Superman (casting, rumors, pix till release)

Latest rumor...Viggo is wanted for Zod, despite the fact that Snyder said months ago now that Zod would not be in the film lol.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Vigg...eral-Zod-In-Zack-Snyder-s-Superman-23376.html

 

Here's the original report.

 

So much for the radical departure from the Donnerverse. Another origin story which features General Zod? Admittedly, the execution could all be different but this is hardly groundbreaking stuff.

One report also suggests that Daniel Day-Lewis is on the Zod wishlist. As I recall, Nolan apparently offered both him and Mortensen the role which Liam Neeson ultimately played in Batman Begins. All in all, this just isn't really striking me as the most imaginative of pictures, though obviously it's very, very early to be judging it.

 

Latino Review has hinted that the film will deal with Kryptonian mythology and that it'll include Brainiac. I can certainly see Zod, Ursa, and Brainiac being in one film. The presence of Brainiac would go a long way to allay any feelings of been there, done that. Hopefully that's the way it'll pan out.

 

If Zod is indeed in this movie, and I would be fine with that, then Viggo Mortensen would be an excellent choice!

 

You guys understand that these are rumors they're reporting right? That nothing except Henry Cavil as Superman is known about the film? Even the plot is rumored? Just wanted to check.

Just so no one thinks that I'm slagging the thread...I'll put in my two cents with the speculation as well. I think that what we will see is a film structured similarly to how "Batman Begins" was. If the rumors are true about showing Clark in Africa, then this will be an origin film that touches on his journey and how he becomes Superman. I've read about the Kryptonian mythology focus as well and that seems to be consistent with what DC has done with the character recently. Focusing on Krypton, etc.

If this is intended to be a trilogy then I wouldn't be surprised if Snyder casts people and uses them sporadically throughout the three films. Who knows. There are a number of ways we can take the casting rumors. I don't think we can judge the production yet. There's nothing to judge, that is what my point was above about talking about rumors. There's no real point in judging this film because we know almost absolutely nothing about it.

 

I understand that these are rumors but they are fun to speculate about. If the Mortensen rumor is true I think it is a good idea.

Makes me wonder if internet rumors ever influence casting directors and producers and movie directors?

 

The only time I know for sure that something like that happened is when Stallone said 50 Cent was going to be in The Expendables. Then people started burning down the internet, and suddenly Terry Crews is in and 50 Cent is out. Even Crews talks about it.

 

I'm not sure how much internet chatter goes into influencing casting decisions...directors and writers talk occasionally about seeing stuff on forums but I doubt they really talk stalk into what people are saying to really make changes based on it. I have long had a theory though that one of the reasons why studios don't come straight out and deny these rumors is that they enjoy fans talking and speculating about their films pre-production and production process. They probably think it garners more interest in their film.

 

Three female roles, then. Lois, Martha, and Ursa?

 

The origin story should only be done once. Doing it again is just a waste of screentime. I like how they handled it in the Edward Norton Hulk movie.

Making Superman dark is even dumber. He is not a dark character. Batman is dark, Daredevil is dark. Not Superman.

 

Oh, do the origin again. It's the only really great Superman story anyway.

 

There's at least one other great Superman story: the other end of his career. See "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and All-Star Superman. And I think there have been some pretty good stories between those endpoints.

There have been so many "origin story" superhero movies by now that it's becoming too cliched a trope. Audiences are too familiar with the hero-origin narrative by this point. I think it's time that movies started moving past origins, or covering them only briefly, and getting right into the thick of things.

 

Another origin story about the most famour origin story of the modern times? Does anyone in Hollywood know how to do a proper Superman story? Why the hell can't the producers hire any good comic book writers to write the friggin story??

 

Okay. I'm gonna say this one more time. We do not know what the plot of the movie is going to be. It's been reported that it will be an origin movie, but we don't know yet. Already freaking out about it being an origin story serves no purpose. I think it makes logical sense since they're starting anew to include aspects of the origin.

@StarTrek1701 this movie reportedly is taking material from "Birthright" and other Superman stories. Just as "Batman Begins" did. I wouldn't be surprised if DC Ent has been consulting on this too. Geoff Johns "Superman: Secret Origin" is probably being used as well as consulting material.

Every time someone mentions the word "origin" in a movie thread someone freaks out...its quite annoying. The one time a superhero movie tried to go for an established world already people freaked out about it not having a proper origin "X-Men". So just settle down and let's wait until get get some facts about this thing

 

I think the origin could easily be done in the opening credits. One thing about Superman is that he's almost universally known. Almost everyone on Earth knows his origin. That could quickly be wrapped up at the beginning, hopefully to John Williams score.

And then just get on with it, perhaps his first appearance in Metropolis. I thought Birthright covered this pretty well. As did JMS's Earth One. I wouldn't mind a combination of the two for the new film. Wasn't too big on Johns's Secret Origin though. His Brainiac miniseries did kick ass though.

Rather than a straight up origin flick that covers his arrival and life in Smallville, I wouldn't mind a modified or truncated origin that begins with his arrival in Metropolis, so that it can establish this film's takes on Clark, Lois, Perry, Jimmy, Lex, etc.

 

I too think the origin could be touched on during the opening credits. Kind of similar to "Superman Returns". "All-Star Superman" I think did the best quicky origin in one or two panels. Could do it as a voice over from Clark.

 

I've just always been of the view that they should take it for granted that between Smallville, Superman: The Movie, Lois and Clark and Superman Returns, everyone knows the basic gist of Superman's origins. Just start off with an established Superman in Metropolis and go from there. The Goldeneye, rather than Casino Royale, approach.

 

I have no issue with an origin story if its a character that never been in the movies before. But anything more than once is a complete waste.

I know that Superman's villains aren't that impressive past Lex but the films need to move on from Lex.

 

I have little doubt that the movie will tell the origin story, though doubtless in a very different way from the first Superman film, probably with more emphasis on Krypton before the fall.

Assuming that the audience already knows and cares about the character is a fatal mistake that I'm confident will not be made again with Superman. That is one mistake among many that was made with Superman Returns and also with The Incredible Hulk, I might add, though that was a better movie in other respects.

This film will probably take a Batman Begins/Casino Royale/Trek '09 approach and re-introduce the character in a way that says: you think you know this character's origin and what he is all about, but really you don't, here is the story as it has never been told before, etc., etc. Standard issue for reviving a franchise in Hollywood these days, but that is because it works. Assuming that audiences know and understand the property already is tantamount to giving people a reason not to bother paying money to see the film.

As for Luthor, he might appear briefly towards the end of the first film, but I would look for him to be the main antagonist in the second film, like the Joker in TDK. Zod/Brainiac in the first film as part of the Kryptonian emphasis, Luthor in the second film which has Superman firmly established on earth, and then, Doomsday in the third film, which would feature the death of Superman and could really be an epic way to end the trilogy.

There are basically three stories to tell about any superhero: origin/taking up the mantle, struggle against the main antagonist, death/giving up the mantle.