During San Diego Comic-Con, director Zack Snyder announced that Batman would be appearing with Superman in the Man Of Steel followup by having actor Harry Lennix read a passage from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Harry Lennix said, “I want you to remember Clark in all the years to come. In all your most private moments, I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember, the one man who beat you.”While the Superman and Batman movie is not expected to be a straightforward adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns, it is likely that the film will take elements from The Dark Knight Returns. As first reported by Comicbook.com, Man Of Steel screenwriter David S. Goyer indicated at a Superman 75th Anniversary panel at Comic-Con that the title would include “versus.” David S. Goyer said, “So over in Hall H at the Warner Bros.–I guess most people know now–at the end of the Warner Bros. panel, Zack came out and he brought Harry Lennix, who plays General Swanwick in Man of Steel and we–actually, Harry read a bit from [The Dark Knight Returns] and so the next film we’re making, we’re already in pre-production, comes out in summer of 2015 and it’s–we’re actually not sure whether the title is Superman vs. Batman or Batman vs. Superman but yes, it’s–that rematch, that combination, the two guys onscreen and that’s happening.Even with elements of The Dark Knight Returns likely being used, it wasn’t clear from the announcement if The Dark Knight Returns writer Frank Miller would have any involvement in the film. More often than not it seems comic book writers often get left out of the picture when parts of their work are brought to the big screen. However, the Independent is reporting that a source close to Frank Miller has told them that Frank Miller will actually be meeting with director Zack Snyder to advise on the Superman and Batman film. Whether this is just a friendly lunch, an actual role in crafting the script, or is even really going to take place is unclear at the moment. The Independent’s source also indicated that Frank Miller had no knowledge of the announcement in advance and that the meeting with Zack Snyder would take place in the next few days.
