With Avengers: Age of Ultron and Batman vs. Superman both hitting theaters, summer 2015 may be the biggest season ever for superhero fans the world over (and should add a mountain of fuel to the futile Marvel versus DC debate). Last week's release of Thor: The Dark World may have set the stage for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in the last week, the epic confrontation between DC Comics' two flagship characters has flooded the rumor mill.

For months, fans have known that Batman vs. Superman will release in 2015 and feature Man of Steel star Henry Cavill facing off against Ben Affleck as the new Batman. However, recent buzz has indicated that the film could feature appearances from Wonder Woman, Nightwing, Green Arrow and other heroes in order to setup the inevitable Justice League film. While none of that information has been confirmed, we do have an update on one aspect of the new movie, namely the new Batsuit.

Filmmaker (and podcaster) Kevin Smith hosted a live Man of Steel event over the weekend with director Zack Snyder, and although no details on the sequel were revealed, Smith apparently got a look at the new Batman suit afterwards and offered a few tidbits on his weekly Hollywood Babble-On podcast. Here's what Smith had to say:

"I saw the Batman costume. More than that, I saw a picture of [Ben Affleck] in the costume...I don't want to give anything away 'cause that is up to them and stuff, but I am going to say this...I instantly bear hugged [Snyder]. You have not seen this costume on film before. For a comic book fan, it was mind-bending… Because every other movie does this Matrix-y black armor thing...There wasn't a single nipple on this suit. I think everyone is just gonna be like 'Holy S**t!' It's its own thing. We haven't been down this path before. Even the hardest core [most skeptical] person will be like 'Alright, I'm ready.'...It seemed like it was very [Redacted] influenced."

Batman Superman Movie Logo

That last bit was bleeped out on Smith's own podcast, presumably in an effort to avoid divulging too much information regarding the new Batman suit. However, given Smith's admiration of Frank Miller's seminal graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, it's fair to guess that Snyder's film may be taking its design cues from that version of the character. After all, if Bruce Wayne is truly going to battle Superman head-on, he will need a more durable, fortified suit for the occasion, and if true, this would fit with previous rumors of the suit's design as well as the "tired, weary and seasoned" Batman that we know Affleck will be playing. Moreover, the fact that WB used a quote directly from Miller's work to announce the Batman/Superman film lends credibility to the thought that Snyder may be looking at The Dark Knight Returns for inspiration.

Regardless of whether or not Smith truly was referring to Miller, the above quote may alleviate fans' worries about how this new Batman will turn out. We've long assumed that Snyder's take on the character would hew more closely to the realistic take of Nolan's The Dark Knight (at the very least, Affleck's Batman should be able to turn his head) rather than the sillier design of the Joel Schumacher productions (i.e. Bat-nipples). However, Smith's assurance that the suit is unlike anything that has been seen onscreen is particularly reassuring and will surely make yet another big-screen version of Bruce Wayne's alter-ego (especially coming so soon after The Dark Knight Rises) feel less superfluous.

Do you feel more confident in what Affleck's Batman will look like, given Smith's comments? Or are you still waiting to see the new suit for yourself? Let us know in the comments.

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Batman vs. Superman will hit theaters on July 17, 2015.

Source: Hollywood Babble-On