The lawsuit means that they can't plan sequels ahead.
Properties like Superman are always envisioned as franchises with many movies. I do get what you're saying though about movies that are set up several things for future sequels yet fail at the BO . Miami Vice is perfect example. There are several elements in that movie that aren't explained yet play a major role in the movie. I'm sure those elements would've been explained/expanded upon in the sequl(s).
WB just needs to focus on making a proper Superman movie and if buzz is very good and by some miracle they'll be allowed to make more sequels , then we could see early work on sequels being done while the first movie is still in production.
Disney is already beginning work on the Tron Legacy sequel.
WB has already ordered the script for the Green Lantern sequel to written based on early footage . Ditto Sherlock Holmes 2. The script for the 2nd Holmes movie was already being written before filming ended.
I do think that WB will keep things low key with comments like they're just going to do this Superman movie as a one time flick.
True -- no doubt the IP rights are affecting the WB's decision. That said, GreenKToo is also right in that the WB's goal here is to just make a good movie, if only to demonstrate that the Superman property (a) belongs with them and (b) that they know what they're doing. Face it, after Returns, many core fans were doing the facepalm and wondering how $200 million was spent on THAT.
I'm really grateful to the Nolans and Goyer. There is really no way the WB would make this movie if it weren't Nolan taking the lead because legally, there are too many unknowns to invest in another Superman film. IMHO, the license will stay with the WB, but it'll take a lot for them to keep it -- and possibly a while before it's all said and done. That's why the fact that Superman is coming again 2012 is really a blessing for the fans.
As I discussed in the IP thread, the Superman rights most likely (99%) are not going anywhere. Don't think for too long that the Siegel estate is going to walk away and sell Superman's copyright to someone else. It pretty much can't happen. The WB owns way too much of the derivative copyright for the Estate to sell it elsewhere, and with that in mind, no studio would dare try to buy it because of the legal jungle/nightmare it would have to undertake to sort out what belongs to the Siegel's and what belongs to the WB (under copyright law, anything the WB created is theirs). Remember all the Estate got back was Action Comics #1, and that is of course 1 book (albeit an important one) in a Superman mythos that spans thousands of stories (Lana Lang, the backstories of Smallville, Darkseid, Jimmy, etc.).
Clearly none of that the Estate would own. Thus, the end result will really just be the WB paying the Estate more money to use Superman. How much will depend on how far the lawyers for the Estate want to drag it out. In this case, it could be brutal, given the rift between the parties' attorneys. However, I don't think the Estate is going to buckle up since they really don't have anyone else to sell it to (which of course raises a host of other legal issues the Plaintiffs here can raise -- thus even more dragging out, more expert testimony, etc., etc., etc.).
Bottomline, though, Superman stays with the WB (or the Estate effectively "kills" him by dragging this into infinity). Economically speaking, copyright owners don't do that. Still, it could be a while before we see another Superman movie after the Nolan's take on it. Thank goodness we're going to get at least that.
Plus, Nolan and Goyer have one good Superman story to tell, and that's fine with me. Of course, I'm rooting for the older Superman. Sorry, I can't get off the Jon Hamm possibility. Make it happen, WB!