Warner Bros. has reportedly shortlisted "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams to direct "Man of Steel 2."

There have been reports that following the negative reviews received by "Suicide Squad" and "Batman v Superman," the studio has prioritized the filming of the "Man of Steel" sequel. Interestingly, considering the sweeping success of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek," Warner Bros. is reportedly tapping J.J. Abrams to take the helm of the upcoming project.

For the past years, the DC Extended Universe films of Warner Bros. have been mostly a flop. Unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DCEU has consistently struggled with successfully bringing the screen adaptations of their comic book superheroes.  

Rumors have it that as the studio braces up for the "Man of Steel" sequel, and considering the director's knack for directing box office hits, Warner is considering the famed director to do the directorial job for "Man of Steel 2."

Directed by Abrams, "The Force Awakens" was a box office phenomenon that successfully rekindled public interest in the "Star Wars" franchise. The successful relaunch of the "Star Trek" franchise was also attributed to the director, helping cement his reputation in the film industry.

According to reports, other names in Warner's shortlist include Doug Liman and Edgar Wright. However, reports claim that Liman is currently busy with the "Edge of Tomorrow" sequel and the "Gambit" spinoff. On the other hand, Wright is highly unlikely to accept a superhero-themed project.

The "Man of Steel" sequel is slated for release sometime in October 2018.