After months of talk from Bryan Singer about a sequel to Superman Returns, only now – as the first film finally reaches $200 million gross in the States and $390 million across the world – are co-financiers Warners and Legendary Pictures ready to even consider making a second film.
Singer has now locked down a deal to start development of a follow-up, which, if he gets his way, will take to the cinematic skies in summer 2009. But first he’s going to have to get the script into shape and work out how to deliver more action when he knows the studio will want to keep the budget lower this time around.
We doubt the franchise is finished – chances are we’ll see the second film as planned – but this latest deal is by no means a sure thing. Ask us again when the greenlight is flashing and the sets are being built.