Warner Brothers To Reboot Superman Film Franchise

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Well it worked for Batman...

http://www.newsarama.com/film/080822-WBRebootSuperman.html



Confirmed: Warner Bros. Will Reboot Superman Film Franchise

By Kevin Melrose
posted: 2008-08-22 14:06:00 ET


Warner Bros. has confirmed long-running rumors that it will reboot the Superman movie franchise.
Jeff Robinov, Warner Bros. Pictures Group President, tells The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121936107614461929.html) that the Man of Steel will be reintroduced on the big screen without regard to 2006’s Superman Returns.
“Superman didn’t quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to,” Robinov says. “It didn’t position the character the way he needed to be positioned. ... Had Superman worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009.”
There’s no mention whether Superman Returns director Bryan Singer will be part of the reboot. Earlier this week, Variety’s Anne Thompson reported (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/08/superman-status.html) “that it is a priority at the studio to find the right direction and if Bryan Singer is willing to do that, fine, but if he gets in the way, he may not stay on the project.”
Taking a page from Marvel, Warner Bros. has reversed its earlier position of using the now-stalled Justice League of America as a launching pad for other DC properties. Instead, it will focus on solo features to build toward a multicharacter film.
“Along those lines, we have been developing every DC character that we own,” Robinov says.
That may sound less like a “strategy” and more like a mad cash-grab. Something else that might not sit right with some fans is Robinov’s determination to explore the darker side of super-heroes: “We’re going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it.”
According to The Journal, Warner Bros. plans to release four comic-book movies in the next three years: the third Batman installment, the Superman reboot, and two focusing on other DC Comics characters. (It’s unclear whether Watchmen is included in that count.) Likely candidates include Green Arrow/Super Max, Green Lantern, Captain Marvel and, perhaps, Jonah Hex.
As Variety reported over the weekend (http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/16/wb-to-revamp-how-is-develops-dc-movies-oh-and-dont-hold-your-breath-for-jla/), Warner Bros. is expected to roll out its strategy for its DC Comics movie properties sometime within the next month.

[Mitch]

Quite frankly I'm not sure how "dark" a Superman movie can be. He's Mr. Sunshine Boy Scout, and quite frankly that's what makes him awesome.

But, heavens no, NOT a Green Lantern movie!

There is simply no way the GL fan community will ever stand for it, let alone be happy with which GL is chosen.

[Figrin D'an]

I actually enjoyed Superman Returns, I thought it brought back the spirit of the Donner Superman films. I don't really see why a complete reboot is necessary at this point. Simply continue with the story, and introduce one of the Man of Steel's main villains besides Lex Luthor. Brainiac would be a decent choice, and maybe even consider Doomsday if they want to draw upon the whole "Death of Superman" story arc.

[SiberTiger]

I guess I'm just too used to Christopher Reeve being Superman, can't picture anyone replacing him.

Yes I know there were others, but I didn't grow up with them

[Dasquian Belargic]

I never saw Superman Returns.

Dark Superman is a stupid idea, though.

[Droo]

I've lost all interest and hope for the franchise. I hoped the success of The Dark Knight would reinvigorate the executive bigwigs at Warner Bros to push on with Superman but not like this. A dark Superman? No. Batman's dark, that's his thing, and Superman is the light - they are polar opposites. This is a perfect example of studio executive idiocy, the Dark Knight makes megabucks so seeing dollar bills in their eyes, the office jockeys push for the same thing in their other big DC property, and lo and behold we have The Dark Man of Steel.

What Bryan Singer's Superman Returns did was take a superhero who is just shy of invincible, the epitomy of altriusm, and hailing from a back catalogue of films that ended on an abismal low and reintroduced him in a film that was beautiful in every sense of the word. The contempory story of Superman being a father outside of the family picture was pretty genius because it gave the most God-like of superheroes a strong human tie. Superman Returns set up the character for an engaging emotional future in film; it was intelligent, witty, tender, and humble. The one thing that needed to be improved upon was the presence of villainy but I imagine a sequel would've delivered and more. I have no expectations whatsoever for the future of this franchise, given the studios reason for wanting a reboot. Ang Lee made his art-house Hulk, it was nothing special and the rebooted Incredible Hulk arrived in the cinemas this year and it was really nothing special.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

A Jonah Hex movie, though, would be awesome if done right. Couldn't they just re-release the 'Man With No Name' trilogy and call it 'Jonah Hex'.

