Warner Bros. Confirms Superman Reboot

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Warner Bros. Confirms Superman Reboot

Source:Steelsheen

August 22, 2008

Just a few days after this article was posted, Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov has told The Wall Street Journal that the studio is going to be reintroducing Superman. We assume this will be similar to how Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk was a reboot of Ang Lee's Hulk. Here is what the article says:

Warner Bros. also put on hold plans for another movie starring multiple superheroes -- known as "Batman vs. Superman" -- after the $215 million "Superman Returns," which had disappointing box-office returns, didn't please executives. "'Superman' didn't quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to," says Mr. Robinov. "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," he adds. "But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all."

The article also talks about Warner Bros. adapting other DC properties over the new few years. "By 2011, Mr. Robinov plans for DC Comics to supply the material for up to two of the six to eight tent-pole films he hopes Warner Bros. will have in the pipeline by then," it says. Those projects will likely be about single characters at first, and will be darker much like The Dark Knight:

With "Batman vs. Superman" and "Justice League" stalled, Warner Bros. has quietly adopted Marvel's model of releasing a single film for each character, and then using those movies and their sequels to build up to a multicharacter film. "Along those lines, we have been developing every DC character that we own," Mr. Robinov says.

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.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

We'll let you know as soon as the studio has announced its plans for future DC movies.

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Posted by: Starkiller on August 22, 2008 at 13:37:11

This really sucks 'returns' was a great movie, it had a great story, cast, music, plot and was well made! its not a kiddy comic booky 'popcorn' movie like most of marvel's films are. singer needed 2 be allowed 2 make his sequel which wud of blown ppl away, it wud have the action and villain fans wanted! a reboot is a waste! routh was great, im soo sad. WB i thought u guys were good? :(

Posted by: Red-Surfer on August 22, 2008 at 13:37:30

@ Space Monkey, Jorge, Adamantium and otherse of the group.

I had a bit of time today and I actually read a lot here (havent done that in years) and I agree with most your comments, we don't know for sure what they mean by dark. The link you posted Re the fight with darkseid, well, that would be a Supes movie I would love to see and be plenty dark. Quote " I feel like I live in a world of cardbox", That's a great angle for a new movie. Like many are saying, they should just get a cast and crew that cares and knows the character and the WB EXECS then need to let them work.

BTW, you made me laugh a lot with the Iron Rod thing and all, thanks, keep it up, you read like reasonable and interesting people. One last thing....Welling is not right for a Supes movie, keep him away please, we don't need smallville to become canon!

Posted by: J.Orge: Dat Merc Wit Da Mouth on August 22, 2008 at 13:38:03

@ADAMNTIUM G

I hear the Bald look is very "IN" this time of year.....LOL, Just bustin dude.

Posted by: Steven The Comic Book Artist! on August 22, 2008 at 13:38:42

Maybe in this one THEY HAVE TO GO DARKER.

Darksied? A lead into a sequel featuring Darksied?

-S!

Posted by: What the??? on August 22, 2008 at 13:39:07

Can we stop with the word epic!!!! I am sick of hearing it. Give me a specific idea that you have about the film or a thought out perspective. If all you have to cotribute is saying epic then don't post it just clogs the topic.

Posted by: ZZZZ on August 22, 2008 at 13:41:17

The guy from Passions for SUPES!!! Jim something

Posted by: Darrk on August 22, 2008 at 13:41:21

Punishment,

If you could find someone to read these comments for you, you would find I never said anything about Tom Welling. In fact, I don't want him to be Superman as he's a pretty awful actor. Perhaps your closet issues have confused you.

I say reboot the movie with JE's suggestions. Just as Superman II's opening credit sequence, have a montage from the Superman movies (including Superman Returns) and maybe even Smallville episodes to include all iterations.

Posted by: Starkiller on August 22, 2008 at 13:41:56

P.S a 'dark' superman film wont work, batman is naturally a dark chrachter, so copying nolan's sucess with the superman, wont work! p.s you cant have different actors to portray superman, reeve 'is' superman and routh was the 'new' superman. Its an iconic character. WB give singer another chance! he is a 'true' superman fan he's film was moving and well made he was going in a new direction! i hate ppl who hate superman returns and say the kid was a crap idea! and not enough action etc. I thought it was brill, ppl have ofeten wondered what would happen if superman had a child!

Posted by: WTF on August 22, 2008 at 13:42:35

WTF? A Dark Superman? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Posted by: darrk on August 22, 2008 at 13:42:39

all i know is that Tom Welling is tall, good looking, and fills the tights just right! Whoever doesn't agree needs to go watch Smallville again!

Posted by: Stuperman on August 22, 2008 at 13:42:55

Hahaha, they are going to try and revive Superman, and make it Darker? How the hell are they going to make it "Darker"? To make Superman as dark as Batman isn't true to the character. Superman has always been the Superego of DC, Batman has always been the Ego, and Metropolis/Gotham, which represents the good and bad of New York has always been the Id, so to throw Superman into a dark world would be retarded. It would be like Batman wearing Nipple Outfits

Posted by: Do It Right on August 22, 2008 at 13:43:04

@ Travis McGee

I see your point but lets face it, when has anything that came out of hollywood been completely true to its source material. They always tweek things to suit themselves. Having said that i think it would be a good way to go, for several reasons. One, it introduces a supervillain worthy of a Superman film, secondly it takes care of the kid(assuming they would continue with the singer direction), and finally it brings to the big screen a clash that rocked the comic book industry in the 90's. Anyway, i still think that they can salvage Singers franchise, even turn it into something epic. A reboot takes too much effort and if its not done right could be a disaster.

