In a recent interview with the Geek House Show, Brandon Routh discussed why there was never a sequel to “Superman Returns,” and whether he would be interested in returning to play Superman again.
First donning the blue tights and red cape of the Man of Steel in the 2006 film “Superman Returns,” Routh once again played Superman in the 2019/2020 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover that took place across The CW’s superhero shows.
As for why a sequel to “Superman Returns” never happened, Routh says that a sequel was always in their plans, but various circumstances didn’t allow it to happen, including box office figures.
“The intention was to do a sequel, always to do, with a big tentpole movie like that. They want to make more as long as they feel like they’ve recouped the money that they invested into the film. At the end of the day, the studio, Warner Brothers, decided it was too much of a gamble for them to do a sequel. The creative entities, the writers and the directors were on to other things. Certain people at the studio who were excited about Superman had left to go on to other projects at other studios. So, it was both the passion and the interest in Superman dissipated and the movie, I guess for them, didn’t bring back enough monetary success for them to pull the trigger on it.”
With the possibility of multiverse versions of different DC characters popping up in the upcoming movie “The Flash,” Routh says he’s open to the possibility of coming back to play Superman one more time.
“I mean, yeah, I think that’s always a possibility. Of course, they’re bringing in Michael Keaton, which I’m excited about, and some other people from past DC projects.”
“I think it’s very exciting! It worked really well in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and I was extremely proud and honored to be a part of it and to reprise my Superman. So it’s absolutely a possibility. You can do anything! Everybody lives and dies all the time in those things.”
Would you like to see Brandon Routh make a cameo appearance as Superman in “The Flash” movie?
If they’re going to lean into the “Worlds of DC” idea, with the recent Joker and upcoming Batman films not being attached to the DCEU, it makes as much sense to give Routh his own project again. Personally, I’d like to see such a project a little more creatively distant from the Christopher Reeve films (even though I thought the Superman III joke in Crisis was hilarious), mostly so Routh can really fly on his own (see what I did there?!) Between HBOMax, the CW, and theatrical and home distribution channels, I can’t see why it wouldn’t make financial sense.
I second that motion afriend! 😀
All in favor say aye.
Aye!!! 😀
And I hope that they would keep the John Williams Superman theme song for him. And also the crystallized Fortress of solitude. 🙂
Brandon Routh for Superman! 😀
Sad that we did not get a Superman Returns Sequel but happy Brandon got to play Superman again the Kingdome Come version in The CW Arrowverse DCTV Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover.
“Would you like to see Brandon Routh make a cameo appearance as Superman in “The Flash” movie?” My answer is Yes! Absolutely! From this article, it sounds like he’s still interested in the part. So let’s get him back in the role. 😀 Give him a cameo in the Flash movie, his own Superman movie trilogy separate from the DCEU. We have the multiverse now. We can have more than one version of Superman. Make a Superman Routh meets Superman Cavill crossover film. They both have a big fan fallowing for their versions of Superman. A team up film could… Read more »
BR was picked because he fit into the direction of what and where they thought the Superman character would be best suited. And that was to parallel SR with the success of Donner’s STM. He was in the category from a visual standpoint, a Reeve play off. I didn’t see that much of it in SR but the general story plot had many elements of STM through out. Singer and company introduced story lines that were appreciated by some and disliked by others. The movie came out strong but didn’t have the legs it needed to make that extra $100… Read more »
It’s kind of a case of being neither fish nor fowl. It wanted to be a continuation while also being the start of a new series and it didn’t really work as either. Especially with both of leads being so young yet they’re also supposed to be two people who have all this history. That’s before getting into the bad costume design, deadbeat Dad thing, going back to real-estate Lex (and I say that as someone who loves Hackman’s Luthor) and lack of a villain Superman could have a physical confrontation with which they over-compensated in the Snyder stuff and… Read more »
I can see your points on SR MattComics, although I believe that the deadbeat dad perception on Brandon’s Superman is a common misconception. A deadbeat dad is someone who knowingly and willingly rejects his responsibilities as a father to his own child. A responsibility that Superman wasn’t aware of in Superman returns. For him to have been a deadbeat dad he would’ve had to have known about Lois being pregnant with Jason prior leaving earth to find Krypton. When he came back, Lois had introduced Clark to Richard and her son Jason. Jason calling Richard daddy, would most likely lead… Read more »
I hope that you don’t take on what I said as being mean or condescending Mattcomics. I was only trying to explain why I don’t view Superman as a deadbeat father for this film. If you felt insulted by what I said, I’m sorry. Believe me that was not my intention.
