Although there have been no recent hints of a second stand-alone Superman film in the expanded Warner Bros. DC Cinematic Universe, back in 2014 a Man of Steel sequel was slated for 2018 (see “Warners’ DC Film Schedule”).  Now according to The Wrap, which cites as a source an insider “familiar with the project,” a sequel to Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel is back in “active development” at Warner Bros., and might just debut in 2018.  Superman, in the person of Henry Cavill, will return to the screen next in the first half of Snyder’s Justice League film that is due next year (see “Best in Shows Q4 2017”).

The Wrap even speculates that the Man of Steel sequel could possibly take the October 5, 2018 date reserved for an as-yet-unnamed DC film (see “Best in Shows, Q4 2018”), or perhaps the Nov.1, 2019 date the studio has long reserved for another mystery DC superhero film (see “Best in Shows, Q4, 2019”).  Either of those dates is possible of course (though 2018 would appear to be a real stretch), but a lot will depend on the performance of Suicide Squad, which got off to a rousing start last weekend, and next year’s Justice League Part One.  If these “multi-protagonist” films do extremely well, Warners may want to back off the Man of Steel sequel, which is bound to be a pricey production.  After all Man of Steel earned $668 million worldwide versus $872 million for the multi-heroed Batman v. Superman.