Warner Bros. Hires Ta-Nehisi Coates for Superman Movie Reboot

February 26, 2021 Movie News 49

Warner Bros. has reportedly hired writer Ta-Nehisi Coates to reboot the Superman film franchise alongside producer J.J. Abrams.

“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” Coates told Shadow and Act. “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”

“There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we’re beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity,” J.J. Abrams said in a statement to Shadow and Act.

“Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world,” added Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. “We’re confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel.”

Some sources are claiming the project is being set up as a Black Superman story. This idea has been floating around since actor Michael B. Jordan was attempting to develop a Black Superman project when he first arrived at Warner Bros. in 2019.

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NeoRanger

February 26, 2021 3:13 pm

Yeeeeah, I was afraid of this. The writing was on the wall, then they cast Supergirl… the direction they are going was kind of obvious. Based on the writer’s resume… it’s gonna be a hoot.

Low risk, high reward. Lean heavy on the politics, pull a Black Panther. Win-win for the company. Not sure about us (as in, the Kal-El fans, inb4 someone misreads into this).

afriend

February 26, 2021 3:28 pm

I find J.J. Abrams hit and miss; I *mostly* like what he did with Star Trek (though I’d argue that a huge chunk of the success of those films is the near perfect casting), and I liked The Force Awakens about as well as a newer Star Wars movie will allow (but I STILL haven’t seen The Rise of Skywalker, please no spoilers). But I just shudder whenever his name is mentioned in relation to Superman, because I read the Flyby script… My advice to anyone who wants to really succeed with Superman in film and television is to take… Read more »

sundevil82

February 26, 2021 8:52 pm

Reply to afriend

They biggest misstep the last 2 iterations (snyder version and returns) took was that they wrote him without charm and charisma. He was just a wordless wonder and audiences obviously don’t relate to a character like that. I’m so sick of the character being blamed for the shortcomings of writers/directors who apologize for who Superman is. That type of character can connect with audiences. Cap proved that. Jj is the equivalent to m. Night Shyamalan in my opinion.. glimmers and real moments of brilliance but over all just an inferior Spielberg copy.

Superman2878

February 26, 2021 10:11 pm

Reply to sundevil82

You bring up a good point sundevil82. I would even say that your point is being proven on the new Superman and Lois show. People are connecting with Tyler’s Superman. I’ve seen so many fan reactions to the pilot episode on YouTube, and every person that I’ve seen has said how great the new Superman show is. How great Superman is. I can’t think of one video where the viewers say anything negative about Superman. 🙂

Last edited 2 years ago by Superman2878

sundevil82

February 26, 2021 10:29 pm

Reply to Superman2878

Been seeing the same thing about the new show Spidey! I was on board the moment I saw him in the Fleischer suit. How could that not bring a smile to your face??? When people say they want a more optimistic or hopeful Superman, that doesn’t mean we want a jokey mcu style character. For me it means that the world around can be dark and grim but Superman is the light. I’ve read plenty of Superman comics where it’s a more serious take on the character, but they fleshed out his personality. I feel like Brandon’s Superman was more… Read more »

Superman2878

February 26, 2021 11:41 pm

Reply to sundevil82

I think that the best way in my opinion to view Superman is how Reeve had once described him. He’s a friend. And in the first few minutes of the pilot of Superman and Lois, we are reminded of that the second Tyler’s Superman helps that boy. Picking up the child’s hat that had fallen off, handing it back over to him and calling him friend. That’s what I believe fans and viewers want to see. Superman as our friend. A hero who will always help when he’s needed. Because that’s what a friend does. Superman, a friend.

Last edited 2 years ago by Superman2878

sundevil82

February 27, 2021 12:12 am

Reply to Superman2878

You nailed it Spidey!

Superman2878

February 27, 2021 12:43 am

Reply to sundevil82

I’m glad to hear it sundevil82. 🙂

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 5:32 am

Reply to sundevil82

Guys, I wouldn’t take anything related to Superman & Lois as an example of the character’s mainstream appeal. The audience for that show is a tiny fraction compared to the larger, international audience of a film. References and feel-good moments are nice for the fans that recognize them, but they don’t necessarily translate to wider appeal and audience retention over a period of several years.

