Superman and Batman will unite on film, Warner confirms at Comic-Con Superman and Batman will share the big screen for the first time, surprise guest Zack Snyder revealed to 6,500 fans in Comic-Con's Hall H on Saturday. The announcement confirms the news Hero Complex broke this morning about the project. "I know there's been a lot of speculation about what we're doing," the "Man of Steel" director teased the audience when he took the stage at the end of the Warner Bros. panel. It's official that we are going to make another Superman movie.... I sort of pored through the DC universe to look for a way to tell this thing ... and I came across a thing that I feel sort of sums it up. Harry Lennix, who played Gen. Swanwick in "Man of Steel," then took the microphone and read a famous excerpt from Frank Miller's landmark comic "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns": "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. Superman's logo appeared on the screen, and then, slowly, the Batman symbol faded in behind it. The Hall H audience erupted in applause, cheers and outright screaming, many fans leaping to their feet and throwing their fists into the air. The film will not be adapted from "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns," Snyder said, and it is still being written. Production is expected to begin next year, with a summer 2015 release date. "Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder in New York on June 10, 2013. Henry Cavill will reprise his titular "Man of Steel" role, Warner Bros. announced in a news release, and the new Batman has yet to be cast. Also returning from "Man of Steel" are Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane. Snyder is directing, as well as co-writing the story with David S. Goyer, who is to pen the screenplay. Goyer co-wrote "The Dark Knight" trilogy with Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan. The film's announcement follows the box-office success of this summer's "Man of Steel," which took in more than $630 million worldwide. "Zack Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he's a fan first, and he utterly gets this genre," Greg Silverman, president of Warner Bros. creative development, said in the news release. We could not think of anyone better suited to the task of bringing these iconic superheroes to the screen in his own way. "Man of Steel" producers Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are returning as producers, and Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are serving as executive producers on the upcoming Batman-Superman film, along with Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan. "Whilst our "Dark Knight" trilogy is complete, we have every confidence that Zack's fresh interpretation will take the character in a new and exciting direction," Christopher Nolan said in the news release. His vision for Superman opened the door to a while new universe, and we can't wait to see what Zack does with these characters. Snyder said he was excited to work with Cavill again and to expand the DC Universe. COMIC-CON PHOTOS: Cosplay costumes, in all their crazy glory "Let's face it, it's beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest superheroes in the world," Snyder said in the news release. The announcement was the capstone of the joint Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures panel, which also featured spotlights on Alfonso Cuaron's highly anticipated space thriller "Gravity," the Tom Cruise sci-fi film "Edge of Tomorrow" and the upcoming animated feature "The Lego Movie." Comic-Con International continues through Sunday, as more than 130,000 entertainment professionals and enthusiasts gather at the San Diego Convention Center for the annual pop culture expo. Superman at 75: 10 key comic covers "Man of Steel": 50 images from Snyder's film Henry Cavill knows how Clark Kent feels "Man of Steel": Zack Snyder tries reconstruction Goyer: Superman will always "have the edge" Zack Snyder: Superman "must be taken seriously" Snyder on "Justice League": "The door is definitely open" Superman gets new logo for 75th anniversary Superman comic worth $100k found in abandoned house QUIZ: How well do you know the Man of Steel?