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Is it time to give Abrams another crack as Superman?

Captaindemotion

Captaindemotion

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As BBS-ers with a longer memory might recall, Star Trek director JJ Abrams wrote a controversial script for a Superman movie some years ago, during the long hiatus that eventually ended with Superman Returns.

This script received a hostile response on AICN, leading to petitions (signed by myself, I'm afraid to say) and outcry from fans. The reasons? Well, Krypton wasn't destroyed, Jor-El instead sent him away to avoid a civil war, Lex Luthor was a salesman, who was 'taken over' by a Kryptonian named Luth-Or, Clark as a child killed a mugger who attacked Martha Kent. It saw substantial changes to Superman 'canon' and many changes with things that we now take for granted in Superman's backstory (even allowing for the many changes that have occurred in said backstory anyway). The fan backlash led to the studio having cold feet and although the script was altered, they ultimately went with Bryan Singer's now-equally-controversial take on The Man of Steel.

Actors and directors such as Brendan Fraser, Henry Cavill and McG have since claimed that J's take on Supes was the most ambitious take on the character ever, a massive, epic, space saga. They reckon it would have been much more successful than SR.

Well, Mr Abrams is now the toast of Hollywood, having done the impossible. He has made Star Trek fashionable, critically acclaimed and financially successful (NB - if, by some freak occurrence, the movie flops, ignore that last bit!). He's recast the original crew, something unthinkable a few years ago and managed to turn out a movie that pleases long-term fans and the casual movie-goer alike.

With the Superman series now in limbo and WB apparently having no idea what to do with it, is he now the obvious man to go to? Is it time for WB to ignore fans' protests and goto the man with the Midas touch? After all, Singer's loving tribute to the Donner movies (which I personally like a lot) didn't set the world alight, why not go for the radical approach?

Thoughts, folks? Oh, and please don't turn this into another fight over SR. We've had enough of those since 2006 ...
 
Abrams? Maybe. I'll let you know in seven hours or so after I see his take on Trek.

That script? Certainly not.
 
He can do whatever the fuck he wants, as far as I'm concerned.

His Superman script did contain some pretty controversial ideas, but it was also a first draft too. He's since said he probably would have reined in some of the wackiness and retained most of the originality in concept.

As Roger Ebert is fond of saying, it doesn't matter what a movie's about; it's how it's about it. You can make a good movie out of almost anything if you approach it correctly.
 
Ah, I don't know. Remember, Brian Singer was the "toast of Hollywood" as well after X2, and look how that turned out.

Likewise, Peter Jackson was worshiped by nerds and Hollywood execs alike after Lord of the Rings, and his followup with King Kong was a middling success.

To be blunt, as much as I appreciate and enjoy Abrams take on Trek, I'm not ready to believe everything the guy touches is gold. It is far easier to make a successful film when working with material that was inspired to begin with (ie, LoTR and Trek). Not to downplay Abrams talent, but there are far too many cases of directors having one huge hit before fading to obscurity for me to assume he can turn any franchise around.
 
Not with that script, no. There's nothing worthwhile in it except for the description of some of the action scenes. Practically everything else is ridiculous and exists simply for the sake of changing things rather than because the story demanded it.
 
Actually I think that sounds kind of cool, though throwing out the origin like that and trying something new could either be a massive success or a massive failure.

Since I'm not much of a Superman fan (pretty much only a fan of Superman TAS/JL/JLU) I wouldn't mind them changing his origin story.
 
The script sounds awful, too many drastic changes that don't need to be there imo.
But he did a great job with ST, so with a script more true to the mythos, yeah I'd love to see a Abrams Superman, as long as it doesn't interfere with ST12
 
well anyone would do really... except for brett ratner and whoever wrote the crap that is x3. just don't let that whole team near anymore comicbook movies.... or any non-slapstic action comedy. >_<
 
Origin stories are unnecessary. Everyone knows Superman's origin. I think Abrams can do it well. Star Trek shows that he can do a good action blockbuster, which is what Superman needs to be.

Though, that is a part of me that really wants to see Oliver Stone's take on the Man of Steel.
 
Abrams has convinced me that if a planet is in play within a lore he is going to go against normal conventions.

Superman=Krytpon not blown up
Vulcan=blown to bits

I guess Abrams would nuke Gotham, gut out MI6 with explosives, keep Ben Parker alive etc etc
 
No Superman is done, he's dead, stick a fork in him. It time to let it die and press reset like you do when you are stuck and lost in some worthless section of an X-box game. Hit reset and go back to playing the parts that are enjoyable There are only two ways to do it, go back to the old charming personalities made by Donner or Christopher Reeve Or take on him back to the boy years and go back to Kansas, like the Smallville tv series without the bad writing and lame drama. Go back to the start his ability to out run a bullet or leap a building and explore the relationship with his family and townfolk All those needless character changes, and amping up powers again and again or fighting Xenu galactic overlords are completely stupid, it doesn't work with Superman, it can work with a Green Lantern but not Superman. His character sucks today, its time to hit reset
 
No, because I damn well hope he's going to be busy making Star Trek movies for a very, very long time.
 
I've got a copy of Abrams' Superman script.

If you take out the Superman-elements, it would make a great movie on its own.

But if you make it as a Superman movie, it would be bad. Too far-afield.

Joe, bootlegger
 
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