DC Comics to 'explode' Superman and Batman universes

Los Angeles - Zack Snyder says the Man of Steel sequel "explodes" the Superman and Batman universes.

The 48-year-old star - who is helming the follow-up to 2013's adventure - is excited about letting the iconic superheroes "loose" in the forthcoming film and is thrilled they're not tied to the mythology" from which the characters originated.

Talking to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, he explained: "The movie literally takes the Man of Steel and Batman universes and explodes them. You're not as tied to the mythology. In Man of Steel, we had to create an origin story, a mythology, and there's a lot of energy into that, which we love doing. Don't get me wrong. But when you think about how fun it is too - now that you've got these characters - to now let 'em loose. That's fun!"

Snyder is "very excited" about the project, which will see Henry Cavill reprise his role as Superman alongside Ben Affleck as Batman, and plans to begin filming in the next few months.

He added: "We're getting ready to start shooting in a month or so. It's going great. I'm very excited. It's very fun to get into this world with different heroes coexisting in the same universe, but a lot of balls in the air as they say."