of Steel began quoting from Frank Miller’s 1986 The Dark Knight Returns and Miller’s follow-up Batman: Year One graphic novel series where an older Batman tricks Superman with Kryptonite and beats up the Man of Steel — then the scene ends with Batman faking his own death, a fact Superman becomes aware of at the funeral and keeps the secret: “In all the years to come, in all the most private moments, I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember the one man who beat you.” Snyder said the filmmakers won’t be using that source but it will help them in the story they’re telling. Set for release in 2015, this sequel is to be directed by Snyder and written by David S. Goyer featuring two of WB/DC’s most iconic superheroes and is certain to compete with Marvel. 
Christian Bale has said he does not wish to reprise his Bruce Wayne aka Batman role so the studio will be searching for a new Batman to pair with Henry Cavill. Snyder later said, “I’m so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can’t wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let’s face it, it’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest superheroes in the world.” Here is the Warner Bros press release announcing that the next DC superhero movie is in pre-production uniting Superman and Batman “in one explosive new film. Man Of Steel is still in theaters has grossed $625+M worldwide while Christopher Nolan’s rebooted Batman trilogy has amassed $4 billion globally:
BURBANK, CA, July 20, 2013 – On the heels of the worldwide success of “Man of Steel,” director Zack Snyderis bringing together the two greatest Super Heroes of all time—Batman and Superman—for the first time on the big screen. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution,Warner Bros. Pictures.
The current hit, “Man of Steel,” has taken in more than $630 million at the worldwide box office to date, and climbing. Along with its star, Henry Cavill, the upcomingfilm brings back Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane. The new Batman has yet to be cast.
Snyder is co-writing the story with David S. Goyer, who will then pen the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in 2014, with an anticipated release date inSummer 2015.
Silverman stated, “Zack Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he’s a fan first and he utterly gets this genre. We could not think of anyone better suited to the task of bringing these iconic Super Heroes to the screen in his own way.” Kroll added, “We are thrilled to be back in business with Zack and his team on this next movie. The success of ‘Man of Steel’ is a wonderful testament to the love and support that both fans and new audiences, worldwide, have for these characters. We are very excited to see what Zack has in store for all of us.”
Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment, noted,“Superman and Batman together on the big screen is a dream come true for DC fans everywhere. All of us at DCEntertainment could not be more excited for Zack’s continuing vision for the DC Universe.”
Zack Snyder, who made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con today, breaking the news to audiences there, later said, “I’m so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can’t wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let’s face it, it’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world.”
The new film brings back Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder as producers. This time, Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are serving as executive producers, along with Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan.
Thomas offered, “Whilst our ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy is complete, we have every confidence that Zack’s fresh interpretation will take the character in a new and exciting direction. His vision for Superman opened the door to a whole new universe and we can’t wait to see what Zack does with these characters.”
The film is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, and Batman characters created by Bob Kane, published by DC Entertainment.
Yes… I cant wait for this I love man of steel.
2015 – the Hollywood implosion begins as Spielberg and Lucas predicted. It will be the beginning of the house caving in on all these studios for their lack of originality, over-reliance on established tent poles, and most importantly lack of brains and balls.
This is the dumbest comment I have ever read. Batman and Superman have been paired off in comics since 1939. If anything has imploded in Hollywood, look no further than the last anything that Lucas has done and have you seen Cowboys and Aliens, Terra Nova, or MIB3 (Spielberg movies)…suck, suck, and suck! THEY ALL SUCKED! So there you go. Your wrong. We (the rest of the planet) are right.
Please do not try to include ‘We’ in your reply. When 80%+ of the movies coming out are either remakes or horrible ideas, the original comment is justified. And 80%+ was being very graceful.
you obviously didnt read the article 2 months ago, or follow the 100-200m+ budget film flops so far this summer.
“Flop” is an overused and undersupported term. These “flops” have long tails. They will each and every one go on to gross between 15% and 25% profit after distro at home, on DVD and Redbox. If last year’s “flops” flopped, why did Hollywood continue their investing in $150+ MD pictures? How were they financed? Why aren’t the banks stepping in? The answer is that each tentpoll is an investment. Box office is a bragging right but not an accurate reflection of how these films perform. John Carter made money. Period. Green Lantern made money (Warner said so). Period. Man Of Steel is making money, as is Pacific Rim. And before these films are considered at an end of their release (over two years from now) they will be consistent and long term revenue engines.
Spielberg and Lucas simply do not have a grasp for long term investment and long term sales forecast across multiple markets with multiple interconnected revenue streams. They are tired of making tentpolls. Fine. But the market has an apatite for them and the studios are seeing cash in for their investments. Otherwise, where are the forecolosures?