Remember; even Superman II had a considerable drop-off compared to Superman.

sundevil82

February 27, 2021 6:49 pm

Reply to NeoRanger

I’m certainly not speaking for all Superman fans, but for myself it was good to see the hopeful version again. I enjoy the Henry version also… my issue with the Snyder Superman is not the darkness or the internal struggle, but I just feel like they didn’t give him really anything to say and do. You can be dark and brooding yet still have a personality.

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 8:14 pm

Reply to sundevil82

Sure, but I really wasn’t talking about tastes and the like (and there’s a lot to argue about in regards to Superman & Lois). The point is that Superman hasn’t managed to connect to a large audience for a long time and an entry level CW show isn’t an indication of audience demands. I mean, we often talk about how WB tries to fix the character all the time, but DC has been trying to “fix” Superman since the Silver Age, before most of us were born. It may just be that Superman won’t ever make Batman numbers and that’s… Read more »

Superman2878

February 26, 2021 10:54 pm

Reply to afriend

I do remember reading that both Routh and Cavill has tried out for Superman for that never made film. There were even some photos of both of them in the Super suit for the auditions if I remember correctly. Was the flyby script the one where Luthor was also a survivor of Krypton?

Last edited 2 years ago by Superman2878

afriend

February 28, 2021 3:45 pm

Reply to Superman2878

https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/its-henry-cavill-v-brandon-routh-in-superman-flyby-screentests

Last edited 2 years ago by afriend

Superman2878

February 28, 2021 6:46 pm

Reply to afriend

Thanks afriend. 🙂

Last edited 2 years ago by Superman2878

sundevil82

February 26, 2021 3:56 pm

I was afraid of this. I don’t understand why JJ is getting the keys to yet another franchise when he’s already divided two fanbases. Also, This new writer doesn’t appear to have ever written a screenplay or anything pertaining to movies/television. I’m not understanding this. JJ is the biggest liability here. I don’t enjoy his ‘lost’ form of story telling where he just asks a bunch of intriguing questions never intending to properly answer them. Did the same with Star Wars. I enjoyed trek movies and admittedly it got me into the franchise, but After going back and watching all… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by sundevil82

Clark_Jo

February 27, 2021 9:20 am

Reply to sundevil82

Nope, Ta-Nehisi Coates has never written a screen play. He gained prominence as a journalist writing about struggling black Americans under white oppression for the Atlantic. He also wrote several fiction novels about the same subject. Black protagonists battling white antagonists. I think one of his most popular books is about a black man with superpowers in pre-civil war America fighting against slave traders. Then wrote for Marvel’s Black Panther comics and when Falcon took over as Captain America. All that being said, it’s safe to say exactly what kind of Superman movie we are getting and the politics it… Read more »

Superman2878

February 26, 2021 4:41 pm

I wonder if this means we will see the Val-Zod Superman on screen. I think that would be an interesting approach to Superman.

Clark_Jo

February 27, 2021 10:56 am

Reply to Superman2878

Given the writer’s background, and the lack of knowledge of who Val-Zod is, I think race switching is how they are going to approach it.
“Controversy” is what this dude built his career on. I don’t see him saying away from it, nor do I see WB missing an opportunity to be “stunning and brave.”

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 2:21 pm

Reply to Clark_Jo

This is an interesting thing to ponder about. On one hand, Val-Zod seems like the logical choice (or Calvin Ellis, if they want to go the SuperObama route down the road). The character doesn’t have any real origin outside Earth-2, which means they could do whatever they want with him, drop him into Suicide Slums and have their race-relations commentary. But Val-Zod is a nobody, even casual fans wouldn’t recognize him. On the other hand, simply race-bending will cause a whole host of headaches for WB. For one thing, there will be people that just don’t like race-bending. Then, they… Read more »

Superman2878

February 27, 2021 3:23 pm

Reply to Clark_Jo

I think it would be interesting if they did explore the Val-Zod Superman story angle. I sort of picture it as Superman finding out that he had an adopted older brother from Krypton that he discovers. Maybe throughout the duration of the film, he asks Val about his parents and what they were like. If they don’t make a live action story of Val-Zod’s Superman, then I think they could at least make an animated movie about him. Is there a comic coming out with Val-Zod’s Superman soon? I thought I heard something but I’m not sure.

redcape

February 26, 2021 5:28 pm

Yea…….I’ll be skipping this. Seems that everything that’s been previously done in “White” now has to be redone in Black. This is the best they can do?? Maybe they can re-boot Black Panther as White Panther.

