According to a new post at The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. will not be producing a movie about either Val-Zod or Calvin Ellis with their upcoming reboot to the Superman film franchise, but will be telling a story about a black Kal-El.
As we know, J.J. Abrams (producer) and Ta-Nehisi Coates (writer) are working on the new project, with Coates expected to deliver his script in December 2021.
While actor Michael B. Jordan’s name has long been rumored to be connected with a Superman reboot, he recently explained that he told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m flattered that people have me in that conversation. It’s definitely a compliment, but I’m just watching on this one.”
Warner Bros. are more likely to hire a relatively unknown actor to take the lead role, while they also search for a director, preferably a black director, to helm the film.
Reportedly Coates is crafting a Kal-El in the vein of the original Superman comics and will have the protagonist hail from Krypton and come to Earth. One option under consideration is for the film to be set in the 20th century rather than in current times.
This just reeks of WB trying to smooth over the ray fisher stuff. Wb can’t get out of their own way and this is desperate even for them. I’ll support any Superman project, but I have no faith in JJ and his cohorts. The problem with Superman is not solved by race bending either. The problem is the writing/writers/directors not having any faith in the character and taking a defeatist attitude towards it. Now with that being said, they could do something really cool and interesting with race and make some sort of social commentary with this project… the character… Read more »
I have faith in them creating an interesting story that I can enjoy. I just do not want it to erase Henry Cavill’s Superman.
I want a Man of Steel sequel, but I don’t think we’re getting one. I DO want a continuation of Henry Cavill’s Superman, even if it’s only in Zack Snyder’s Justice League movies (that hopefully get made). I will gladly take a cameo of Henry Cavill’s Superman in a Shazam movie, Aquaman movie, a Wonder Woman movie, in a Black Adam movie, in a Flash movie, etc.
I’ll wait for far more concrete information than this, be it in regards to whether this completely (and probably does) rule out a Henry Cavill Superman existing and also in regards to this film in itself– but I won’t lie, my spider-sense is tingling in all the wrong ways. EDIT: Also, I don’t know if this is a complete coincidence, I don’t like getting conspiratorial; but considering THR is a well-known “unofficial official leak” page for studios (especially Warner’s), it’s interesting to me that they released this on Cavill’s birthday. Especially if the rumors of feuds within the studio are… Read more »
They haven’t been doing a great pr job… between the snyder stuff and alienating the creatives by releasing all their content on hbo Max without consulting them, they’ve completely made themselves villains. They seem to be leaning into it too. The Justice League 4K and this releasing on henrys bday seem particularly petty.
They are trying to make a statement, but I’m not sure they’ve correctly gauged their audience. One of the reasons I’m very skeptical of this project is that I’m *100%* sure the studio wants to “Black Panther” it. Since prime Superman doesn’t make them the numbers they want, they’ll promote this as the most socially important comic book film in history, probably do what Marvel did and push for an Oscar nomination. But Cavill is well-liked by practically everyone. The general audience will likely not care about the race angle nearly as much as they’re hoping. Hardcore fans of Snyder’s… Read more »
Pass the salt… I need a grain or two.
There have been so many false starts on Superman film projects, that I wouldn’t get super hyped either way until they are actually rolling. I mean let’s all take a moment and reflect on how great D.J. Cotrona was in Justice League…
I’m going to have wait for more information about this film before I give my full opinion on it. I just feel that there isn’t enough for me to go on for now. Same can be said about Cavill. I just don’t know if he will be back. It could be something like they might do both. A black Superman movie universe and a Cavill one as well. I’m pretty sure that the multiverse concept is in play now for the movies. I guess it’s just a matter of wait and see. However my full attention for Superman right now… Read more »
My big issue with this, is they are doing solely for the sake of race. They don’t want to do Superman from earth 25 or Calvin Ellis. And if you don’t like that they want to make a Superman who is kal-el you are already a bigot or racist, and the people saying that don’t even read the comics or support Superman.
First Superman movie/series I will never watch.