LOL: “Spielberg and Lucas simply do not have a grasp for long term investment and long term sales forecast across multiple markets with multiple interconnected revenue streams”.
Yes. That’s right. They’ve each owned their own studios, but they just don’t “get it”.
Are you out of your bird? These two INVENTED the long play tentpole game (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, MIB, Jurrasic Park, etc). They more than anyone understand how to milk something from every possible angle. If only you could sit down with them and carefully explain to them how YOU understand the business better than they do and there is nothing to fear.
Having hard time reconciling how the dark, night-centered environment of Batman (DK) with the mostly sunny (yellow sun=power), daytime environment of Superman can smoothly and effectively be intertwined on screen. Seems it would be disconcerting or confusing to a faithful audience. Ideas anyone?
Very good point. I could see Superman interacting with Bruce Wayne during the day and Batman investigating with Clark Kent at night. This leading to Batman discovering Kent’s secret. Then you can cross the boundaries of day and night with both characters. Batman can get the upper hand by using the night since Superman would be weaker without the sun. Maybe he is paling around with Kent to solve things then Batman discovers he is Superman and Batman attacks Kent with Kryptonite at night. My question why cast Affleck? If you are casting someone that is known shouldn’t they cast a global box office threat.
Hollywood is taking good, and what used to be clean, DC Comic characters and turning them into killing dark creatures. I’ve seen all the Superman and Batman movies and most have been alright…..but the whole story line in this upcoming movie is just wrong….I was sorely disappointed with Man of Steel..nothing but a typical beatem up killem type movie….and way too much digital imagery…will not be attending the new movie..
Both Heroes in the same film just might be very, very cool especially if the actor chosen to play Batman will continue to play him in the next series of Batman films whenever that may be? I was very, very let down with “Man of Steel” but its’ probably because my expectations were set way too high? First off I hate any film that goes back and forth from current day to the past and back again to tell a story it is just to distracting. The Movie as a whole I would give 4 stars but I was hoping for 4 1/2 or even 5 like “The Avengers” was. “Iron Man 3” which was the best of the trilogy so far I gave a 4 3/4 star rating to and “Battleship” I gave 4 stars.
No. MoS – while good – was still held down by Snyder and his penchant for “Explosions!” That he is being tasked with transitioning into this shared universe is. . .worrisome.
Good God! Iron Man 3 was one of the worst films I have EVER seen. I can’t even re-watch Avengers because of that POS. Fire breathing? House party protocol? Stupid, stupid, stupid. And of course, Mandarin………your an idiot.
No your the one who is wrong.
Thank you for your time.
Couldn agree with you more bro. Worst movie in the MCU by far!
When calling someone an idiot, you might want to spell “you’re” properly. Avengers was great. Iron Man 3 was solid. Battleship getting 4 stars is where he lost me. Who cares about Mandarin.
you should actually watch GI JOE. you might change your opinion. oh, and it is a fact that ironman 3 was great. cant argue with fact. im pretty sure it even says it on wikipedia or a blog site somewhere.
This is why the film will be bad. Hollywood knows that the world is populated with people like JAGUARDOG, and that the combined world-wide numbers of people with 0% taste outnumber people with standards. There is no good reason to make a quality film that will offend special-interest groups, violent religious fanatics, or fascist governments and hurt profits when a lowest common denominator film will make plenty of cash off of the people who love the colorful vinyl veneer on garbage pressboard furniture.
“No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.”
— H.L. Mencken.
At some point hwood will get so bad even Mencken will be proved wrong.
I disagree & thought Ironman 3 was wack. In fact, Battleship was extremely horrible also.
Thanks for self-identifying as a moron. Anyone who gives more than one star to Battleship has the cognitive abilities of a moron.
Just what was so bad about Battleship?
New Batman… Ryan Gosling. Casting session closed.
Armie Hammer would be a great Bruce Wayne… if he wasn’t already starring with Henry in that unnecessary “Man from UNCLE” remake.
If we’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that Armie Hammer should be kept far away from anything with a big budget.
Lone Ranger’s flop didn’t have much if anything to do with Armie Hammer. It had to do with the bullshit storyline that might as well have been Wild, Wild West Part Deux. Most people understand to be ridiculous and overblown and just didn’t want to see it. Hammer wasn’t bad at all.
Johnny Depp, on the other hand, just doesn’t draw. He was great in Pirates but he was NOT what people loved about those movies. They loved the entire thing. Good story, great action, romance, mystery, treasure and pirates. It was a great idea and Depp made it better.
