"Superman Returns Again" still in limbo...

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

JacksonArcher wrote:

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You don't know that for sure. And while I don't know this for sure either, I suspect once Singer is done with Valkyrie we'll find out soon enough what is going on with him and the Superman franchise.

No, I don't know for sure. It's an educated guess.

Who's to say that the next branch of filmmakers have any solid idea on how they want to proceed, and if the studio will back them?

They could have great ideas and have full studio backing, delivering a knockout film that's both a commercial and critical success, or they could have lousy ideas and/or discord with the studio that louses things up. Those possibilities exist on every film, even sequels with the same cast and director.

[The Old Mixer]

davejames wrote:

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Yeah as much as I'd love to see a followup to SR, and see the relationship with his son explored further, it's getting to the point where the kid actor is going to be too old to make the idea even worthwhile.

I mean there was already a big gap until Superman met him the FIRST time; by the time we get to continue the story, we'll be looking at a 10 or 11 year old version of that kid.

I'd love to see where Singer wanted to go with it, too. And I don't think that the kid getting older would necessarily be a bad thing, as I'd always envisioned the story moving forward in that way, picking up on where he and Supes were at years later. Kids do grow up.

But...the vibe I'm getting from what the TPTB are saying in the quote in the OP is that their idea of a new direction would be to drop the kid angle. And since that was Singer's baby (pardon the expression), I doubt he'd be willing to play ball, and thus he wouldn't return.

I think we're looking at some sort of reboot here; whether it's an all-out origin movie or not, whether it gets right off the ground or spends a decade or more in development hell. I don't think we're getting Singer or SR2.

[Supervisor 194]

The latest from Steve Younis at www.supermanhomepage.com

"I received an email earlier this week stating that writers have been hired, and Bryan Singer (who is still attached to direct) is having writing sessions with them twice a week. I'm unable to get the names of those writers at this point in time, but have put in a call to my source to get a response to Anne Thompson's report."

[Bad Bishop]

Supervisor 194 wrote:

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The latest from Steve Younis at www.supermanhomepage.com

"I received an email earlier this week stating that writers have been hired, and Bryan Singer (who is still attached to direct) is having writing sessions with them twice a week. I'm unable to get the names of those writers at this point in time, but have put in a call to my source to get a response to Anne Thompson's report."

Best Superman news all week. I hope it's reliable. Supervisor 194, we thank you for your update.

[Supervisor 194]

I hope it's reliable, too.

At this point, I just can't see WB completely scrapping everything that went into Returns only to start again from scratch. Even if Singer doesn't return, I'd expect them to keep much of the design work and cast--especially Routh. Other rumors I've seen point to WB wanting to have a 'loose' sequel to SR, using the same cast but taking the story in more of a comic book oriented direction.

[Samurai8472]

RandyS wrote:

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Personally I'd reather see a film with the Lois& Clark cast.

Minus Lane Smith, of course.

And I maintain: Bosworth stinks.

Go the Mummy 3 route and have Lois, richard and the kid be novel characters that the new recast lois is writing about

[Bad Bishop]

Supervisor 194 wrote:

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I hope it's reliable, too.

At this point, I just can't see WB completely scrapping everything that went into Returns only to start again from scratch. Even if Singer doesn't return, I'd expect them to keep much of the design work and cast--especially Routh. Other rumors I've seen point to WB wanting to have a 'loose' sequel to SR, using the same cast but taking the story in more of a comic book oriented direction.

For the next film, changes in the art direction and production design could signal to the audience that it is not another continuation of SR's "Donnerverse." This way, Singer can get away with retaining his actors while still resetting Superman's universe. Fans who hate the kid will be placated. Fans who've warmed up to Routh (the vast majority of SR viewers, I'm sure) will also approve.

[Samurai8472]

I would change the set designs to actual locations. The rooftop scene with lois and Superman looked real cheap to me especially when you see the behind the scenes dvd feature

"you were suppose to make a working globe" lol

In 2006 I made a caption about it

Superman- so thats why I left for so.......lois? what are you looking at?

lois- shh! there are these two guys arguing on the next rooftop i want to hear what their saying





Goblin- ....and your a pathetic little spider too!!!

spiderman-geezs gobby could you at least lower your voice everyone is listening in!



gordon- batman can you believe out of those 2 films we have the most realistic looking rooftop?

batman- Indeed

[davejames]

^ I thought SR's Metropolis was probably a little darker and moodier than it should have been, but it all looked real enough to me.

I definitely preferred it to the bright and comic booky New York of the Spidey movies.

[Samurai8472]

Kevin Spacey has spoken; he's ready for the sequel.
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/08/19...-stands-ready/

Now that the Bat-mania surrounding “The Dark Knight” is finally beginning to settle, fans are beginning to look towards the Man of Steel, and asking where the next film in the “Superman” franchise is…or if there will even be a franchise, that is.

Variety.com’s Anne Thompson just posted a vague update as to the film’s status, basically saying what fans and even some pro comic writers have been asking for all along — scrap the 2004 attempt and start fresh (hey, it kinda worked for “Hulk”). According to Thompson, rumor has it that “Superman” is priority #1 at Warner Bros., and although Bryan Singer is still attached to the project, he could find himself out if delivers another half-hearted attempt that Thompson labeled, “didn’t break the mold and wound up in some kind of middle limbo.”

