Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread - Page 10

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Why are we talking about Welling as Superman in this thread anyway?

Aint gonna happen!

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I agree its a dead issue & this seems to be the wrong place to post about it.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

That's specious at best. I've never seen Joe Pesci in a Supes suit but I am gonna go out on a limb and opine that he would be bad for the role. But of course I can never truly know till I see it, eh?

--
H

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Come now, Holadem, you and I both know that's a ridiculous example.

Joe Pesci is obviously not right for that role but the same cannot be said for Welling with any degree of certaintly from either party no matter how certain I think I am that he could pull it off.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

That's probably because he WAS an android -- or rather entirely digital. A digital double was used pretty extensively in the action scenes.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Oh no no, he made the comment when the camera was on Routh' face right after he came in for a landing behind Lois' house and was watching her through the window.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

So.... is there any further word on the actual next movie?

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Here's what is known thus far...

-The working title is "Superman: The Man of Steel".

-Bryan Singer will return.

-Filming is set to begin in March of '08.

-WB doesn't want the budget to exceed $175 million (not counting advertising). Good luck with that. I think the movie could end up being more expensive than "Superman Returns" was, largely because all involved insist that 'Man of Steel' will be much more of an "epic, action/adventure" than the previous movie was.

-The script is currently being worked on.

-Orlando Bloom has been rumored to be up for a role in the movie.

-Lex Luthor will return.

-Singer said that there would be a new alien villain, most believe it'll be Brainiac.

-"New Krypton" will feature prominently in the plot (likely to be used as a base of operations of sorts by the film's alien villain).

-Expect part of the plot to focus on Jason's emerging powers.

-Singer and co. continue to promise that the movie will be MUCH more action oriented, being to "Superman Returns" what 'X2' was to "X-Men".

-The movie will hit theaters in the summer of 2009. No solid date has been locked down yet.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Great Superboy.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Pesci as Superman...now that would be interesting.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I hope WB doesn't go this route, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they did.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Thanks for the update!

As for the cost, bear in mind that the budget for Returns included all the money spent on the many false starts from the early 90s through the production of the actual movie. I can't even remember how many scripts and directors the project went through. I remember at various times Tim Burton, Kevin Smith, Nicolas Cage and even McG were involved.

So, Man of Steel at least will not have that sort of baggage attached to it. Its budget will be its own.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Actually, the budget of 'Returns', regardless of what the studio has been saying, was NOT part the $200 million-plus spent on the movie. Unofficially, WB spent upwards of $100 million on the many starts-and-stops of the 'Superman' production during the period of 1996 to 2004.

-Nicolas Cage walked away with $20 million (pay-or-play deal).

-Tim Burton was paid $10 million (pay-or-play deal).

-Both Brett Ratner and McG were also paid undisclosed amounts of money via their pay-or-play deals.

-ILM and Digital Domain were paid undisclosed amounts for all the pre-production and various FX tests they did for the many failed attempts.

-An undisclosed amount also went on the various costumes (including a series of rubber muscle suits) that Cage would have donned in the movie.

-Sets were built and ultimately destroyed.

-Many writers were paid undisclosed amounts for the many number of scripts that were commissioned. Kevin Smith once said that he had earned more money for his aborted "Superman Lives" script than he did for any of the movies he had done up until then (1997).

Despite what the studio has said, they spent many millions on the various failed Superman projects before Bryan Singer's take got the green light. The studio will NEVER cop to just how much was spent, but most speculate that it was in the neighborhood of $75 million to $100 million.

Added to the $200 million-plus cost of "Superman Returns" (WB admitted to a budget of $184 million before print and ad costs were factored in) you can see why many at the studio were disappointed by the movie "only" pulling in $200 million domestically. They were hoping for bigger numbers.

Based on the strength of 'X2', WB knows that Singer can deliver a helluva good action sequel once he's gotten all the exposition out of the way. This is why he was brought back for 'Man of Steel' and this is why the studio is extremely confident that Singer's sequel will end up being the biggest and best epic of the Superman franchise.

