Superman

Ben Affleck is the new Batman

Husam "Sam" Asi

Ben Affleck

Actor-director Ben Affleck will play the Dark Knight in the upcoming sequel of Man of Steel, which will feature the two superheros, Batman and Superman, for the first time.

The 41-year-old star will be replacing Christian Bale, and will face 30-year-old Henry Cavil, who will reprise the role of Superman.

Zack Snyder, who will be directing the blockbuster, said in a statement: “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne, I can’t wait to work with him.”

Ben Affleck’s movie, Argo, won the Oscar for Best Picture this year. He also shared an Oscar with Matt Damon for writing Good Will Hunting in 1998. He may also direct Justice League.

The Batman-Superman project was announced last month at Comic Con. It will open worldwide on July 17, 2015.

A Superman-Batman movie is in the works

Husam "Sam" Asi

Having done reboots, sequels and prequels of Superman and Batman, Warner Bros, the studio behind the superheroes franchises, is going to pair them up in a new movie. The announcement was made at the Comic Con show in San Diego by the studio and the director, Zack Snyder, who has recently directed Man of Steel.

Since its June 14 release, Man of Steel has grossed $622 million worldwide. Last year, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises topped $1 billion in global box office. With such glowing numbers, the studio is confident that combining the two superheros in one movie will be a glorious success in the box office.

Such a formula has already made magic in the box office for Marvel’s Avengers, which featured Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk and Thor. The 2012 Disney release amassed over $1.5 billion worldwide to become the third all time box office grossers, after Titanic and Avatar.

Zack Snyder is currently working on the story with David S. Goyer, who penned The Dark Knight trilogy and Man of Steel. Production is expected to begin in 2014, with an anticipated release in summer 2015.

The movie is yet to be cast, for Christian Bale has said that he would not return to Batman, but Henry Cavill will reprise the Superman role.

“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,” Snyder said. “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.”

Christopher Nolan, who has his hands full with Interstellar, will only act as an executive producer alongside his producer wife, Emma Thomas.