'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' Release Date, Spoilers and Movie Lineup

Jun 02, 2014 11:22 AM EDT

Writer/director Kevin Smith recently announced that the film 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' is going to be first part of a long line of Justice League films, by DC Comics and Warner Brothers Pictures.

This new development comes from the ComicBook.com blog, which last week transcribed a comment Smith made over the latest Hollywood Babble-On podcast.

"They're obviously beginning something, and there's a stretch of these flick," Smith said in the Hollywood Babble-On podcast. "They're just going to keep building their [Justice League] universe for about five or six movies."

For the initiated, Batman and Superman are longtime members of the Justice League that includes various DC comic book heroes including Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Hawk Woman, Aqua Man, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg.

It is no secret that Kevin Smith has intimate knowledge of production details due to his very public friendship with actor Ben Affleck, who stars as Batman in the upcoming flick. Smith said that Batman's suit was not coming in black -- a dramatic departure from the Batman suit in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy.

'Batman vs. Superman' is expected to be DC's latest challenge to the Avengers film series of Marvel Comics, which has recently branched out into television. Ever since the first Avengers film debuted in 2012, DC has been playing a game of catch-up with its bitter rival.

So, it comes as no surprise that DC chose Zack Snyder, director of 2013's 'Man of Steel', to helm what seems to be the first installment in Justice League film franchise. Henry Cavill, who starred as Superman in 'Man of Steel,' is reprising his role in 'Batman Vs. Superman'. Cavill's co-star Ben Affleck replaces Christian Slater in the role of Batman.

Fans of the previous trilogy may be disappointed to hear that there is no evidence that suggests 'Batman Vs. Superman' will continue from the Nolan-storyline. More likely, the upcoming DC-comics film is continuing on from 'Man of Steel' story, which left off with Superman killing his enemy General Zod, who was played by Michael Shannon.

The 'Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice' premiere date is scheduled for May 6, 2016.