Zack Snyder doesn't plan to repeat the mistakes of Bryan Singer, whose Superman Returns was perhaps too beholden to Richard Donner's iconic 1978 film and its sequel, becoming an uneasy homage rather than the spark to reignite the franchise.

To that end, Snyder tells Hero Complex, he's approaching the Warner Bros. reboot from a fresh perspective, one that ignores the five films that came before it. Call it the Batman Begins Method. Or, considering his involvement in the new Superman, the Christopher Nolan Method.

“Literally, the one thing that everyone can start to think about is that we’re making a movie that finally goes with the approach that there’s been no other Superman movies,” he tells the Los Angeles Times blog. “If you look at Batman Begins, there’s that structure, there’s the canon that we know about and respect but on other hand there’s this approach that pre-supposes that there haven’t been any other movies. In every aspect of design and of story, the whole thing is very much from that perspective of respect the canon but don’t be a slave to the movies.”

The reboot, which will probably be called Man of Steel, stars Henry Cavill as Superman and Diane Lane as Martha Kent. Although rumors have linked Kevin Costner and Viggo Mortenson to the roles of Jonathan Kent and General Zod, respectively, Snyder isn't ready to make additional casting announcements yet: “There’s more to come and I think it’s consistent in its … awesomeness.”

The director also won't share details of Cavill's costume, but concedes it will likely be revealed sooner rather than later. "We’re going to have to show it before we shoot," he says, "probably a while before that because [otherwise] someone will be on the set and get a picture of it.”

The new Superman is written by David S. Goyer from a story by Goyer and producer Christopher Nolan. Charles Rovan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder also are producing. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are executive producers. Filming is expected to begin in June for a December 2012 release.

Meanwhile, Snyder's Sucker Punch opens on March 25.