"Batman vs. Superman" was delayed to a 2016 release, which has caused many to speculate why the film was pushed back.  Filmmaker Kevin Smith claims it has nothing to do with the "Man of Steel" series, but Warner Bros. attempting to keep a "Justice League" movie under wraps.

Smith stated his case in the most recent "Fatman on Batman" podcast.  The filmmaker believes the delay along with casting both Batman and Wonder Woman are indicators that there is something more brewing in the "Man of Steel 2" camp.

"Why do we think [it's a 'Justice League' movie]?  Why is this rumor circulating out there? Well, of course from the obvious Batman and Superman pair up that we know is coming with Ben Affleck playing Batman, they've added since the last time we did the show, Wonder Woman," Smith said.

"You've already got Batman, you've got Superman, you've got Wonder Woman," Smith added.  "There's your trinity, right there. Then, there's a rumor that perhaps Aquaman is going to be joining the cast.  And there's a rumor that the John Stewart Green Lantern will be joining the cast. So if that's the case kiddies, smells like we've got ourselves a secret Justice League movie brewing, so good for Zack Snyder and David Goyer."

If it were a "Justice League" movie, the film's original release date, July 17, 2015, would have been competing for box office sales with Marvel's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" big screen release.  The "Avengers" sequel is slated to hit theaters May 1, 2015. 

There is a possibility DC doesn't want to compete with Marvel's "Avengers", but Smith had another theory.  The filmmaker believes the film originally began as a "Man of Steel" sequel, but somewhere down the line turned into a "Justice League" film with the addition of characters.

"The official reason that they've given is that it's going to take more time to execute Zack Snyder's vision for this movie than they believed in the beginning, which lends toward the whole 'I think this is the Justice League movie,'" Smith explained in the "Fatman" podcast.  "Because now they're going, **** it, we have three characters in...let's do another draft...let's get Arthur in there, you know, let's get John Stewart in there." (Listen to the podcast here) 

Do you think "Batman vs. Superman" is actually a "Justice League" film?  Let us know in the comments section below.