This is too cool-geeky not to share. Warner Bros. has confirmed that Zack Snyder’s next Superman movie will also feature Batman, with the plot taking inspiration from Frank Miller’s critically-acclaimed graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. But who will play the new Batman?
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This was easily the biggest announcement at Comic-Con 2013 — or arguably any Comic-Con before it. Batman and Superman are finally going to share the big screen together after decades of botched projects and false starts.
The film is slated for release in 2015 and will chiefly comprise of the same creative team that brought us Man of Steel. Henry Cavill will reprise his role as Superman/Kal El with Zack Snyder returning to the director’s chair. David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan will take care of writing and executive producing duties, respectively.
Here’s the official announcement from Warner Bros:
On the heels of the worldwide success of “Man of Steel,” director Zack Snyder is 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.
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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 upcoming film 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 in Summer 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 DC Entertainment 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
After the colossal success of Marvel’s The Avengers it’s little wonder that DC is keen to bring its two most iconic superheroes together.
The only missing piece of the puzzle is the casting of Batman.
Apparently, Christian Bale is highly unlikely to return to the role, which means the character will need to be completely reintroduced for the new movie. During the Comic-Con announcement, Snyder indicated that while the film won’t be a direct adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns, it will “help us tell that story”. This suggests a much older Batman in the twilight of his crime-fighting years.
Wait… one more surprise! @ZackSnyder appears on stage and officially confirms a sequel for #ManofSteel!
— Warner Bros Pictures (@wbpictures) July 20, 2013
Director @ZackSnyder unites #Batman and #Superman in one explosive new film. Official press release: http://t.co/YeheKPIE1A #ManofSteel
— Warner Bros Pictures (@wbpictures) July 20, 2013
There you go. Superman and Batman together in next movie. pic.twitter.com/cw6IuRG6TO
— Eric Vespe (@EricVespe) July 20, 2013
Perhaps they could bring back Michael Keaton? Or maybe they could convince Harrison Ford to get into shape for a grumpier take on the dark knight? Or are these terrible ideas? Let is know who you think should play the role in the comments section below.
Comments
53 responses to “Zack Snyder To Direct Batman/Superman Movie”
This is a damn good idea and takes it away from how Marvel has done it (individual films for each character).
It’s actually not a great idea. It is a money grab, and will prove that Marvel’s method is by far superior.
Agreed. As a comic fan for many many years, I’ve started to feel rather alienated by DC as they try to gain a larger target audience, making me… A comic book junkie… Not the target audience…
They’re all money grabs…That’s the point of movies.
This is absolutely the right move. They don’t need to create a new Batman movie so soon after TDKT where it would be panned for not being as good as what Nolan produced, or so soon after the Nolan trilogy finished. Yet they still introduce Batman for the JL movie, establish his role with Superman (whichever way they go) and can’t be claimed to be doing exactly what Marvel is doing, because they aren’t.
batman and superman have appeared together in comics many times in the past
its a legitimate coupling of characters
Avengers was a cash grab
This is like a soft landing to whet our palates while we await the Justice League movie 2045
I’m fine with the continuity of Joseph Gordon Levitt assuming the cowl… Any other choice wouldn’t really link the films.
It’s not supposed to link the films, Chris Nolan’s Batman is separate, which is why they are probably using Man Of Steel 2 as a way to introduce the new Batman
They could maybe keep the character of John under the cowl, but considering it’s supposed to be batman as a 50 – 60 year old, I don’t think Joseph Gordon Levitt would really be a good fit.
It’s only based on the dark knight returns, no way will it be old retired batman. This is clearly a set up for the JLA movie without having to do a new batman film to introduce the new batman, as mentioned everywhere.
The connection comes from them quoting “I am the man who beat you” which is attributed to The Dark Knight Returns but Batman has beat on superman in a few different stories. The line is just iconic and is a good hint that we will see bats and supes get their punch on at some point I’m guessing.
I agree that JGL wouln’t be good as an older Batman, but I don’t even think he would be good as any incarnation of Batman. As Nightwing however…
Pretty sure they’ve already stated that any future Batman and DC films will be unrelated to the Dark Knight trilogy.
I wonder if this is their way of introducing a new Batman before the inevitable Justice league movie without giving him a new solo film?
Could be, but it’s also a project that’s been kicking around forever. It’s been announced and even cast in the past, before everything fell apart. If this iteration actually comes through it will be a minor miracle.