Not at all dude I don’t think you were being mean or condescending. You’re probably right that illegitimate father is a bit more accurate. I think I’ve become rather used to that aspect of the movie being referred to as “deadbeat dad”. I mean the whole thing of him leaving always stuck me as a bit off anyway and the situation with Jason just makes it that much more awkward.
Thanks for understanding. I’ve heard people call Superman a stalker in SR. And I do think though that calling Superman a stalker in that one scene where he’s using his X-ray vision to watch Lois is a hard one to argue against. I really can’t find any way to defend that part of the movie. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of the film, it’s just that Superman really shouldn’t be using his superpowers to spy on Lois.
The stalker nonsense was just one of the over rated topics along with looking in on Lois. I NEVER though of any of that in that context when I saw the movie. This is what happens when you add different elements into this character. I thought the worst part in the movie, was at the end when he’s given the child the Jor-EL speech. Why?……..because all of a sudden he’s in the child’s bedroom,.. IN Lois’s house. There’s a bunch of other stuff as well. And the it got hammered for it. But all of that combined,… weighed in regarding… Read more »
Just sayin what I’ve heard. And believe me, I don’t like the stalker claim either, but that scene I felt really didn’t work well for Superman. I do agree that they did an excellent job in showing his powers. The best part in my opinion was when he saved the plane. As for the kid, I haven’t seen the actor since Superman Returns, so I wouldn’t know who he is if he showed up on the big screen again.
It wasn’t really a stalker but more so a peeping Tom. Never the less, I saw the scene for what it was. He realized what he’d given up for leaving Earth and Lois. That scene led to him flying off, floating over Earth while hearing everything. Is there that much of a difference having him hear everything opposed to seeing everything??
Being a peeping Tom I think is as bad as being a stalker. Both are having an invasion of privacy, not to mention also it’s creepy. Now as for what superman was doing with his super hearing to hear everything going on in the world, that was to see who needed his help. However, what he was doing with his x-ray vision to look at Lois at her home to see her, that was an invasion of privacy. And again I find that superman should not have done that.
But I do see where you’re coming from for what Singer was going for. Showing Superman having a sense of loss on the what could have been for him. The woman that he loves now with another guy with a kid. He traveled to his home planet only to see it’s really gone, and when he gets back from his travel, he sees that Lois has moved on. So I do see your point in that scene.
I wasn’t trying to make it seem like one description was exceptable over the other. The background music during that scene I thought conveyed why he was there.There was a payback for him doing that and it was hearing the conversation between Richard and Lois. After the movie was out for a bit, the internet critics started to voice opinions. I was disappointed reading that certain story lines were being perceived in such negative ways. But that scene along with a few others were almost attacked once the internet crap started and it went WAY beyond an appraisal of that… Read more »
I see. I always felt that Singer had the right idea for Superman Returns being a sequel to Superman the movie and Superman II, just the wrong approach in my opinion. What I didn’t like was the illegitimate son they gave him, Lois not caring about him, Kryptonite island, and really no villain to actually be a physical challenge for Superman. If they had say brought in Brainiac as the villain who detected Kryptonian technology on earth, and came to try and take it and destroy the planet, then that would’ve been really cool to see. Now I’m not saying… Read more »
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve stated. I as well thought it was a great movie. You know you mentioned Clark on the farm. When adult Clark woke up he went outside and played with the dog. Remember when he through the ball two miles away and the dog just sat with a wimper? Even that was dumped on by the dog lovers of America. The negative disection of the movie was over the top. I believe they thought SR was going to be a hit all the way around. After 20 years, SR was a re-introduction of sorts and… Read more »
Very true redcape. Very true.
