Superman (casting, rumors, pix till release)

[Aragorn]

Kevin Costner for Jonathan, Susan Sarandon for Martha and Tim Robbins for Lex! .

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Susan Sarandon for Martha and Tim Robbins for Lex! .

Now, that would feel odd.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

So with a bigger name like Costner should we assume that Jonathan Kent is going to be alive for awhile(at least one potential sequel) before he's taken by natural causes?

If this is an origins movie like has been reported, they will likely want to distance themselves from Donner's movie as much as possible, meaning it is quite possible Pa Kent will remain alive by the end of the film.

Indeed. Keep in mind that from the John Byrne reboot in the '80s until a couple of years ago, both Jonathan and Martha were alive and well in the comics' present day. And before that, both Ma and Pa Kent died before Clark moved to Metropolis. The premise of Jonathan dying and Martha surviving was unique to the Donner movie, until Smallville copied it and the comics subsequently copied both of those. It is certainly not a standard or obligatory part of the Superman story for Jonathan Kent to die.

Jonathan dying and Martha (or Ma Kent) surviving isn't unique to the Donner movie.

The first episode of The Adventures of Superman has Ma Kent — aka Sara Kent in this version — outliving Pa Kent (or Eben Kent).

Ma Kent sees Clark off at the bus depot, before he heads off to Metropolis. She reminds him of the "super" suit that she sewed from his baby blankets. (IIRC, it is also the first time it's mentioned that Ma Kent made his uniform, which was quickly carried over into the comics.)


Nevertheless, most accounts, including Tom DeHaven's It's Superman novel, have Martha dying first.

Of course, Jonathan Kent's death has long been an important lesson for a young Clark long before Donner's movie or Smallville.

Superman No. 53/1, also portrays Clark Kent as having already attained manhood by the time of the Kent’s death. And, while it is vague concerning the exact chronology of the event, it does establish for the first time that Martha Kent died first as well as chronicling the deathbed conversation between Jonathan Kent and his foster son that would ultimately serve as the model for all future recapitulations of the event.

“No man on Earth has the amazing powers you have,” whispered Jonathan Kent, his last strength fast fading.

“You can use them to become a powerful force for good!”

“How, Dad?” asked Clark.

“There are evil men in this world,” replied Jonathan Kent, “...criminals and outlaws who prey on decent folk! You must fight them...in cooperation with the law!

“To fight criminals best, you must hide your true identity! They must never know Clark Kent is a ... a super-man! Remember, because that’s what you are...a superman! (Jul/Aug 1948: “The Origin of Superman!”).

Action Comics No. 158 recapitulates the deathbed scene, still portraying Clark Kent as “a grown man” at the time of his foster parents’ passing but now incorporating the element, inconsistant in the chronicles, of Clark’s having already passed his boyhood and adolescence performing super-heroics as Superboy.

“Clark,” intoned the dying Jonathan Kent, “your super-powers made you a champion of right as Superboy! Now you must continue your role as Superman--but always keep your true identity hidden!”

“I will!” replied Clark. “I’ll keep on wearing these glasses and appear timid, so no one will guess my secret!” (Jul 1951: “The Kid from Krypton!”).

Superman No. 146/1 confirms, by and large, all the previous accounts, adding only that the Kents died shortly following Clark Kent’s return home to Smallville following his graduation from college, and that Martha Kent’s death preceded her husband’s by several months (Jul 1961: “The Story of Superman’s Life!”).

The account of the Kents’ death contained in Superman No. 161/1 (May 1963: “The Last Days of Ma and Pa Kent!”) represents a significant break with the earlier chronicles, the Kents are portrayed as having passed away within hours of one another, while Clark Kent was still an adolescent—shortly after unearthing an early eighteenth-century pirate chest contaminated with the germs of a rare “fever plague” while vacationing on an island somewhere in the Caribbean. Fatally stricken by this “strange malady,” a disease for which there is no known cure, the Kents lapse into a coma and die within less than twenty-four hours, although Jonathan Kent does regain consciousness long enough to urge his foster so to “always use your super-powers to do good... uphold law and order, “ and then whisper, “Good luck, my son ... and goodbye!” The Kents here show none of the youth bestowed on them in a later story (SB No. 145, Mar 1968: "The Fantastic Faces!").