So … does this mean we’re closer to having I am legend be a reality?
The idea of anyone teaming up with superman is ridiculous, especially some rich dude with a couple of gadgets.
Edit: I also don’t get how it says they are the 2 biggest SUPER heroes of all time, Batman doesn’t have any powers…?
They’ve done it many, many times in the comics. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s not entirely ridiculous.
I just can’t see how they could exist in the same shared world, they are so fundamentally different. Superman is all powerful and can basically do anything, why would he need help?
dude batman can beat superman. its been done many times,
The Dark Knight Returns and Hush are two examples I can think of.
That’s not quite true,
-Spoilers-
Dark Knight Returns – He fakes his death, superman knows that he did, and lets him get away with it.
Hush – Batman holds him off long enough for his plan to break poison Ivy’s mind control and only just makes it in time. He was about to be killed.
Yeah, but
-Spoilers-
http://www.comicsrecommended.com/images/dc/dkr_beatdown.jpg
He beats Superman first…
And Hush… Yeah, he doesn’t win… But I don’t think he was trying to win… I’m sure if he planed for it and used more Kryptonite or maby did what he was planning to do in
Tower of babel, where he has a plan to neutralise any of the core members of the justice league if they were to go rouge.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qKuWHzAPXE/UOb1-fQCw0I/AAAAAAAABJQ/RbE4rr0CiuY/s400/2671848-1515090-525526_jla_tower_of_babel_tp_howard_porter_and_john_dell_super_1__super_super.jpg
Batman cannot beat Superman if Superman actually tried/fought dirty.
Superman could super heat him from space.
Could plow through him using superspeed
Split him in half with super-strength
Freeze him
He can do a lot of things to an unsuspecting Bruce Wayne/Batman if he really wanted to.
And that’s why I enjoyed the Death and Life of superman… It shows just how much superman does indeed hold back when he is fighting against his enemies.
Precisely why I don’t believe the premise of Superman teaming up with anyone or even the JLA works, he is just too OP and 1 dimensional. Why would he need to hold back when protecting earth just so his buddies could fight too? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? He could just race around at supersonic speed and destroy any invading alien force while the rest of the JLA chill out on banana lounges and sip margaritas.
You make it sound like the Avengers worked because Marvel characters practically always share their battles in New York City
It’s not about where, it’s about HOW. Superman is near omnipotent and batman is just a rich guy, I’m not sure how you could make that premise of them teaming up actually work outside of comics (where you can get away with a lot more than live action movies), considering the fact that both batman and superman franchises are now supposed to be more grounded and realistic and have completely different contexts and aims.
Not that I’m an authority on knowing in depth on the two pairing up with such things as interpreting the way their different views and methods of justice, and what taking the high road is, clash and complement eachother when they team up, but if you’re simplifying Batman and Superman as just a rich guy and an invulnerable being not needing help as long as he’s living in a solar system with a yellow sun, I don’t know how you can maintain an viewpoint of needing to point out that the live action franchises need to be of a serious, grounded, or deeper context.
I’m basing my information on the films, as this discussion is about a film, which have aimed themselves at being more gritty and realistic. I didn’t say they needed to be at all but I didn’t make them that way so if you have issue with that then hit up Nolan and Snyder.
The usaual context in the comics is that Batman is generally portrayed as being way way smarter than Superman. Looking at the motives and tactics behind the crimes. i.e. Detective Batman, solves the crime and Superman is more of the muscle.
But as you said you can get away with a lot more in the comics, and the movies never show him as being as smart as in the comics. They only hint at it. For example how he upgraded Lucius tech in the movies, he builds the tech from scratch in the comics (Think Ironman but more dark and broody because his parents were murdered.)
They are not that different at all. They may be the polar opposites but live together like yin and yang. Batman fights crime through fear where superman fights crime by inspiring people. Batman is motivated by a traumatic loss and superman by his moral obligation to protect earth. They both have completely different methods but both share very strong moral beliefs and guidelines. Superman is the brawns and batman is the brains.
In so many comics they play off this yin yang relationship and in anything that pits batman against superman batman has the upper hand because he always has a contingency plan. I remember one comic where martians take out the whole JLA except batman because he has no powers and the rest of the JLA laugh at the bad guys because batman is the most dangerous and then batman rocks up and does his thing.