Posted by: LuxAeterna on August 22, 2008 at 13:43:13

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA

DARK SUPERMAN?!

That frightens me. Warners frightens me.

YOU CANNOT PATTERN ALL OF YOUR CHARACTERS ON ONE MOVIE! THATS NOT HOW IT WORKS!

Batman is The DARK KNIGHT. That's why its dark.

Let us not forget this is the same studio that almost greenlit reboots by Tim Burton and JJ Abrams that universally, and completely missed the point of Superman.

Tread lightly WB. Be very careful

Posted by: Liu on August 22, 2008 at 13:43:40

What the???

...EPIC!

Sorry. I just... had to.

Posted by: adamantium g on August 22, 2008 at 13:43:47

Actually, I feel the director of the Machinest weaves a brilliant story. Space Monkey you should really check it out. That is what the fans want. You can have all the flashy CGI effects in the world and a weak story kills the movie. Don't believe me? Go watch X3 again. That is why TDK was so good. It didn't even need batman. That film would have worked with any detective leading the case.

Posted by: Kirbzilla on August 22, 2008 at 13:45:01

Wow, WB Studios are a pack of Idiots. I knew this was going to happen. Do you know why The Dark Knight was so successful because it was a faithful telling of the batman story. Superman Returns was not. You know what just let Mark Millar write the script he knows what to do, he understands the character.
I mean damn they couldn't see past the superficial. God I predicted something likr this. Could you imagine a dark superman? It was the fact that Superman was acting "dark" in returns why the fans didn't like it to begin with. "I'll be around" peeping on lois, not taking responsibility for his child, I could go on but why bother. I know this isn't something they got from the DC/WB summit. But hey at least they got Batman right.

Posted by: crunchy probes on August 22, 2008 at 13:45:09

Superman is the pinnacle of goodness and embodies it in all he does. To make them qualities stand out they have to go darker with the villains and world around him. In turn this will make Superman a beacon of light in a world that is utterly becoming dark. Superman will once again become a symbol of hope and justice. I also when they ever get around to it a "Kingdom Come" movie would be the shizznyt!

Posted by: Red-Suerfer on August 22, 2008 at 13:46:06

@ Space Monkey, Jorge, Adamantium and otherse of the group.

I had a bit of time today and I actually read a lot here (havent done that in years) and I agree with most your comments, we don't know for sure what they mean by dark. The link you posted Re the fight with darkseid, well, that would be a Supes movie I would love to see and be plenty dark. Quote " I feel like I live in a world of cardbox", That's a great angle for a new movie. Like many are saying, they should just get a cast and crew that cares and knows the character and the WB EXECS then need to let them work.

BTW, you made me laugh a lot with the Iron Rod thing and all, thanks, keep it up, you read like reasonable and interesting people. One last thing....Welling is not right for a Supes movie, keep him away please, we don't need smallville to become canon!

Posted by: Raiden on August 22, 2008 at 13:46:56

People are so feeble minded

Posted by: KisHay on August 22, 2008 at 13:47:08

The people that are saying Superman is not "dark" obviously dont read the comics and just watch the movies!! Why isn,t Superman dark...? is it because he doesnt kill...? Well Batman doesnt either! You people saying he is "sunny" are just compairing to past movies and shows, and not the comics. Past Superman movies have been a little "sunny" and past Batman movies have been more "dark", and thats all you people know to compair to! If you read the comics than you would know that Supes & Batman are lot alike and run into alot of the same situation's and handle them the same.

Posted by: ross on August 22, 2008 at 13:47:31

If i was in charge, i'd ask for a two parter, the death of superman and the return, if done right, it would be amazing!!

Posted by: Bryan on August 22, 2008 at 13:47:36

Ok... Superman focusing on darkness/evil? No, thank you.

Also... I don't see a clear confirmation of a reboot? I don't see it. A suggestion that Robinov may want to reintroduce/reboot the film franchise? Sure. Assumptions don't equal confirmations. Didn't Variety's Anne Thompson say Supes was in a "holding pattern" at WB? This may just be Robinov's wishes, but that doesn't make it the approved game plan, does it? Not until he there's a press release that says so otherwise, and says it explicitly.

Posted by: punishment on August 22, 2008 at 13:47:47

to all the idiots that still think they mean a dark superman instead of dark villains and situations, shame on you!
YOUVE BEEN PUNISHED!

Posted by: Ged on August 22, 2008 at 13:48:32

Let's not over-react. I don't think they would make Supes dark. I mean, what's the use of planning a future Supes vs. Batman if both of them are dark, when a future movie about them MUST contrast both of them to be interesting?

Robinov is still awash in Dark Knight territory, since the film was very successful. What he probably meant with Supes going "dark" is that there is a need to explore the character's vulnerabilities and not just make him indestructible, so that the audience can identify with the character. Why? Because we care about superheroes we can connect to.

Posted by: ooooooooooooooooooooooooh on August 22, 2008 at 13:49:43

The SPINCTER reminds you they were going for a darker superman ala Will Smith!

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