It’s unfair to throw Hammer under the bus. He IS Bruce Wayne. I mean, he even grew up rich for Christ’s sake. Give him a shot. Ryan Gosling is fucking Robin at best. Jon Hamm is like 45. Matt Bomer would be bad, but we have to remember that he is gay and as accepting as we all like to pretend we are these days, once it gets out that Hollywood has cast a gay man as Batman, it’s over. Remember that Batman is a very conservative hero — Nolan proved this — and Middle America, which you very much need to have a hit, will simply not watch a gay man as Batman.
I hope they go with a middle-aged Batman. I’m sick of seeing Batman as a rookie, I want to see a seasoned Batman who has been fighting crime in Gotham for over 10 years. I want the World’s Greatest Detective on the screen. Jon Hamm would be perfect for it.
Boreanaz would be perfect. His head fits old school Bruce Wayne art, and he’s used to both brooding, dark and physical roles. The question is, do they doubt he can hold the big screen?
Agree completely with the poster who wrote that Jon Hamm would be perfect for Batman. He has proven he can excel at delivering an angst driven character, as he does with Don Draper in Mad Men.
Wow! This is so incredible! My two favorite superheros in one film. Henry is the best Superman, and I have confidence that Zack will find a fantastic Batman.
What is the over/under on how many buildings Superman will be thrown through in this movie – 72?
Holy… shit!!!! Is this real life!? Show me the video of it all!!
MOS was 10 times better than DKR. I hope this marriage doesnt end in boredom.
Man of Steel was nothing more than an explosion-fest for the last half of it, designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator of the populace, intelligence-wise. Given that, I’m not surprised at ALL that you thought it was “10 times better” than The Dark Knight Rises.
The explosions are for the international audience. Dialog and heavy translation doesn’t sell well in other parts of the world. But lots of explosions, action and minimal need for subtitles or dubbing makes these sorts of films more popular.
What? Stupid. Hope they recast Superman.
Hope they recast the director.
,,,,,hope they finally get a 6 foot 3 inch Batman.Enuff of these dwarves
Christian Bale is 6’0. That’s not exactly a dwarf.
Adam West is 6’2. Michael Keaton is 5’10. It seems that the only short-ish Batman was Keaton. So, there were never really any “dwarves”. Also, it’s “enough”, not “enuff”. Why do people deliberately misspell? Is it cool or something? Or should I say “Iz it kool or sumthin’?”
That’s a GREAT idea! Maybe they can get Janet Napolitano to play the part. I understand she IS available, and that would fit in perfectly with the Hollywood brain trust…
Thanks for injecting a completely irrelevant political remark into this thread.
??? Is this not about Hollyweird and their script and casting decisions? How bad of me to imply that politics might somehow be involved in the choices they make!
Reggie, please don’t feed the Drudge Report animals. Best to move on and ignore them.
~
Coat
It sounds like a good idea. If you had an OPEN mind, you wouldn’t chastise so quickly. Try some TOLERANCE.
I’d pay good money to see Napolitano thrown through a building or two.
Oh boy! Oy vey! Oh wow! Summer 2015 now has Avengers 2, Independence Day 2, Jurassic Park 4, Star Wars 7 and now this Batman of Steel mishagosh plus a few other giant movies. What will happen? Who will prevail? It’s going to be demolition derby same as this summer where they steal each other’s audience.
Maybe people will just see an indie movie.
So a bunch of unnecessary sequels, many that will fail at the box office excites you that much?
Yea cause that’s what it’s all about, the box office. NOT pleasing the fans…
Jurassic Park 4 hasn’t been given an official release date from Universal after the “delay” – probably because it’s not likely to happen anytime in the next couple of years or probably won’t even happen at all.
Have they given up on JL?
Hopefully this is a lead in to JLA:
if I were in charge:
1st movie: Batman and Superman, teaming up against the joint menace of Luthor and R’as, who employ special agents like Prometheus, Lady Shiva, Silver Banshee, etc.
2nd movie: “Trinity” We introduce Wonder Woman. She’s a government agent (yeah, just like the TV show) and they assign her to keep tabs on Superman and make sure he doesn’t get out of control and then she finds …she wuvs him…! Meanwhile they have to fight Starro or White Martians or something. If its White Martians we have an excuse to bring in Martian Manhunter.
3rd movie: OK, a full Justice League movie. OK maybe not in time for Avengers. We add Flash and Green Lantern to the team. (Is there going to be a GL 2?? If not get a new guy instead of Ryan Reynolds who never fit the part anyway.) That’s six people. Maybe add Zatanna. Magical powers look cool on screen. Plus, that gives you another woman.
