4. Nolan's Trilogy Is Still In The Public Consciousness
When Superman vs Batman is released on July 17, 2015 it will be almost exactly three years since the release of The Dark Knight Rises. While three years is generally a suitable time for a straightforward sequel to be released, it seems to be a little too soon after the conclusion to a critically-lauded trilogy that not only included two billion dollar movies, but is almost indisputably the pinnacle of the superhero genre.
Put it simply; these days when people think Batman on film, they immediately think of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy with Christian Bale under the cape and cowl. Despite the fact there were only three years between
Batman Returns and
Batman Forever, and only two between
Batman Forever and
Batman and Robin, these were re-castings under the same continuity (with the notable exception of Harvey Dent) as opposed to a full-blown reboot. With
Nolan's influence on
Man of Steel clear in terms of tone and aesthetic (and his role as executive producer), it will be interesting to see how Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck will differentiate their take on The Caped Crusader in the long-awaited superhero showdown, especially so soon after a trilogy that remains immensely popular.