Well, if this is true, then I’m disappointed they chose not to go with Val-Zod (Calvin Ellis would’ve been too political and divisive, since he’s the US President on his Earth, and obviously modelled on Obama). Val-Zod is a great character, who could’ve been used to create a sense of legacy. In the comics, he takes over as Earth’s Superman after Kal-El’s death in battle against Darkseid. Plus, he’s General Zod’s son! How awesome would it have been to see all that happen with Henry Cavill’s Superman effectively passing the ‘S’ shield to the son of his enemy – the… Read more »
You know, I was actually thinking about this. Calvin Ellis would be a terrible idea, not so much because he’s modelled after Obama, but because this would be a very powerful person using even bigger powers to impose his authority (even unwillingly) on others. It’s a bloody minefield to navigate and really, really doesn’t work in any context even approaching real life. I mean, I like the conflict of the dilemma of how much he should interfere as Superman, when he’s already the most powerful man in the world of politics, but it can go very bad very quickly. Buuuuut,… Read more »
Nope. Won’t ever watch it. This is obviously WB trying to jump on the BLM bandwagon. If it wasn’t they would have gone with Calvin Ellis, not a black Kal-El. Why are we changing his race? Oh, I know…to make him seem relevant. So over “woke” society.
Agree 100%. Besides,….. there’s no such thing as Black Kal-El.
The entire entertainment industry is woke,liberal,socialist, and from here on out this will probably be their theme and direction. The people that are running the WB are all on board with this “garb-o-la”, and the “real” Superman will probably not return.
Like it or not, Snyder’s outings will be the last of it’s kind representing any degree of proper Superman characterization.
If this is true, and that may be a big if, it ticks me off. Here’s a great opportunity to let Calvin or Val get some narrative oxygen, and just “nope” – leave it to WB to do the least amount of work possible. I’ll wait to hear more before I make any major judgements, but… yeah.
If they can’t get Cavil’s Superman right (and I think he would do an awesome job if given the !@#$ing chance) what are the chances they’d get Val-Zod or Calvin Ellis, or even this version right? I wish WB would sell the rights, hell at this point if they’d make a “Good movie” I’d even say give it to disney….yuck that tasted bad.
As far as I’m concerned, they DID get Cavil’s Superman right. Just not enough of him.
I am just sick and tired of the virtue signalling and outright Marxist propaganda that permeates the comic book industry today. Growing up, like many others, I love to read comic books because of the larger than life characters and the tales of good versus evil. I became enamored with Superman because of what he stood for, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” – in addition to his respect for life. During the course of the 90’s, as the older writers began to retire the trend began toward pushing ideas from the far left, with Marvel Comics being the worst… Read more »
The fact that they never gave Cavill a sequel of his own disappoints me. I will never watch this new movie unless it is cavill in the role.
Maybe they could blackface Cavill? :lol
This is what I hope is happening.
I hope this black Superman is part of the multiverse.
I hope Henry Cavill will still be Superman in movies.
I hope we have a true multiverse that allows for this black Superman to exist, for Henry Cavill’s Superman to exist, and for Zack Snyder’s Justice League sequels to happen.
The Arrowverse can keep doing it’s stuff.
If DC is really doing multiverse as it claims it is, then this should not be a problem.
This is all about appeasing the woke liberals by redoing everything that was a success in White. Redo it all in Black or role reversal from male to female. It’s society pollution all brought on by the cancel culture, woke liberal/socialist club.
I am going to have to stop coming here. I have been coming to this site since it was first created and have been a proud Superman fan for as long as I can remember. But for the first time ever I am ashamed to be a Superman to be a Superman fan just seeing all the borderline racist comments here. As an African-American male I am very much looking forward to seeing maybe KalEl aka Calvin Ellis or Val-Zod as Superman but it’s just so sad to see how closed minded people can be.
Sorry you feel that way. The word “racist” has now been allowed to be applied to virtually anything or anyone, for what ever reason as well. As far as I’m concerned it’s an excuse word. The word has been used in mass quantities in all environments as a form of reason in which we now must out of created guilt, (phony as it may be), somehow obligate a reversal our entire living structure to accommodate and add to what appears to be a never ending or winning battle. That’s what this is all about.
I like the Val-Zod Superman. I would like to see that version of Superman on the big or small screen. Speaking of earth-2 Superman, does anyone know if Val-Zod will be back in any upcoming Superman comic series? Perhaps a return of the Earth-2 comic series?