By the time we actually see another standaloneSupermanmovie in the DC Extended Universe, it will have probably been at least six years sinceMan of Steel, which came out in 2013. Warner Bros. is going to make it happen at some point andMan of Steel 2is in the development process. One of the next steps will be getting a director attached to help get the movie in shape and it looks likeJurassic World 2directorJ.A. Bayonawould possibly be interested in the job, should Warner Bros. come knocking.
The director recently did an AMA onRedditin order to promote his latest movieA Monster Calls, which is currently getting some serious awards season buzz. During the course of the AMA,J.A. Bayonarevealed that the 1978Richard DonnerSupermanwas the first movie he ever saw and that helped him decided he wanted to be a filmmaker. Here is what he had had to say.
“The first movie I saw in my life wasSuperman. I was three years old. The first memory I had wasChristopher Reeveflying in the suit. Directing a Superman film would be great. I always wanted to be Superman. That’s the film that made me want to become a director.”
We reported several months ago thatMan of Steel 2is in active development and that Warner Bros. is considering it a major priority moving forward. It also seems likeZack Snyderwon’t be returning to the director’s chair for the upcoming sequel, so Warner Bros. will need to find someone who can. Occasionally, filmmakers can sort of will a project into existence by publicly expressing their desire to do it. So who knows? MaybeJ.A. Bayonawill wind up on the shortlist forMan of Steel 2. Assuming he does a good job withJurassic World 2, he’ll surely be in line for quite a few big jobs in the near future. He has certainly already made it clear he has talent withThe ImpossibleandThe Orphanage, as well as withA Monster Calls, by most accounts from those who have already seen it.
As forJurassic World 2, the movie is currently getting its cast together and readying for a production that is supposed to start next month. The movie will primarily be shot in the U.K. but will also be shooting some scenes in Hawaii, presumably because at least some of the movie will be taking place at the now surely closed down dinosaur theme park, given what happened in the firstJurassic World. Outside of that, we don’t know much aboutJurassic World 2in terms of plot, but we do know thatChris PrattandBryce Dallas Howardwill both be returning and that it won’t just be dinosaurs chasing people around on an island.J.A. Bayonais taking over directing duties fromColin Trevorrow, who will be busy withStar Wars: Episode IX, but he is still producing and co-writing the script forJurassic World 2.
If we assume thatJ.A. Bayonaat least makes a movie as good as the firstJurassic World, when you throw all of his talents in a blender, he seems like the perfect guy to tackle aSupermanmovie. He can do big action, he can do serious emotion and afterJurassic World 2, it will be clear he can make a massive blockbuster. The DC Extended Universe isn’t exactly in the best of places after bothBatman V Superman: Dawn of JusticeandSuicide Squadfailed to impress most critics and divided fans. Superman, specifically, has been treated poorly on screen in the eyes of many fans, despite having an actor inHenry Cavillwho is very dedicated and seems like he was born to play the part. So having a guy likeJ.A. BayonatackleMan of Steel 2could be just what the DCEU needs. We’ll have to see how things go withJurassic World 2first, which is scheduled for release on July 20, 2025.
