What's Happening With the Next Superman Movie?
[Last Updated: July 18, 2010]
This page will attempt to answer all your questions about the next Superman movie. Bear in mind that there is very little official news to actually draw on. The following information is pieced together from various interviews and reports published on the internet by various news websites.
Q: Will the next movie be a sequel to "Superman Returns" or a reboot?
A: The Wall Street Journal posted an article that reveals that the Superman franchise is confirmed to be rebooting. "'Superman [Returns]' didn't quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to," said Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov. "It didn't position the character the way he needed to be positioned." "Had 'Superman [Returns]' worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of [2008] or 2009. But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman."
Q: Is there a script for the next Superman movie?
A: Christopher Nolan and David Goyer told the LA Times that they are working on a new Superman movie.
"It's very exciting, we have a fantastic story," Christopher Nolan said while sipping tea in the sleek editing suite that fills the converted garage adjacent to his Hollywood home. "And we feel we can do it right. We know the milieu, if you will, we know the genre and how to get it done right."
David Goyer is writing the script...
"He basically told me, 'I have this thought about how you would approach Superman,' " Nolan recalled. "I immediately got it, loved it and thought: That is a way of approaching the story I've never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting. I wanted to get Emma and I involved in shepherding the project right away and getting it to the studio and getting it going in an exciting way."
"We're producing the [Superman] film and David Goyer had a terrific take on the story," Nolan told MTV News during the 2010 ShoWest convention. "I've been working on the story with David, and he's going to go off and write it, and we'll see where it goes."
Q: Will Bryan Singer direct the next Superman movie?
A: Unlikely. He has been quoted as saying that he's "not officially not involved". Rumors have circulated about either Jonathan Nolan or Chris Columbus possibly directing, but nothing has been confirmed.
Q: Will Brandon Routh return in the role of Clark Kent/Superman?
A: Unknown, but highly unlikely. LatinoReview.com posted a report in October 2008 claiming that Paul Levitz, president of DC Comics, told them that Brandon Routh has had meetings both in offices in New York and Los Angeles to talk about the next movie. Whether that means he's involved or not cannot be confirmed yet but it doesn't look good for Brandon.
Q: Will any of the other cast members from "Superman Returns" be in the next movie?
A: Unknown, but again highly unlikely. Many of the cast signed 3 picture deals, but Warner Bros. is under no obligation to cast them in the next movie.
Q: What will the next movie be titled?
A: Initially the movie was thought to be titled "Superman: The Man of Steel", but more recently the project has been known as "Superman Unleashed". But it could be anything.
Q: Why do I keep hearing they want to make the next Superman film darker?
A: This idea originated from an interview with Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov by The Wall Street Journal who wrote:
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.
Whether or not Robinov actually meant that he wants the character to be darker or the situation the character is in to be darker, is up to individual speculation.
Q: Who will be the villain(s) in the next movie?
A: Seeing as how no script has been written yet, this remains unknown. However in July 2008 Legendary Pictures producer Thomas Tull told Variety.com that Superman is "an iconic character. After everything that went into the first film, it's important to make sure that nothing is rushed and we come out with a fantastic second film." One thing they all agree on: Superman needs a powerful antagonist, a "worthy opponent," he said. Many fans have voted Brainiac as their top choice.
Q: When will the next Superman movie be released to cinemas?
A: By Christmas 2012. TheHollywoodReporter revealed that Time Warner's Chairman and CEO Barry Meyer confirmed during the company's Investor Day presentation that the new Superman film is scheduled to be released during the holiday season of 2012.
Meyer particularly highlighted that DC Comics characters are key parts of Warner's future, mentioning a July 20, 2012 release date for the latest "Batman" film by Christopher Nolan and a holiday season 2012 "Superman" film.
If you have any other questions not covered above feel free to email me.
Steve Younis
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