As we prepare to see how Superman will be brought back from the dead later this year in Justice League, one of the many DC Extended Universe projects Warner Bros has in development is another solo movie for the Kryptonian hero. It was reported earlier this year that Kingsman: The Golden Circle director Matthew Vaughn was being eyed to helm Man of Steel 2, and Vaughn confirmed last week that there have indeed been talks, though nothing has been officially decided yet. However, if Vaughn scored the opportunity to direct a Superman movie, his priority would be to make a more modern version of the Superman movie helmed by Richard Donner. Vaughn explained:
Weirdly if I did do Superman---and I made the mistake of telling someone yesterday I have spoken about it and then wallop (laughs)---I think my main take would be, it's really boring but make a Superman film. I just don't feel a proper Superman---I think Donner did it to perfection for that time. Just doing the modern---I wanna do a modern version of the Donner [version]. Go back to the source material... For me Superman is color, feel-good, heroic. He's a beacon of light in darkness. And that's what I think Superman should be.
Seven years after Superman Returns failed to launch a new Superman film series, Zack Snyder rebooted the superhero in 2013 with Man of Steel, a movie that was significantly darker than the previous theatrical tales centered on Kal-El/Clark Kent. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice arguably went even darker with its use of Superman last year, so as Matthew Vaughn told Collider, he's keen on giving audiences a Superman movie that tonally more similar to what Richard Donner delivered to audiences in 1978. Something that feels lighter and further emphasizes how inspirational the Kryptonian is to his adoptive people. Given how successful Wonder Woman has been, perhaps Vaughn would take a cue from Patty Jenkins' work for Man of Steel 2 in addition to harkening back to the Donner years.
When we last left off with Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he had sacrificed his life to defeat Doomsday, though it was foreshadowed minutes later that the death would not stick, as is the norm in comic book stories. Sure enough, the Man of Steel will somehow be resurrected in Justice League, and perhaps the events of that movie could lay the groundwork for the tonal shift Matthew Vaughn wants in in Man of Steel 2. Superman clearly struggled with being Earth's protector in Batman v Superman due to the public's mixed reception to his existence, many seeing him as a benevolent god-like figure, others seeing him as a menace. However, with Justice League leaning more heavily into Superman having been a beacon of hope, his rebirth will hopefully draw more people to support him as a hero when Man of Steel 2 rolls around, thus producing a more positive atmosphere.
You can see Henry Cavill's Superman back on the silver screen when Justice League is released on November 17. You can also look through our DCEU guide to find out what other movies are in development for the franchise.
