Comic-Con: Batman and Superman to team up in new film

The DC Entertainment bombshell came at the end of an action-packed session in Hall H as the two superhero logos merged on the giant screen and amid wild cheers Snyder took to the stage to declare: “It’s official that we are going to make another Superman movie.”

Warner Bros confirmed the news in a press release shortly after the event. Henry Cavill will reprise his role in the wake of the global success of Man Of Steel, which has grossed more than $630m worldwide.

The hunt is on for a new actor to portray Batman, given that Christian Bale has said publicly he has gone as far as he needs to go with the character.

Man Of Steel co-stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane will return. Snyder and David Goyer will write the story and the latter will write the screenplay for a likely 2014 production start ahead of an anticipated summer 2015 release.

In the subsequent studio release, Snyder said: “Let’s face it, it’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes [sic] in the world.”

Tom Cruise

And that was merely the denouement of a high-octane Warner Bros panel that delivered a first Comic-Con appearance by Tom Cruise to talk up the Warner Bros and Village Roadshow tentpole Edge Of Tomorrow, until recently known as All You Need Is Kill.

Cruise introduced footage from the alien invasion film and said: “I just want to entertain you all. It’s a dream of mine and an honour. Every day I think what I’d like to see or what you’d like to see.”

Doug Liman directs Edge Of Tomorrow and Emily Blunt also stars. The film is set to open on Jun 6, 2014.

Godzilla

Gareth Edwards only wrapped production on Godzilla two days ago but found time to come to San Diego and show footage from Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment’s forthcoming tentpole, set to open on May 16, 2014.

The studios showed teaser footage last year and this year Edwards brought more, introducing a sequence in which partially revealed Godzilla was shaping up for a showdown with some giant spiny creatures.

Edwards was joined on stage by cast members Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston.

Gravity

In another segment Alfonso Cuaron came on to talk about his sci-fi thriller Gravity, which is set to open on Oct 4. The filmmaker introduced a sequence where Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are assailed by debris as they perform a spacewalk.

Sandra Bullock then walked on stage in her maiden Comic-Con appearance to thunderous applause and discussed the film with Cuaron.

Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green and Rodrigo Santoro joined director Norm Murro for the 300: Rise Of An Empire panel. Murro showed footage that included Green as the god-king Xerxes’ formidable warrior Artemisia leading a fleet into battle.

During the section on Warner Bros and Village Roadshow’s The LEGO Movie it emerged that Channing Tatum will voice the character of Superman while Jonah Hill is on board as Green Lantern. The family film opens on Feb 7, 2014.

Footage from Seventh Son starring Jeff Bridges drew a relatively lukewarm reaction. Jeff Bridges walked on to talk about the fantasy adventure also starring Julianne Moore. The film opens on Jan 17, 2014.

Warner Bros and Legendary also showed teaser footage in which a man fights an orc before the World Of Warcraft logo appeared and drew wild cheers. Legendary head Thomas Tull introduced Duncan Jones who said he was ready to start filming in early 2014.