Superman, Batman to unite on the big screen

  • Warner Bros. announces the pairing at Comic-Con in San Diego
  • "Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder will direct the film
  • Current Superman Henry Cavill will star, but Batman Christian Bale will not
  • This summer's "Man of Steel" broke the record for biggest June opening

(CNN) -- This summer's Superman blockbuster is getting a sequel -- and it's going to unite the Man of Steel with the Caped Crusader for the first time on the big screen.

Warner Bros. Pictures announced Saturday at Comic-Con that Superman will pair with his fellow Justice League hero Batman in the upcoming yet-to-be-named film, expected to begin production in 2014.

"Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder will direct the film, and current Superman Henry Cavill will star, Warner Bros. said. The new Batman has yet to be cast.

Snyder's reimagining of Superman in "Man of Steel" broke the record for the biggest June opening, taking in $125.1 million in its first weekend. It has since raked in a total of $630 million worldwide, Warner Bros. said.

"Superman and Batman together on the big screen is a dream come true for DC (Comics) fans everywhere," said Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment.

Snyder told Comic-Con fans he's excited to work with Cavill again and take the story to the next chapter.

"It's beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest superheroes in the world," he said.

Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane also return for the new film, Warner Bros. said.

Christian Bale, who starred as Batman in three film installments of "The Dark Knight," told CNN partner Entertainment Weekly this month that he wouldn't be starring in a fourth. "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan also said he wasn't opting for a fourth movie in the franchise, the magazine said.

Nolan will, however, have a hand in the upcoming Superman-Batman film -- he's serving as one of the executive producers, Warner Bros. said.

Warner Bros. and DC Comics, the publisher of "Superman" titles, are both units of Time Warner, CNN's parent company.

CNN's Henry Hanks contributed to this report.

CNN.com - Entertainment