It's official: Bryan Singer has signed on the dotted line and will direct the sequel to Superman Returns. Bryan will deliver the second movie (or sixth if you're an old-school fan that's keeping count) sometime in the summer of 2009. Star Brandon Routh is under contract to return if the studio wants him back, and we can't see a reason why he wouldn't don the red and blue jumpsuit again.

Superman Returns cost at least $209 million to make, and when you add on the $40 to $50 million in development costs for the aborted versions of the film (we're looking at you, Tim Burton and McG!), the cost is starting to approach $300 million. Returns earned $200 million from North American audiences during its theatrical run and almost double that worldwide, and once the earnings from home video, cable and television showings are factored in the film will make a profit for its investors. Still, rumor has it that the Superman sequel won't have the same budget as Singer's first movie and will likely hover around $140 million. The director also hinted at Comic Con this past year that he wants to go "Wrath of Khan" on the follow-up, delivering more action and possibly a bad guy from space for the son of Jor-El to fight against. Brainiac? Doomsday? Darkseid? Mongul? Terrence Stamp?

Superman Returns will be released on DVD on November 28th, 2006.