Last edited 2 years ago by redcape

approuty

February 26, 2021 6:24 pm

I’m taking the “wait and see” approach. I have no faith in WB.

sundevil82

February 26, 2021 7:37 pm

Reply to approuty

Nor do I. Nor do I trust JJ.

sundevil82

February 26, 2021 9:32 pm

I’m also going to say that Abrams is just Snyder 2.0. If you can’t tell I really don’t like Abrams and I really wanted McQuarrie.

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 6:06 am

Reply to sundevil82

JJ isn’t directing, he’s only the producer (for the time being, at least). His main job will be to make sure that the movie is a crowd-pleaser and Bad Robot have produced many a crowd-pleaser.

sundevil82

February 27, 2021 11:24 am

Reply to NeoRanger

Oh I know, I’m just afraid he’s going to bring one of his acolytes on like Alex kurtzman or something. I don’t care for his whole crew.

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 2:13 pm

Reply to sundevil82

Oh, I certainly hope not. I don’t mind JJ too much even on the director’s chair, I think the man is not without talent if kept on a leash, but Kurtzman and co? They’re hacks.

sundevil82

February 28, 2021 4:32 pm

Reply to NeoRanger

‘Hacks’ is putting it nicely haha

Kal-Ed

February 27, 2021 5:46 am

I’ve seen the news on multiple sites and it hasn’t shown up here. So my take on the whole thing. Since it is already known that WB has decided to take the multiversal approach to tackle new cinematic stories and outside the main continuity, depending which DC film is one’s main continuity…I think it is a refreshing idea from a business and creative standpoint. I mean back in the time Superman Returns was released a coupla black actors were approached including Will Smith to play the role. He declined of course and back then DC was still struggling company wise… Read more »

Clark_Jo

February 27, 2021 11:22 am

Reply to Kal-Ed

There is no “main continuity,” though. Hamada is letting every director do whatever they want. Looking at it realistically, “Multiverse” is just Hamada and DC Films’ way to get out of making a connected cinematic universe. WW84 totally contradicts BvS and JL, but hey, “Multiverse,” so it’s ok. Directors are free to do whatever they want to do now because “Hey, it’s part of the Multiverse.” They literally said, “All DC property is now connected via the ‘Multiverse,” at Fandome. This is brilliant because 1 it prevents the need to write, maintain and set up connected stories in their movies… Read more »

Kal-Ed

February 27, 2021 1:54 pm

Reply to Clark_Jo

You got a point there. A shared cinematic universe without really being shared cinematically. This is world built onto and connected to other worlds. The story potential within it is limitless at best. I would be open minded that’s for sure.
As long as James Bond remains untouched and off limits no prob at all.

cpm72586

February 27, 2021 9:30 am

Wouldn’t care if they were going to do a Calvin Ellis movie had they actually gotten Clark Kent right at any point in the past 15 years. Also, if they were going to do a Calvin Ellis movie it would be nice if the writer involved wasn’t an awful person, which Coates definitely appears to be. Let it be known that Superman is in the hands of a writer who had this to say about the first responders on 9/11. “They were not human to me. Black, white, or whatever. They were menaces of nature, they were the fire, the… Read more »