I'm completely and utterly TEASING!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Superman Returns wasn't that well liked though if you look around on message boards. People called it boring and awful acting by Routh and Bosworth. They reminded me of Anakin and Padme's love scenes. Also Superboy's sub plot didn't go over well. Also I wish Singer had stayed on board X-Men, he screwed up 2 franchises by being forced out, of course that is Fox's fault. I also am not sure what they mean by dark, maybe darker villain? Braniac would be much darker than what we have scene.

[Rutabaga]

I liked Superman Returns a lot :)

[Aurelias Kazaar]

I'm split on Superman Returns. While I liked it when I saw it in the theaters, it really didn't 'stick' with me. Could be because I'm not a major Supes fan, but I didn't think it was 'all that'.

That being said, I think it was better than III and IV.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I thought the acting was bad by the two leads and there wasn't enough action. I think they should have had Luthor create Metallo in the film and that should have been the big final fight, but that is me.

[jjwr]

Routh was great...very reminiscent of Reeve in a lot of ways and you could really notice it when he was juggling the two identities.

Problem is he didn't have a lot to do. To make a really good Superman movie you need something for him to do thats impressive, he needs some big league villians to go up against. Luthor was great in the 70's/80's cause they couldn't do a whole lot more but in 2008 we need more.

I say build on Superman Returns and make the next few action packed with much less exposition. Doomsday would work as well...thats two movies right there with the first being the massive brawl, death and possible return at the very end with the next installment being the full return and back to glory.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

I like the idea of Brainiac being involved or Metallo. Luthor (to me) has always been a 'behind-the-scenes' guy for the most part (unless you count his Kryptonite-powered armor which would be awesome on film if done right).

Doomsday would work but I'd save him for the next movie. Make sure the 're-boot' works then go from there. That being said...I'd have no problem with Routh coming back as Supes.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I would make Luthor legit. Either make him a political figure or a tycoon. Make him untouchable but Superman is starting to hurt him, so he builds Metallo. I would end the film with Braniac crashing. I would make the movies a trilogy and have Darkseid in the last one and make him the destroyer of Krypton.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

I would make Luthor legit. Either make him a political figure or a tycoon. Make him untouchable but Superman is starting to hurt him, so he builds Metallo.

Cool.


I would end the film with Braniac crashing.

Works for me


I would make the movies a trilogy and have Darkseid in the last one and make him the destroyer of Krypton.

Ah....no. I know it's movies and they're "not in continuity" but I like Krypton's comic book destruction better. Darkseid in film would be awesome, but not as destroyer of Krypton.

The guy who wants to enslave mankind, attacks with parademons, and has a whole horde of bad guys works for me.

Plus I'd love to see this fight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujnq2D4PtvI

[Jedi Master Carr]

That fight was cool. Honestly part of me wants to save Darkseid for a possible Justice League movie. What is funny is Darkseid was recently killed briefly in DC comic but has been resurrected and has enslaved the Earth.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Yeah, thank the 'genius' of Dan Didio for not telling Grant Morrison, Jim Starlin, and Paul Dini what the frack was going on. Darkseid and Orion both died twice.

Pure. Genius. :rolleyes

[Jedi Master Carr]

LOL I saw that, so is Orion dead for good? Reading about it on wikipedia I don't get what they mean by Darkseid changing bodies. It is good though to see him actually do something major. He usually does nothing.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

All the New Gods changed bodies and 'forgot' who they were (except for Darkseid. He also took over Earth and enslaved all superheroes save for The Flashes (Barry, yes that Barry, and Wally West).

The only problem with it is Morrison is putting so much plot into the story it makes it kinda hard to keep track of. It's not bad, but it's not great either.