If the movie performs near to WB's lofty expectations, than Singer will no doubt ink an even fatter deal for the third movie and once again have a "blank check" with the studio (as he did for 'Returns'), much like Sony did with Sam Raimi on "Spider-Man 3".

As of now, WB execs believe that the only movie on the '09 summer schedule that they should be remotely worried about is Jim Cameron's "Avatar". Otherwise, they think if Singer delivers an action-packed sequel on par with 'X2' (which Singer has promised WB execs he would) that the movie will be a much bigger hit than 'Returns' was.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

In Goodfellas form.

My name is F___ing Superman...here to Fight F____ing truth, F_____ing justice, & all that F____ing stuff. What are you F_____ing looking at? Do I F_____ing amuse you?

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I thought Routh was the Superboy!

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Powers or not, Superboy or not; I think the only viable option for the character in a long-running franchise is to have him killed off.

I was surprised to find that I didn't mind the kid in Superman Returns because I felt that Superman realizing he has a kid did add some weight to his character. I also feel that Superman being with his son for while trying and be a father might be interesting. However a father son team is NOT what I want to see in a series of Superman films. Nor do I want to deal with teenage angst and drama between them.

So, whether it's in this sequel or the next I can't imagine that the son will last forever.
_______
EDIT:
Oh, wait! How about this: Instead of killing the kid off we just have Supes find out that it's not his son. Lois' memory was wiped, right? What if the father of her son is Zod?

Naah, too soap-opera. (Of course, killing the boy, or having Supes raising him are both pretty soap-opera anyway....)

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

To be fair, that's a pretty horrendous shot. That said, I'm still not entirely sure that it's not the digital double. They definitely used it in some shots they shouldn't have. The other problem is the contacts. They made his eyes look terribly artificial in a couple shots.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I'm sure he will be the manipulator to the main villain.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Loved Spacey in SR, and I agree that he will be a manipulator/instigator... maybe even an evil CEO

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Maybe he will be making a villain powered by the sun.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Chronicles of Riddick.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Nuclear Man may be just what the sequel needs. And perhaps, Bernie Mac as an eccentric foil to Routh's Superman?

Kidding, obviously.

In regards to the Returns sequel, my bets are that Routh's performance in MoS is going to outshine his performance in SR. The wife and I were particularly surprised by some of Routh's mannerisms and how they paid homage to Reeve's Superman. In fact, Singer's respect for the first two Superman films was touching. But the heavy load of expectation, as well as exposition picking up from the two prior films, may have resulted in how calculated and 'careful' he was in approaching the role. I really think the next film is going to loosen some of that restriction and it's going to be a better film.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Looks like Bryan Singer AND Brandon Routh are NOT returning for the sequel. A shame if you ask me.. what they need to drop is this Justice League movie.

Routh Out of Superman Sequel, Too? - ComingSoon.net

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

That doesn't appear to be the most reliable source... Warner had previously confirmed Bryan Singer as director and Brandon Routh as the star, and until Warner says differently, this just sounds like a bunch of heresay to me.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

To me it seems the news item actually says the NEXT Superman won't be Routh... because he doesn't have the role for JLA, which was pretty common knowledge. Nothing about SR2 being canceled. Though I wouldn't be surprised, since they need to start shooting pretty soon to make a summer '09 release date.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

Dropping Singer and Routh would be a huge mistake. The franchise is back in good hands, and that team will do great things, given time. Does Warner really want to go back to the 90s, when the franchise had numerous directors and stars attached? McG? Nicholas Cage? Ugh. The only reason SR didn't live up to the numbers attached to it was because all the baggage from the 90s bad attachments was attached to it!

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I'm not buying this story yet.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

I certainly don't WANT to buy it, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Watched SR again on New Year's Eve...still love it.

Re: Superman Returns Sequel discussion thread

WB says they're NOT dropping Routh.

Brandon Routh Still the Man of Steel? - ComingSoon.net