Source

And in 1973, the origin of Superman was once again re-told and included the deathbed scene with a line that is similar to the one spoken by a young Clark in Superman: The Movie.

 

[TheSeeker]

I have to say I really like the idea of Kevin Costner has Jonathan Kent.

 

[Christopher]

Jonathan dying and Martha (or Ma Kent) surviving isn't unique to the Donner movie. [examples follow]

Granted, but the point is, there have also been plenty of Superman stories over the past 25 years in which Jonathan Kent has been alive and well: the comics from The Man of Steel until recently, the '88 Ruby-Spears animated series, Lois & Clark, the DC Animated Universe. It's anything but mandatory for Jonathan to die.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Please let this be true. I would love to see Kostner as Johnathan Kent. I would love to see him make another come back, he deserves it.

 

[Admiral_Young]

No one said it was mandatory for him to die. He died last year in the comics in the "New Krypton" storyline to provide more emotional conflict for Clark. "Smallville" "copying" "Superman: The Movie" is a little harsh statement in my opinion since the series has paid homage to the movie in various ways.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ I always felt that Jonathan was killed off in Smallville because of criticisms which Schneider had aimed at the writing on the show.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I don't know about the behind the scenes reasons why he was killed off. Some fans speculated at the time it was just a shock move to gain ratings for their anniversary episode. The whole episode was kind of a homage to "Superman: The Movie". With Clark changing time and losing Jonathon.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Jonathan dying and Martha (or Ma Kent) surviving isn't unique to the Donner movie. [examples follow]

Granted, but the point is, there have also been plenty of Superman stories over the past 25 years in which Jonathan Kent has been alive and well: the comics from The Man of Steel until recently, the '88 Ruby-Spears animated series, Lois & Clark, the DC Animated Universe. It's anything but mandatory for Jonathan to die.

I understood the point, and I wasn't disputing it. I wanted to address an inaccuracy in your statement and take the opportunity to provide a deeper clarification of the history behind Jonathan Kent's death and its impact on the Superman mythos.

There are both pros and cons in keeping Jonathan alive or in killing him. In the end, it depends on the type of story being told.

 

[Greg Cox]

Jonathan dying and Martha (or Ma Kent) surviving isn't unique to the Donner movie. [examples follow]

Granted, but the point is, there have also been plenty of Superman stories over the past 25 years in which Jonathan Kent has been alive and well: the comics from The Man of Steel until recently, the '88 Ruby-Spears animated series, Lois & Clark, the DC Animated Universe. It's anything but mandatory for Jonathan to die.

He was also alive and well in the Lois & Clark tv show.

 

[Christopher]

^Which I did mention in there.

 

[Grid-Sec]

Betcha he'll be Perry White.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I originally was thinking Perry White until Jackson Archer suggested to me that he'd be a great Jonathon Kent.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Actually after thinking about he most resembles the Pa Kent from "Birthright" and "Secret Origins". This intrigues the hell out of me.

I originally was thinking Perry White until Jackson Archer suggested to me that he'd be a great Jonathon Kent.

I detect an inconsistency! You failed to mention JA first time out! You changed your mind after I suggested Jonathan Kent, admit it?!

 

[Admiral_Young]

LOL. To be honest Jackson mentioned it to me on facebook but very well yes here it was you that changed my mind when you mentioned it!!! LOL

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Ha! You should have known I'd be far too vainglorious to let that go!

 

[Admiral_Young]

I like to be diplomatic

 

[Aragorn]

They're following the Batman Begins playbook. His fake identity will be Jonathan Kent, then in the third act he'll reveal himself to be Brainiac.

 

[Admiral_Young]

That's a somewhat ironic joke since in the New Krypton storyline Jonathon dies while Superman is engaged fighting Brainiac. Clark blamed himself that he couldn't save his father and beat the shit out of Brainiac at the same time.