I think that by talking about Brandon possibly coming back as Superman is a good way to help make it happen. I truly believe that with enough fans talking about it, it will catch wind by the higher ups and that they could give us something with Routh’s Superman. So the more we talk about wanting Routh to come back and support his Superman, the more likely I believe it will happen.
So let’s bring back Routh for Superman! 😀
[…] data-reactid=”26″ type=”text”>During his recent conversation with Geek House Show, Routh said that “the intention was to do do a sequel” to Superman Returns, but then when its […]
Anyone played the SR game? I thought the opening was very well done in space where he had to fight his way on Warworld. If I had done the film differently, I would have continued right after the events of Superman II. He felt guilt after he defeated Zod, Ursa and Non (the Lester Cut or the theatrical version) for killing them inside the bottomless pits of the fortress of solitude, so he exiled himself in space. The story would be loosely based on the Exile storyline. He tries his best surviving in space and after he almost snaps he… Read more »
Release the Singer cut!!!
😀
Hehehe I knew you were gonna say that.
Seriously though many scenes from the trailer, including those with actor James Karen as Ben Hubbard and some Metropolis scenes inside the Dailly Planet never made it to the final cut. The original Krypton remains deleted scene/opening sequence made more sense to me storywise.
A Singer Cut Someday would definitely be a good Christmas prwsent. I just hope it won’t be on Superman’s 100th anniversary
I hope that they decide to release it within the next five years or so. The sooner the better. 🙂
The problem is that the theatrical cut was the Singer cut. WB gave him the money to do the Return to Krypton sequence (the most expensive thing about that movie) and he cut it out willingly. There *is* a fan-edit that re-inserts all the deleted scenes (and trims some others), if anyone’s interested in that. I’ve seen it, but personally and much as I disliked SR, I’ve watched it too many times and the little trims don’t work for me. Ironically, for as long as I’ve argued against it, I know that film by heart. Also, the deleted scenes really… Read more »
Yeah reports of it being costly something close to 5 million were all over the place once that beast of a scene was released
SR was loosely connected to S2 and even S1. Singer took some, shall we say outrageous liberties, in what he used in his story. For instance the child. Seemed more like it was connected to Donner’s version of S2,… but not entirely. Elements from all of them. Regarding him in S2 and the fate of the villains. Their fate never seemed to be an issue at the time. In the deleted or alternate scenes from the Donner cut, they were shown getting escorted out of the Fortress by the police. But back then there was no media to bring up… Read more »
I’ve learned to appreciate the finer points of film-making present in Superman Returns, but I’m still not regretting in the slightest not getting a sequel. My interest in that movie dissipated the moment it was announced it was going to pick up after the Donner films and much as I forced myself to try and invest in it, I just couldn’t. It’s for the best, as far as I’m concerned. I can now look back at it and enjoy it for what it is, as its own thing, this nice little microcosm of mid-2000s superhero film-making. I’m not sure I’d… Read more »
Superman Reboot. Starring Brandon Routh. I think when and if he gets the opportunity again…again…he would.
I hoping it’s a matter of when. 😀
Sequel or reboot, I’m all for it if it means Routh is back in the Superman role. 😀
Even a new TV series
Yes please! 😀
Sorry but I’m not on board with you on a TV series. They just don’t have the money to properly do him justice. Just like this new CW series, it’s going to dissolve into a version of Supergirl. And it’ll probably be loaded up with today’s over rated “sensitive topics” as well.
To each there own redcape. As for Tyler’s Superman’s show, I say agree to disagree
And they could pull off a Superman Routh series on HBO or HBOmax. HBO has had shows with impressive effects, so it’s a possibility. There’s been rumors that Routh might get a Superman series on HBOmax. Maybe it will happen. It was said that Routh wouldn’t return to the role of Superman after Superman Returns, and look what happened. He came back for the crossover. And at the end of that crossover we saw that his Superman is still alive. So anything is possible.
I guess they could call it, Superman Returns Again !!!
I heard rumors back around 2008/2009 that Routh’s Superman Returns sequel would’ve been called Superman: The Man of Steel.
I think that giving Routh a sequel could still happen with the same title. It wouldn’t confuse the audience between MoS and this film since the words Superman and The, would be in the title. The suicide squad movie has basically the same title as the first one except they have the word The in front of it.