Variety are running an interesting report concerning the next Superman film, dubbed Man of Steel,

“Superman Returns” scribes Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have opted not to come back and pen a sequel to the 2006 summer pic that would have reunited them with helmer Bryan Singer. The three also worked together on “X2: X-Men United.”

The article continues, stating that WB are now accepting pitches for new writers. There is also some speculation about the nature of the next movie, some saying that it will be revolutionised in the same way that the new Hulk feature is being improved, whilst the WB are adamant that it will remain a true sequel to Superman Returns.

The ever informative and interesting Quint over at AICN has heard some rumors circulating about the next Superman movie involving one particular actor from Superman I and II reprising his role. I’ll let Quint Continue…

This [source] has personally observed Bryan Singer at work on VALKYRIE and apparently [Singer] has been putting pressure on one of his cast members to return to his star-making role as a villain in Singer’s SUPERMAN sequel.

That, of course, would be Terence Stamp, the role would be that of General Zod.

For some background reading on the Zod subject I recommend Wikipedia, which has summaries of Zod’s history and role within the Superman movie universe.

Once Military Director of the Kryptonian Space Center, Zod had known Jor-El, Superman’s father, when he was an aspiring scientist. When the space program was abolished after the destruction of the moon Wegthor (caused by renegade scientist Jax-Ur), he attempted to take over Krypton. Zod created an army of robotic duplicates of himself, all bearing a resemblance to Bizarro. He was sentenced to the Phantom Zone for his crimes.