For anyone who has argued about whether Superman or Batman would win in a fight, Hollywood hopes to have an answer by 2015.
The sequel to Man of Steel will see the two super-heroes take on each other. The news comes after the announcement that the animated Simpsons family are to appear in an episode of its fellow cartoon, Family Guy, some time next year.
“Fictional crossover”, as it is known, is popular in comic books and video games and although it has history in the world of film (see the 1962 Japanese hit King Kong vs Godzilla), it has recently become much more popular in Hollywood.
Aliens vs Predator, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Wreck-It Ralph have all made it to the big screen.
Perhaps most successful of all (and the reason, some argue, for the Batman vs Superman film) has been Marvel’s Avengers series, which combines the likes of Captain America, Iron Man and The Hulk into single blockbusters.
One problem is that when “good” characters come into conflict, it will be a case of friendly fire.
But Stephen Eire, president of worldofsuperheroes.com, believes there is enough of a precedent to follow.
“On the first meeting, through some misunderstanding they end up fighting each other,” he told Radio 4’s Today.
“Then they realise they are on the same side and move forward to fight usually two of their most dangerous villains.”
Superman and Batman are from the DC Comics stable. But superhero cynics could suggest Batman vs Superman represents the latest in a series of overly safe bets for blockbusters. – The Independent