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 »