I think this movie is a great possibility but based off the dark knight rises I agree batman couldn’t fight superman because that version doesn’t play on batman superior intellect. If they play batman right this will be a great movie.
Read a comic once in your life.
Ha.
You laugh, but really, Its been done successfully so much in the comics and animated features that its almost hard to imagine Batman and Superman NOT sharing a universe.
I laugh because I read a lot of comics.
This is okay news. I’ve loved some of Snyder’s stuff but when all is said and done it’s just going to be another ‘okay’ superhero movie.
I’m getting kinda over them. And I love batman but can never get excited for when he teams up with Superman. Why would Superman need any help at all?
Kryptonite. Don’t you know that it’s practically the most common element in the world? But Batman can just pick that stuff right up and keep on rolling.
Yeah – but Kryptonite is soooo stupid and smacks of lazy writing. The only reason I went to the new Superman film was mSnyder saying pre-release that Kryptonite wouldn’t be in it.
So what, you think that they should have left superman, the most powerful being in the DC universe, a god basically, without ANY weaknesses at all?
I would have preferred they introduced a new weakness that didn’t amount to ‘magic rock’. Maybe they introduce stronger enemies – that need to be outsmarted rather than just beat up.
That’s why I’ve never really been into Superman. It’s like playing a game with god mode on. Where’s the challenge? Where’s the interest when noone can hurt you?
Exactly why i could never get into it, superman is basically a 1 dimensional character. Without any flaws, only offset by a deus ex machina type death device. He can do anything, fly, shoot lasers, xray vision, is super strong and invincible BUT a magic rock from another planet kills him. Lame.
Have you read ‘hush’?
Batman’s use of kryptonite was pretty darn awesome in that.
Massive jizz-fest ahoy on Hollywood Babble-On’s Geek News section this week.
If they manage to convince Christian Bale to do it, PLEASE don’t hire whoever did the hideously poor aged-makeup job work on Guy Pearce in Prometheus.
This is a bad idea. Basically this is them just trying to rush the Justice League movie. They want to emulate Marvel’s success, but they have missed something very important, part of Marvel’s success is the fact that they have paced the entire thing so well. Each main character gets their own story, their own origin of sorts, a chance to let them shine in their own worlds, before mashing them up together.
Superman was JUST reintroduced. Successfully, in a great way that really had so much potential. Now with Batman being part of the next movie, it won’t reach the potential it could have. Batman will take the focus away from Supes. We needed one more Man of Steel before bringing them together. Spending more time focusing on Superman would also have given them chance to make a better B&S movie. But instead, they are rushing for the cash. Whatever. Ruined my hopes for Henry Cavill’s superman.
I agree about the spacing thing, but by not planning it on tying in with the last three Batman movies they shot themselves in the foot. The only way for them to get a justice league movie out in the next 5 years is to mix things up. The other thing is they might not have another good Superman screenplay up their sleeve.
It could still turn out ok, but it probably won’t be a Superman movie. It will be a Batman Superman team up movie.
Micheal keaton,Val Kilmar or if they can afford him George Clooney, they need someone who needs no introduction or set up as Bats.All those guys are basicly old enough to play a retired Batman convincingly enough.
You know, if he got back into shape I really wouldn’t be against seeing Val Kilmer take another run at Batman. I know hating on him is a popular past-time, but I’ve always found him to be a good actor. Usually better than the movies he was in deserved.
Is there a petition to sign to bring back CHRISTIAN BALE!!
The new Batman NEEDS to be Armie Hammer.
His acting ability is displayed in Social Network (Long Ranger sucked, acting was questionable), but man he has the perfect height and build, and most importantly the PERFECT voice to be Batman.
Please please do it.
yuk, no thanks.
“The film is slated for release in 2015 and will chiefly comprise of the same creative team that brought us Man of Steel … Zack Snyder returning to the director’s chair.”
Excitement evaporated.
This all hinges on who they select to portray Batman.
I don’t think they need to do another origin’s story at this time.
We need to know that Batman can stand the physicality of going toe to toe with Superman.
I would expect them to look at people with the physique like Tom Hardy who could portray the playboy billionaire then wear the suit and have a physical presence to match Henry Cavil.
Batman + Superman = 2 heroes = Snyder’s 2nd superhero film = 3 – 1 = Halflife 3 cancelled.