Like many comic book movies, we seem to have been talking about Man Of Steel 2 for years now. While the first film launched the DC Extended Universe in 2013, it was quite divisive, and talk of a sequel became a big part of that debate. For a time, Zack Snyder suggested that Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice would be a sequel of sorts and, while that may be true in terms of chronology, it certainly did feel more like a Batman movie than a Man Of Steel flick.
But, now that the DCEU is taking shape, and very much finding its feet in terms of future film scheduling, the Man Of Steel 2 question has gained more ground. Fans rejoiced when Dany Garcia – manager of Henry Cavill, and producer of Shazam – confirmed to Newsweek that the film is in active development. More importantly, her comments confirmed that Henry Cavill is in the process of taking a firmer hold of the reins on the character of Superman.
“Henry has a big appetite. We’ve been in a five-month period of time where he’s re-strategizing, acquiring property [for his production company Promethean], he’s filming [Justice League] now, he’s in development for the Superman standalone… he’s beginning to expand that world.”
It is, perhaps, conspicuous that this news comes after the making and release of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, which saw Cavill work closely with filmmaker Ben Affleck who is himself taking the reins on a Batman standalone film. In addition, as any Henry Cavill interview demonstrates, the actor has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the Man Of Steel, including an impressive analysis of his psychology and motivations.
If this is the direction the DCEU will be heading in – with Affleck guiding his Batman, Cavill guiding his Superman, and Margot Robbie guiding her Harley Quinn – then we’re in for some very exciting developments indeed, including Man Of Steel 2.