Why did Superman Returns not receive a sequel?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Christopher Reeve as Superman in a blue suit with red cape and yellow belt, flying with one arm forward against a dark background in a publicity still from Superman: The Movie. — Superman Christopher Reeve in *Superman* (1978), directed by Richard Donner.

Warner Brothers canceled plans for a sequel to the 2006 film Superman Returns primarily because the movie was a box-office disappointment. Following this performance, the studio opted to move in a different direction by hiring director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter David S. Goyer to reboot the Superman film franchise, which eventually led to the 2013 release of Man of Steel.1