Superman Rebooted

Re: Superman Rebooted

Looks like Brandon Routh is out of a job. Sadly, I thought he was one of the bright spots from "Superman Returns". Looks like WB is going to start completely from scratch on this one. This also means that Bryan Singer is probably gone as well.

Writer Mark Millar has been saying over and over that he not only has a great way to re-launch the franchise, but that he also has a top notch action direction on board with his vision. WB will unveil their future plans regarding their comic book properties next month. Don't be surprised if they also announce who will be taking on the new 'Superman' project at the same venue.

Whoever ends up doing it will probably have a budget of between $150-$175 million (maybe $200 mil) to play with. Do not expect many big name (i.e. expensive) stars to be attached to this one since so much of the budget will be tied to the film's FX. If WB lucks out and finds someone who will treat Superman the same way Nolan treated Batman, than moviegoers are going to be in for a treat in a couple of years.

Re: Superman Rebooted

Not sure how to take the news. I liked Superman Returns. I felt they made a good movie for what they had set out to do with the character, but it just wasn't what audiences wanted from a Superman movie.

I can support a reboot if it means we don't need to deal with Richard and the kid. Other than those two elements, I don't think it needs serious fixing.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I'm not a huge Millar fan, but I like him better than I like Superman Returns. Anything that erases that is okay with me. The next movie should assume Superman: The Movie as the origin film, but not tie to it any deeper than that. And, I think we can knock it off with Lex for a while.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I dislike Millar's work quite a bit. It's juvenile and often peters out just when it should be getting good. I consider him entirely unsuited to Superman.

I'm not surprised at this decision, but I don't like how WB arrived at it. Considering how much pain they endured trying to get SR to the screen, I find it interesting (or short-sighted) to want to go through that again. Casting Superman is a monumental challenge, and making the character dark (or "hip") is a sure-fire recipe for fiasco, unless they get an incredible talent, both writing and directing. Millar is not that talent.

You know who I'd call if I were WB...Bob Zemeckis. The guy did Forrest Gump, he did Beowulf, he did Back to the Future. He could do the effects die, the action side, and the human side.

Oh well...I'll get the popcorn to watch the fireworks as they try and boot Superman...again.

Re: Superman Rebooted

That's very disappointing. I'm glad that they're going to 're-boot' as I didn't care for the kid storyline, and I didn't like Bosworth as Lois, but I think it's a mistake to let Routh go.

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wow what a dissappointment, didnt see this coming. It does seem a terrible waste after the developmental hell they went through for SR. Dammit I hope this doesnt put the brakes on a SR special edition with his krypton visit intact...

Re: Superman Rebooted

I dig some of Mark Millar's stuff (especially Kick-Ass) but I've never read any of his stuff that makes me think that he would be the right person to write a Superman movie. That being said, I'm not an expert on the guy so he may have done a great run on Superman or something that fits in that style of comic.

Like others, I'll miss Brandon Routh as Supes.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I think Superman Returns is one of the best comic book movies.

~T

Re: Superman Rebooted

If the 2010 release date sticks... will people really buy a reboot after only 4 years? I mean, let's not forget the film DID make 200 M domestically. That's still a large amount of people (let alone DVD sales). Incredible Hulk rebooted after 5 years and ended up making LESS. So... unless they wait at least 8 years or so this is just way too soon I think.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I've got a bad feeling about this.

I liked SR even though I wasn't a huge fan of the kid story line. I like Singer's work and thought he made a very good Superman movie. It was a step in the right direction and I was very much looking forward to seeing what he would do for a sequel.

Superman is not a dark character like Batman and trying to inject darkness into it proves, IMO, that WB has no clue what they are doing when it comes to Superman. I have a bad feeling that this reboot will end up completely different from the comic books. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up with an all black suit and they'll probably make him more vulnerable to try and connect with audiences better. Just a gut feeling that some of the horrible ideas that Singer prevented from happening will end up on screen.

2 things must be present in a Superman movie or I'll skip it. First, the suit, for the most part, must remain unchanged and second, John Williams theme must be used at least a little. Without those, I'll just re watch Donner and Singer's versions and be happy with that.

I think this is a very bad move on WB part and it will probably blow up in there face. They really should give Singer the sequel, his X-Men 2 was far better then the first and I think SR 2 would have been as well.

Re: Superman Rebooted

This is good news as far as I'm concerned. I didn't like SR. I HATED the stupid "Lois has boring superkid" plot, couldn't stand anything about Luthor, and thought Routh didn't have much charisma. I know there's no guarantee they'll wind up with something better, but I'm glad to hear they're jettisoning the SR baggage.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I'm glad I agree with Robert for a change. I couldn't believe how bad SR was. The scene with the thug who just can't resist playing Heart and Soul. Ugh. I won't miss Routh, either.

