What's Happening with Superman? Nothing.

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What's Happening with Superman? Nothing.

November 27, 2009

Thompson on Hollywood reports that there's nothing happening with the "Superman" franchise until Warner Bros. emerges from its legal problems with heirs Siegel and Shuster. Here are several clips from the article:

As the studio is waiting to resolve the legal dispute, there's no movement on the project. Production execs at Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. have been culling the various pitches that have come in, and are eager to start development on a sequel.

The studio is still seeking the right direction. No writers are working on a Superman script. "We're working on a strategy for DC," says one Warners exec. "Superman is the trickiest one to figure out."

You can read the full article here.

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Posted by: The Ray on November 27, 2009 at 02:34:12

Although I loved SR, they should wait about 7yrs and do a complete reboot. FIRSTIES:)

Posted by: Bored Security Guard on November 27, 2009 at 02:37:39

Superman other weakness is his creators heirs. I guess we will have to wait a while for Supes to be on the big screen again. There goes Batman/Superman and/or Justice League. Atleast we have Batman and Green Lantern keeping me happy. Hmmm...reboot Supergirl!

Posted by: captaincanuck65 on November 27, 2009 at 02:57:38

"[We]...are eager to start development on a sequel"

a sequel? They're still going ahead with a sequel to Superman Returns?

Posted by: Kevin on November 27, 2009 at 03:08:49

yeh I'm not sure that they actually mean a sequel to SR....unless the reason it's so tricky is because they ARE looking at a sequel.....but I honestly don't see that happening. I'm sure they are wanting something fresh that can go into any number of sequels from there.

Posted by: SupaDan88 on November 27, 2009 at 03:09:02

Just have The Man of Steel fight Bizarro or Metallo, bashing thru buildings for 90 minutes. That's box office gold!

Posted by: senorashish on November 27, 2009 at 03:26:46

Sequel? Did I read the word "sequel"? Oh, please, no, not a pathetic sequel to that pathetic film "Superman Returns." That would be heartbreaking.

NOTE TO WB: REBOOT THE SUPERMAN FRANCHISE ALA THE BATMAN FRANCHISE! YOU ARE DOING BATMAN RIGHT! SO TAKE THAT FORMULA AND USE IT FOR SUPERMAN! CASE CLOSED!

Posted by: yagyu on November 27, 2009 at 03:27:43

Returns sucked, we need a reboot not a sequel unless they r gonna pick up where smallville ends which would be awesome

Posted by: Unknown on November 27, 2009 at 03:52:48

@SupaDan88

You clearly don't have an understanding of film. I could go off on your statement for hours. I'm assuming your the same type who support half-witted insufficent material like "Twilight", "Year One", "Land Of The Lost" & such.

Posted by: drake on November 27, 2009 at 03:58:52

One of those legal difficulties is that Warners/DC have lost the rights to the origin story, they went back to Siegel & Shuster's estate. They couldn't do a reboot even if they wanted to. No point to a reboot anyway, Donnor's original is still one of the finest piece of film making ever. Thats why I liked Returns, it complimented it by keeping the same feel & look.

Posted by: Darkseid on November 27, 2009 at 04:00:25

I don't were the mystery is. Superman doesn't need to be a dark character to be successful. The spiderman films aren't particularly dark and they've grossed billions.

They need to make his world darker. A world that is in utter moral, financial, a physical decay. A world that seems to be falling apart. Introduce a major threat like Doomsday, Darkseid or Brianiac into that world. A world in shambles facing total annihilation is a world where Superman is desperately needed. Let Superman shine like a brilliant light during the world's darkest hour. That's how you make him relevant to film audiences again.

Posted by: Ta-Da! on November 27, 2009 at 04:00:36

plz bring Brandon Routh back in Sequel!!!

Posted by: BatFrigginTastic on November 27, 2009 at 04:12:32

@Darkseid

Dude, you're absolutely right.

Posted by: yagyu on November 27, 2009 at 04:12:59

@ Ta-da

Routh has no talent, he was only cast cuz he looks like chris reeve and it so didnt work in the movie. We need an actor whos a good actor and looks like superman. Not just someone who looks like Chris Reeve.

Posted by: yagyu on November 27, 2009 at 04:13:48

Typ Not just looks like superman lol

Posted by: YazzyDream on November 27, 2009 at 04:25:47

Just put Superman on the shelf for a while. When a good script comes along, it'll come along. There's no need to force it. In the mean time there ARE a ton of other DC Heroes you can focus on, WB.

Like... oh, I don't know... WONDER WOMAN, the only one of the trinity that hasn't had a theatrical movie?

Posted by: Captain Villa on November 27, 2009 at 04:26:58

Why the fuss about Origins and Reboot ?