Meanwhile, in an exclusive MTV interview with “Superman Returns” star Kevin Spacey, interest in returning to his Lex Luthor character remains high.

“Doing Lex Luthor was a remarkable experience. It was so much fun and such an iconic part,” he said. “Falling on the steps of Gene Hackman was a very, very big pair of shoes to fill, but I hope I get a chance to do a second one if they pull it off.”

The problem remains the script, which Spacey elaborated, “[Warner Bros. are] taking pitches, and I don’t know when they’re gonna find one that they really like, whether it’s gonna happen next year or the year after, but I know that their intention is to do it.” The wait could be a much longer one than Spacey anticipates, since Thompson also pointed out that there are currently no writers working on a “Superman” script.

So what say you, Big Blue fans? Think Singer can pull off a proper sequel, or is a clean slate approach sound like the best plan? Speak your mind in the comments.

[JacksonArcher]

Uhh, so Superman Returns came out in 2004? 2006 must have been one bizarre year then...

[Captaindemotion]

^Or bizzar-O year!

[Captain Craig]

JacksonArcher wrote:

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Uhh, so Superman Returns came out in 2004? 2006 must have been one bizarre year then...

Fact checking...a lost art for some media people it seems.

[Norrin Radd]

Reboot confirmed?

[Samurai8472]

No sequel

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1219...googlenews_wsj

Warner Bets on Fewer, Bigger Movies
By LAUREN A.E. SCHUKER
August 22, 2008; Page B1

Emboldened by this summer's success with "The Dark Knight," Warner Bros.' movie studio is setting a new strategy.

The Time Warner Inc. unit, like some other Hollywood studios, is planning to release fewer films into the crowded marketplace. But the studio, known for making more big, expensive movies than most rivals, plans to make even more of those -- some centered on properties from its DC Comics unit, such as Batman.
[Christopher Nolan directs actor Aaron Eckhart on the set of Warner Bros. hit 'The Dark Knight.' ]
Warner Bros/Everett Collection
Christopher Nolan directs actor Aaron Eckhart on the set of Warner Bros. hit 'The Dark Knight.'

Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov wants the studio to release as many as eight such movies a year by 2011. "The long-term goal of the studio is to take advantage of what has become a very global market by focusing on bigger films that require a bigger commitment," he says. Warner Bros. films released last year grossed $2 billion internationally, about 42% more than their $1.4 billion domestic take.

Mining the comic-book franchise is central to the success of Warner Bros.' strategy. Its lineup of "tent poles" -- Hollywood-speak for big movies that are the foundation of a studio's slate -- has thinned. Warner Bros. has been slow to capitalize on DC, and it now faces a rival in Marvel Entertainment Inc.'s Marvel Studios, the company behind box-office gusher "Iron Man."

Superhero films based on comic-book legends, like "The Dark Knight," have emerged as some of the strongest players in the global market, in part because they're natural candidates for tie-ups with consumer products and games that can also be marketed globally.

"Superheroes are more global than ever in today's commercial world, existing in 30 languages and in more than 60 countries," says Paul Levitz, president and publisher of DC Comics. The characters are "a world-wide export," he says.
[Marvel's 'Iron Man,' was a big success at the box office.Warner has been slower to capitalize on its DC Comics characters.]
Paramount/Everett Collection
Marvel's 'Iron Man,' was a big success at the box office. Warner has been slower to capitalize on its DC Comics characters.

"Films with our DC properties have the opportunity to support other divisions in the company in a way that our other movies don't," Mr. Robinov says, for example, with products such as a Superman game or toys. 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.

While big ambitions can result in a huge payoff, they can also end in huge losses. Warner's car adventure "Speed Racer" bombed at the box office in May. The film, said to have cost as much as $150 million, has taken in only $43.9 million in the U.S. Some other big-budget Warner films, such as spy comedy "Get Smart," also have failed to meet expectations.

Earlier this year, Warner Bros. shut its two art-house labels, Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures. The studio currently releases 25 to 26 films a year. By 2010, Mr. Robinov plans to pare production to 20 to 22 movies a year.

A movie referred to internally as "Justice League of America," originally said to be for next summer, was planned as one of the studio's major releases. With that film, starring a superhero team, Warner hoped to spark interest in DC characters like Green Lantern who haven't yet attained the level of popularity of Batman. But script problems, among other things, have delayed the movie.

The studio said last week that "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," originally slated for November release, would come out next July -- on the same weekend that "The Dark Knight" opened this year. The Batman sequel made more than $150 million in the U.S. that weekend. "We just needed a July movie," said Alan Horn, president of the studio, at the time.

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."

One of the studio's other big releases planned for 2009, "Watchmen," is the subject of a high-profile copyright lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox.

Based on the premise that superheroes are real people grappling with their own problems, "Watchmen" is an apocalyptic vision of their world. Fox says it is seeking an injunction to enforce its copyright interest in the film. Last week, a federal judge ruled that it may have rights to the property. News Corp. is the parent of Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co.

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.

Many of the studio's directors credit Mr. Robinov for taking Warner Bros.' films in a darker and deeper direction. Christopher Nolan, who directed "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," says Mr. Robinov "really encouraged the logic of the villain" from "Batman Begins." That led to focusing heavily on the Joker in the sequel. "At the script stage, Jeff really wanted us to be very clear on the Joker's lack of purpose," he says.