One word: DARKSEID!!!
4th movie: WONDER TWIN POWERS, ACTIVATE!!!
I dig your plan, lol.
I was pulling for Darkseid to be the villain in the next film, but they should DEFINITELY save him for the Justice League movie.
Hopefully DC doesn’t jump the gun and takes the Marvel route of introducing the individual characters (the ones that still need introducing, as far as the silver screen) in their own individual films, rather than trying to cram everything into one giant Justice League film.
If I’m being honest, even though Thor and Captain America were pretty average films, I still went to see them (once) because of genuine interest, and because of what they were building toward. So I do hope that DC is patient and smart, and builds their franchise methodically.
I still say that the sequel should involve Brainiac and the lost people of Kandor to some degree to make Kal-el feel that he’s not the only one that could have survived the explosion of Krypton – and set him off on a quest to seek others of his own kind who don’t have lofty plans on seeking world conquest. At least the animated movies have touched upon this subject and also involved Batman with helping out.
Lex Luthor is just so overused in the movies when there’s a much richer tapestry of super-villains in the Superman canon to be utilized.
~
Coat
Could Superman please have his red shorts this time around? That said, it should be an awesome movie. Maybe even better that Avengers. Certainly much better than the mess of a Fantastic Four reboot.
Theo James for Bruce!
Way to kill two franchises with one stone. And by “kill” I mean totally ruin beyond repair.
Bat-Nipples. I don’t think there is anything Superman/Batman can do to ruin either franchise that wasn’t done in the nineties.
While it sounds promising, without Bale as Batman it won’t work.
Because it worked for The Avengers?
I’m sorry Avengers…I love you guys but your about to get your clock cleaned by the worlds finest.
Puh-leeze. Avengers will donkey punch this tepid turd team-up.
YOU’RE RIGHT. The Avengers is financially the greatest Super Hero film of all time, as well as just one of the highest grossing films of all time…
Man of Steel paired with some “other” guy, sounds very lame.
Another comment I will make is, at least the Spiderman franchise is trying to make a viable comeback from the Toby Mac shitbox trio. Maybe it’s just I’m in love with Emma Stone, but her and garfield seemed to mesh well on screen together, and will be looking forward to the Amazing Spider Man sequel.
One more comment, I hope Winter Soldier delivers as I have been feeling more and more that Captain America has become a Pussy. I mean come on, during Avengers…Cap Am says to Stark…”Put on your suit, lets go a round”…PUT ON YOUR SUIT! Shut the fuck up pussy, tony stark would have wrecked your shit.
Sounds like an act of desperation from DC. MOS underperformed critically and financially. So he’s comes Batman to the rescue?
Man of steel was as least as big as Warner Bros hoped although the film ended up disappointing for me.
Exactly what I thought when I heard about this. MOS had bad reviews, and the word of mouth wasn’t good; it did as much business as it did because of the curiosity factor, but MOS2 wouldn’t have that going for it. Clearly Warners doesn’t want to risk a stand-alone Superman movie, so it has to be a joint venture. I hope Christian Bale can be persuaded, but I suspect he would not want, or need, to be involved with this.
I think you nailed it. MoS didn’t really cut it on its own, the word of mouth was so-so, and it isn’t burning up the box office in the States (good,. not great). WB is playing it as safe as possible.
I saw MoS, but doubt I’ll bother with whatever they call the teamup movie.
675+ million and climbing is a disappointment? DKR has made over 4 billion…
No, The entire TDK trilogy made over 4 billion. Not just one film.
Where do you get 675+? Neither Box Office Mojo or IMDB have those numbers. In Fact Box Office Mojo says MOS just hit 635 million. What website are you checking?
Batman should hold Superman accountable for the thousands (if not tens of thousands) of deaths in the third act of MoS.
John, it was just a movie. Those people didn’t die in real life. Drink some chamomile tea.
Which deaths do you mean? When he was on the other side of the planet trying to destroy a doomsday device or when Zod said he would not stop until he killed every single person on Earth?
Well, maybe they want to clean up the whole “Superman killed a guy” thing with Batman’s help. If they keep Batman in character, then I don’t imagine he’ll be happy with the way Zod died. Of course, we’re instead likely to see Batman pick up an AK-47 and mow down a mob of ninjas.
Hopeman meets Batman…Won’t be seeing it.
You’d think there would be a cheaper way to jump the shark than to dump $250 million into this craziness.