Re: Superman Rebooted

As a Superman Returns fan (despite it's notable shortcomings) this really disappoints me. All signs pointed towards Singer having a much more ambitious, less rooted in the Donner films sequel in mind. As mentioned in another thread on this forum, the set up was all there for Superman to finally do something different in a film that we haven't seen yet. Now they'll waste time with another origin story, and then when that one fails because of all this "dark brooding" garbage we'll still never get a good sequel.

Ugh.

Re: Superman Rebooted

[quote] Like the recent Batman sequel -- which has become the highest-grossing film of the year thus far -- Mr. Robinov wants his next pack of superhero movies to be bathed in the same brooding tone as "The Dark Knight." Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.' DC properties. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it," he says. That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well.[quote]

And this is where Warner will fuck up and kill any chances of getting a good Superman movie. Superman is not Batman! Green Lantern is not Batman! Nor the Flash or Wonder Woman, Etc. Etc. What the hell Warners? Why don't you get that? Superman Returns failed, not because it wasn't dark enough, but, because it was poorly written with stupid plot twists and boring characters. I could go to sleep with this movie playing it's that dull. Also consider, if dark and brooding characters are all it takes to sell a movie, then, why wasn't the first big screen Punisher a runaway success? Not to mention didn't we already see the evil side of Supes in Superman III? Let's not go down that road again.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I'm really hoping Robinov's comments were taken a bit out of context. Tonally, Superman has more in common with Spider-Man than he does the Dark Knight. Green Lantern has its roots firmly planted in the world of sci-fi. The Flash, again is in the same vain as Spidey, while Green Arrow and Wonder Woman are really the only two superheroes of the lot that I feel WB can toy with making darker movies out of.

What I'm really curious about is who WB is going to give this movie to, if in fact Singer isn't returning. Millar may (or may not) be involved, but I would be surprised if he wasn't at this point considering that "Wanted" turned into a big summer hit. I'm just hoping that whoever directs the movie really respects the long history of the character.

By his own admission, Singer was a huge fan of the 1978 movie and never really read the comic. Someone like Michael Bay would make a great looking movie, but I'm hoping the studio goes the Chris Nolan route and hires someone who will make a truly great movie. Maybe that's asking too much.

Re: Superman Rebooted

I love Williams score. It is about as perfect a film score as I've ever heard, whether supporting the images on screen or just existing all by itself.
However I dearly hope the next Superman film doesn't use any part of it including the march. Can we please just let that vision of the character remain a complete entity unto itself and let the early 21st century make its own contributions to the characters mythos? That doesn't mean I want a burgendy and ultramarine suit, or radical changes to the characters relationships...just a series of film with their own identity, not ones that are constantly reminding me of another group of filmakers in another era. When I hear the march or see the crystal fortress or hear Brando reciting lines, I want to see Reeve in the suit, not some incredible simulation.

Re: Superman Rebooted

Stupid, knee jerk reaction from the studio suits. Idiots.

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I am bummed by this as well. I loved Routh and Singer. Damn shame they're got going to get a second movie.

I had a few minor quibbles with Returns, but nothing major. I like it more than most comic book films out there.

Re: Superman Rebooted

The articles don't mention "rebooting" Superman in the sense of retelling -- yet again -- the Superman origin story, nor do they say they'll recast Superman as someone other than Brandon Routh. They just say they'll position the character differently. I.e., they may just start the next film off with something terrible happening and Superman flies in and does some action stuff and saves the day. It could tie in to SR in general, superficial terms, while changing the storytelling enough to be an entirely new take.

I think they'd be best off ignoring the inner story of Superman, because it is evident from Superman Returns that people don't like an inner story going on with Superman (I did!), and yet by the same token any film with Superman as just an invincible superhero needs to be careful, because Superman without an inner story is inherently an incredibly bland character, since he has no weaknesses, faces no real obstacles, has no moral crises, and just generally has only one character flaw which is he has trouble dating.

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I agree, what a knee-jerk reaction. Superman Returns was awesome. Brandon Routh did an absolutely perfect job and should absolutely remain. WTF?

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Will, make no mistake, WB is very much thinking "Batman Begins" with the next Superman movie. As was pointed out in another thread, TDK's success has caused a major ripple throughout the industry and WB again sitting on top of the box office heap in regards to superhero/comic book movies has made them far more aggressive with their own slate of properties from DC.

