( CM ) - Bryan Singer has confirmed that there will be a sequel to Superman Returns and has promised high-octane action for the movie.
The director has said that the follow-up to the 2006 film, which has been rumoured since October of that year, is now in development.
Though he did not address speculation that Transformers writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci would be scripting the sequel, the X-Men helmer told Empire magazine that Clark Kent will be returning to the big screen in the near future.
"I'm just getting back with writers after the strike. We're just in the development phase," he explained.
"I'm starting to develop a sequel... with the intention of directing it."
Singer admitted that Superman Returns, which received a harsh critical response, may not have pleased all of the fans of the DC Comics character and was a "romantic film and a nostalgic film".
"I'll be the first person to own up to that without making any apologies for it," he added.
"Now that the characters are established, there's really an opportunity to up the threat levels.
"Clearly there'll be a body count," he joked. "From frame one, it will be unrelenting terror!"
However, Singer expressed his disbelief at claims that Superman Returns was a box office disappointment, pointing to the fact it took $400 million worldwide.
"I don't know what constitutes under-performing these days," he went on.
"Perhaps some people went in with the expectation of it being like an X-Men film, and Superman is a tougher character than that. Especially bringing him back.
"It really goes back to the fact that you can only please some of the people some of the time."
Brandon Routh, largely unknown before his casting as the superhero, is likely to return as Superman in the follow-up.