How is it jumping the shark for something that is canonically tied to both series? Batman and Superman exist in the same universe and have been together in multiple comics, animated bits, cartoons and everything BUT their movies. It’s simply giving the fans what they desire, a live action version of seeing their heroes meet up again.
Han Solo, Superman, Batman, The Avengers, T-Rex and ID2… 2015 might go down as the greatest summer for movies for all time.
Or the biggest flops of all time in the shortest time span
“Han Solo, Superman, Batman, The Avengers, T-Rex and ID2… 2015 might go down as the greatest summer for movies for all time.”
Somehow I get the feeling that, based on the list above and what has come out lately in relation to the above, 2015 won’t be producing any lasting classics. Now, 1982. That was the greatest summer ever for science fiction and fantasy films. Just a few…
Conan, the Barbarian
Poltergeist
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
e.t. (lower case as I don’t really care for this movie, but most everyone does)
The Thing
The Road Warrior
and last, but definitely not least, one of the greatest films ever:
Blade Runner
And don’t even get me going about 1938. That whole year was great.
“And don’t even get me going about 1938. That whole year was great.”
I meant 1939. 1939. Let me repeat that: 1939.
Just to name a few:
Gone With the Wind
The Wizard of Oz
Wuthering Heights
Stagecoach
Of Mice and Men
Ninotchka
Gunga Din
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Now, that was a year.
Don’t forget 1939’s “Only Angels Have Wings” from Howard Hawks. A pretty terrific movie.
Don’t forget World War 2 started in 1939 that was pretty important. And remember the explosions for kids… kids like explosions. They can’t just make old people who have liked the hero since the 60’s happy they need new generations of fans to make money off of.
This is being done only for money. nothing more nothing less. So tired of the Superhero stuff. every summer. Well lets give the fanboys what they want.
EVERY movie is done for money. It’s a business. Should they not try to make as much money for stock holders as possible? I think they even have a term for that
What about art movies?
An “art movie” is nothing more than a movie looking for a distributor. You honestly don’t think the people that have little money making little films are not hoping for big box office thanks to awards buzz?
Jeff Donovan from Burn Notice for Batman.
He’s not British.
Interesting choice. He can do drama, action and/or comedy. The man’s already played Robert Kennedy, so Bruce Wayne would be a walk in the park for him.
Too scrawny, just like every guy they pick to play Batman. Hollywood will never see Batman as anything other than a modified James Bond.
Take a closer look at your screen. Donovan is tall and athletic. The man has an earned black belt. He is also considered affable, so whoever that ranter is below with all his capital letters, the closest he ever got to Donovan was frantically waving at him from the tour bus.
TRUST ME you don’t want JEFFREY DONOVAN. I worked with this PR-IC-K on Burn Notice this man had the whole set TERRORIZED. Picture your worst stereotypical diva and multiply it by like a GAZILLION and you’ve got Jeffrey. In fact, his behavior is so LEGENDARILY ATROCIOUS that I was in Miami eating at Johnny Rocket and one of the girls behind the counter recognized me from other work and asked what I was in town filming and I told her Burn Notice. She said, “Oh that’s with that guy who’s like a complete a-hole right?’ A waitress. “Nuff Said. I was on MIAMI VICE by the way as a youngster, I played a character called Archie a young inner city track and football star who saved the lives of Crockett and Tubbs. I’m sure you know that Don Johnson had a legendary “people problem” right? Well, in Don’s case I didn’t find it to be entirely true, he’s a perfectionist and if you showed similar commitment to the work, you were in his good graces. Jeffrey Donovan would SCARE THE SHYTE out of D.J. I was also a character on CHARMED over a couple of seasons and I’m sure you know about Shannon Doherty’s legendary temper. She’s gave me nothing but love ( not like that) and we’re friends to this day. Jeffrey Donovan would SCARE THE WITCH out of Shannon Dougherty.
I don’t like talking badly about someone but this man is the most appalling CRETIN I have ever worked with in a THIRTY YEAR CAREER, I’ve been in movies with Actors that wouldn’t let the Crew LOOK AT THEM and would only allow a crew member to speak to them IF THEY SPOKE FIRST ( Bobby D.) but again, he gave me nothing but love. Jeffrey Donovan would scare the beejeebers out of Robert Deniro.
Dude, you just described Batman.
hahahaha
It’s the one thing they could do that Marvel can’t match (rights issues from different studios will keep it from happening) and that can match Avengers Box Office. WOW
I think people who spend time talking about whether or not Superman wears red shorts need to be examined by a neurologist because their brains are clearly not processing data properly.