"Smallville" fans are going to be out in force insisting that the next movie follow the series finale of the show (either this season or next) and that Tom Welling don the suit in the movie. Singer was always dead set against the movies having anything to do with the show, but there are some execs that think this is a good move because the show has a very loyal following and has been a strong ratings performer throughout its run.

I doubt this will happen, but the studio is giving itself a ton of options here. As was reported, WB will announce exactly what their plans are sometime next month. Until then, the studio brass will be burning the midnight oil on how they move forward with the franchise.

Re: Superman Rebooted

GOOD NEWS!!!

I absolutely hated Superman Returns! Although I did like Brandon Routh but he was too similar to Christopher Reeves. They definitely need to go in a different direction. However, nowhere near Smallville. Hate that show.

Re: Superman Rebooted

If they were smart, they'd wait a few years before taking another stab at Superman again.

Re: Superman Rebooted

Early in his U.S. career, Millar wrote an acclaimed run of Superman Adventures. OTOH, shortly after that ended, he started screeching about how wonderful it was to be able to "cut loose" with his writing now that he was done with Superman and he's been writing "edgy" stuff ever since.

Re: Superman Rebooted

So are we looking at another "Donner Like story" beginning with Krypton? I'm not quite sure how WB is going to go the Batman Begins route with this story. We just had a semi-reboot 2 years ago. I mean why don't we reboot every movie the doesn't live up to expectations a couple of years after they are released. Does WB Think that by doing this the next movie will gross $500 million domstically? Movies like TDK come along only so often, not every summer.

I think WB is being foolish and should let Bryan Singer procede with a sequel to SR. Whether you liked SR or not it laid the foundation to build on an original storyline for the next movie. The idea of turning every comic book hero into something brooding and dark will get old very quickly. They will all seem like lesser grade imitations of the Batman movies for which they will ever be compared to. IMO, Superman is a totally different hero than Batman which is the way they should leave it.

Re: Superman Rebooted

Best news I've heard all day, whilst I didn't hate Superman Returns I did find it a little dull, whats the word you guys use? 'meh'? That's how I felt about that film. Bryan Singer shot himself in the foot by introducing a superkid to the story. I wasn't exactly gagging for a sequel.

I'm glad the next film is a reboot, Routh looked a bit like Reeve but he was a little bland, what has he done since? Singer is a good director but I'd be happier if someone else had a go at it.

And please no more homages or references to the 1978 Donner original, which btw is still my favorite 'superhero' movie to date. And as someone else mentioned as fabulous as John Williams theme is lets leave that out too. A completely detached from the others, ugly, dark, brutal and nasty reboot. Thats what you Dark Knight fans want isn't it?

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This would be the worst thing they could do IMO, and I use to be a fan of the show. Smallville is the superhero's version of Dawson Creek and completely wrong for a feature film. There's noway a Smallville Superman movie would make more money then SR. If the really want to alienate many hardcore Superman fans then this would be the way to go. Plus, if WB really does want to go darker then Smallville is not what I would call dark. It is more camp then dark. Keep Smallville hundreds of miles away form the big screen please. It shouldn't even be on the small screen anymore as well, there stories dried up years ago.

Re: Superman Rebooted

WB was fully behind Singer's son angle to the story because if 'Returns' had been the big hit they expected (earning north of the triple-century mark domestically) than there was "talk" of a separate "Superboy" franchise using that character (seriously). Counting all the stops and starts (Burton's version, Ratner's version, McG's version, the money spent on sets, FX, Nicolas Cage's pay-or-play deal, etc.) with Singer's production, WB spent well over $500 million to get to "Superman Returns" and the fact that it was a hit and not a mega-blockbuster really hurt.

WB got real squeamish about forking over another $175 million-plus on Singer's proposed sequel. Thought 'Returns' made about the same as "Batman Begins", there wasn't nearly the hype and Nolan did it without having an expensive star (Kevin Spacy got more than $10 million for his six weeks of work) to carry the marketing. WB really expected blockbuster-like numbers with 'Returns'.

As Mark Millar hinted at, WB wants to bring the character into the 21st century (whatever that means). The studio could let Singer do his sequel, they could also opt to continue the "Smallville" series on the big screen as Clark takes on the mantle of Superman, or they can completely reboot the franchise ala "Batman Begins". I'm thinking they'll opt for the latter.

Severing ties with Singer and Spacey will cost them though. Both already have deals for the sequel that pays them whether or not they do the movie. Much like what happened with Cage, Burton, Ratner, and McG (not to mention all the writers that got substantial salaries for the various scripts turned in). After all these years, it is still a very expensive struggle to get a Superman to the big screen.

All of these elements led to the decision to "re-introduce" the character in the next movie. Start from scratch instead of bank-rolling a sequel to a film that wasn't universally loved.