Just copy the James Bond formula and have the recurring character face a new story, each film.

Easy enough ?

Posted by: Captain Villa on November 27, 2009 at 04:30:08

............Also, am I alone in thinking Routh looks like Reeve ???

He's nothing like him.

Posted by: Red Mask on November 27, 2009 at 04:40:17

Hmph. There's nothing new so you report nothing's new.

Thanks for nothing.

Posted by: BIG WYLL on November 27, 2009 at 04:50:21

In my opinion there is nothing tricky about doing any superman project. its seems like everyone gets caught up i trying to create they'er own twist on the man of steel instead of sticking to what sells the character as an i con. weather its smallville or the terrible superman returns, both projects seem to suffer from the same flaw. attempting to over-humanize superman!

if they want the franchise to to take flight(pun intended) then cut loose with the big battles, bring in characters like darkseid, and for god sakes lose the bastard super kid!!!!...............simplicty worked for the first spiderman film......it will work sor superman as well.

Posted by: BIG WYLL on November 27, 2009 at 04:52:45

sorry for all of my type O's above. its late here and i really should be getting to bed!!!

Posted by: senorashish on November 27, 2009 at 05:40:49

@ Captain Villa

The reason why people want a reboot is so that we can finally do the Supemran mythos right from the start. I'm sorry, but "Superman" 1978, a good film, is not the great Superman film that many tout it to be.

I mean, first of all, the depiction of Krypton as being nothing more than just an igloo on an ice planet and Kryptonians being nothing more than old folks who walk around holding glowing green sticks and talk in English accents is just not right.

Reboot. That is the only way to do Superman justice FROM THE START. The new Superman film series is close to the comic book roots like the Nolan Batman series is.

Oh, and Casino Royale was a reboot. Wise people saw the James Bond franchise descend into garbage and they decided to reboot. They made a right choice.

Posted by: Wolverine_X on November 27, 2009 at 05:52:00

DC doesn't know what to do with Superman. A right direction? You mean a direction nowhere. Until a good idea comes it's better to stay with Superman kept in the closet.

Bring James Caviezel for it.

And if you want to bring Superman back, think on getting a cameo of him on a Chris Nolan Batman movie first. Before a JLA movie, do a Batman vs Superman movie.

Posted by: Wolverine_X on November 27, 2009 at 05:53:06

Superman will be reboot so much, more times than my computer eh eh.

Posted by: J on November 27, 2009 at 06:38:45

I'm a huge Superman fan and I believe I would be right in saying everyone here is as well. The first thing I would like to address are the legal issues with the Siegal and Shuster heirs. I support them. They created a great character. Why shouldn't they benefit from the movies and comics? Stan Lee is doing just fine with that. And probably the wife and children of Bob Kane as well. They should get some financial benefit from it.

Although I agree with a cool reboot of the franchise, the one thing I want to remain constant is the Superman theme. Easily, one of the top 5 movie themes of all time. I still get goosebumps when I hear it. As far as a franchise reboot, in an origin story, they can throw the little easter eggs of Kandor and Argo city in the opening, setting the stage for sequels and spin-offs.

Finally, don't do a sequel. Too much was screwed up in Superman Returns. Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane was horrendous. For me, the only casting that was perfect in the movie was Frank Langella's Perry White. Brandon Routh looked good in the suit, the writers didn't give him enough material for Clark. I think he could do better with the right story and director. He does look rather young, though, younger than Christopher Reeve when he first stepped into the role. And the kid was an awful idea. One, I don't think Superman would be the kind of person to have a one-nighter with Lois (even though it happened in Superman II, and he was depowered at the time so a superkid doesn't fit). Two, they've been exploring the issue of Kryptonian and Terran DNA compatibility off and on since Lois and Clark married. You can't solve it in the movie as an almost after-thought.

In short, yes, reboot Superman and do it right. And make a Wonder Woman movie. She deserves it, she's a fantastic character. I say go to Greg Rucka, Phil Jimenez, or Gail Simone for some ideas. And make a Birds of Prey movie based off the comic, nothing like the TV show.

Posted by: Writerlad on November 27, 2009 at 07:41:31

Why haven't we been given a full Director's Cut of SUPERMAN RETURNS with EVERYTHING put back in? We seem to get director's cuts of no end of crummy movies, but SR had about 30 mins of major and minor scenes cut out.No wonder it felt disappointing. Who'se genius idea was all that cutting anyway? If it was time issue, why did they no mention that at an early script stage? Why did someone butcher the most anticipated superhero movie in 20 years (apart from the Chris Nolan's Batman movies)? Was it really to sell more popcorn with more screening per day. Why no Director's Cut WB?

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