Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment announced today at SDCC that pre-production has begun on a new superhero movie that will bring DC icons Superman and Batman together onscreen for the first time. Man of Steel director Zack Snyder is attached to helm the project from a script by David S. Goyer.

DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson said:

Superman and Batman together on the big screen is a dream come true for DC fans everywhere. All of us at DC Entertainment could not be more excited for Zack’s continuing vision for the DC Universe.

The new film will have Man of Steel actors Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane reprising their roles. Batman will be played by Ben Affleck, steps in for Christian Bale, who played the Caped Crusader in Warner Bros. recent Dark Knight trilogy, but opted out of playing the role in future projects.

Zack Snyder said:

I’m so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can’t wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let’s face it, it’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world.

Production on the Superman/Batman film is slated to begin in 2014 for a summer 2015 release.