Despite director Bryan Singer's assurances that he will direct a sequel to "Superman Returns," Warner Bros is not so sure. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film only grossed $201 million domestic, which sounds impressive right up until the $209 million price tag comes into view, and the nearly $90 million advertising bill. 

Warner studio president and CEO Alan Horn said, "If we do a sequel to 'Superman,' we want it to be less expensive.  I have to see a screenplay before I say yes to anything. But the studio would be willing to spend as much as $175 million if the screenplay and other factors warranted it."

Over at Marvel, things aren't rosier on the Spider side of life.  "Spider-Man 3" was much more expensive to produce than its predecessors, and the price tag will only get bigger, especially with series stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst making noises (even before the release) about being unwilling to return.

Series producer Laura Ziskin said, "It would be great to have everybody back, but no one is going to sign on the dotted line until we have a script. These are the questions being discussed now. The one thing we have answered definitively is: There will be more Spider-Man movies. We just haven't answered what shape they will come in and (Sony) hasn't given us a release date."