According to a report from The Wrap, Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing "Man of Steel 2" back on track. The studio has yet to make a formal announcement but the report states that the film is now a top priority, which means it won't be long until the studio starts hunting for a director and getting a script done in order for the project to enter production soon.
"Man of Steel 2" was reportedly going to be the next film following 2013's "Man of Steel" but the sequel was altered during development in order to introduce Batman (Ben Affleck) into the DCEU, and this became "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."
[Spoiler Warning] Fans will recall that Superman (Henry Cavill) died at the end of "Batman v Superman" but right before the credits, it is hinted that he will be coming back when a clip showcases the soil and pebbles rising off his coffin. Superman has also been shown prominently in the promotional image for "Justice League," hinting he will return before or during that film's events.
Cinema Blend points out that the DCEU slate is filled until 2018, with "Wonder Woman," "Justice League" and "Aquaman" already scheduled. "Wonder Woman" will launch on June 2, 2017, followed by "Justice League" on Nov 17, 2017. "Aquaman" will be the last film scheduled as it opens on July 27, 2018.
It is further pointed out that Warner Bros. Pictures has two untitled DCEU films for Oct. 5, 2018 and Nov. 1, 2019. The standalone "Batman" film has yet to be given a release date and it is possible that it will be given one of those release dates. There is also the standalone "Flash" film which might take the 2019 slot, leaving "Man of Steel 2" to launch in summer 2019 or 2020.
According to the report, there are still a lot of stories from the comic books for "Man of Steel 2" to take inspiration from. The superhero has yet to face villains like Brainiac and Bizzaro in the DCEU and any of these could be the antagonist for the film.