LarGand

February 27, 2021 10:09 am

Reply to cpm72586

That quote is harsh, but you’ve also taken it completely out of context. He’s talking about the fact that the police killing of one of his schoolmates a year before 9/11 left him incapable of thinking of police as anything other than a threat. In the light of all the many filmed incidents we’ve seen over the past few years of extreme police violence against unarmed black men, including multiple killings, you don’t have to strain your imagination excessively to understand how a black American could come to think that way. I’m not worried about Coates being brought in as… Read more »

cpm72586

February 27, 2021 11:55 am

Reply to LarGand

Sorry, but the facts and statistics just don’t back up that black people are being disproportionately shot and killed by police. That’s nothing more then agenda driven bull you know what spread by the media to keep black people feeling oppressed and like they’re some kind of victim. That way a certain political party can come along and try to play the hero and say they’re going to fix all their problems, but in the end they do nothing and the vicious cycle just continues. So, while I can understand how someone like Coates might come to his belief system,… Read more »

redcape

February 27, 2021 1:16 pm

Reply to cpm72586

cpm72586……..100% correct! What we saw last summer was the end result of a political party that refused to put things in proper perspective, and has now taken hold of being miss represented, and become a laughable act of that same party apologizing and accepting some form of guilt as a means of retaining their voting base. Doing something like this is nothing more than a form of bowing to a lie.

LarGand

February 27, 2021 5:03 pm

Reply to cpm72586

Have you watched the video of the killing of George Floyd? Or any of the many, many other examples? If you have, yet you’re still trying to hide behind questionable statistics, then … well, how can you even claim to be a Superman fan? Because Superman would be horrified and disgusted, as would any human being with an ounce of compassion. If you haven’t seen it, watch it. If you still think the way you do after having seen what happened, then … well, then that would make it clear that you and I could never come to any kind… Read more »

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 8:23 pm

Reply to LarGand

As a fellow fan, I would advise not going there, you’re going into gatekeeping territory. Look, it’s probably none of my bizwax, since I’m not an American, but for every George Floyd and Brionna Taylor, there’s a a white autistic 13 year old that ends up in a hospital or a random white dude that gets shot and killed, because he was playing Crash Bandicoot and being loud. Cops in the States may be prejudiced against black folk, but the problem of abuse of power from authority figures seems to be larger than a preference in skin pigmentation. In regards… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by NeoRanger

redcape

February 28, 2021 1:35 pm

Reply to LarGand

There was NO killing of Floyd. That is a total lie produced by someone that stood on a side walk and video clipped the last 10 minutes of an event. And there aren’t MANY examples as well.

The social media produces more headlined nonsense on a daily bases than ever before. Most of it directed towards groups of people that gravitate towards manipulated events designed to appeal to them and their supposed self made, “take no responsibility” problems.

Last edited 2 years ago by redcape

cpm72586

February 28, 2021 3:59 pm

Reply to LarGand

Of all the more recent instances of supposed police brutality the George Floyd one is indeed the worst and I do believe all officers involved there should face some form of punishment. I don’t believe there was any reason for him to be on the ground that long with the officer holding him down with his knee on his neck. If I’m not mistaken, I believe the official cause of death for Floyd was a drug overdose. Fetanyl if I’m not mistaken, but even so, I believe that officer’s actions were way over the line and and at the very… Read more »

redcape

February 28, 2021 8:40 pm

Reply to cpm72586

Lets put things in proper perspective . There was NO police brutality. Floyd from the very beginning was incoherent. As far as him being on the ground, it was Floyd himself, after putting up a grand stink about getting in the back of the police vehicle, where he said SEVEN times, “I can’t breathe”,.. exclaimed he wanted on the ground. It was easier to do that than continue to watch Floyd come unglued while claiming to be claustrophobic. The police aren’t going to put someone on the ground without securing them. Contrary to what people wrongly believed, Chauvin was not… Read more »

NeoRanger

February 27, 2021 2:35 pm

Reply to LarGand

I’m not even opening the can of worms that is race relations in the United States. I haven’t read anything from this writer, because I’m not particularly interested in the subject (as it is uniquely American and I am not), but from what little I researched, the quote does seem to have been taken out of context and it is understandable, as offensive as it sounds (or reads, for that matter). However, from what I understand Coates has had a harder life than most people (white or black) and this has colored his worldview in a very specific way. With… Read more »

Kal-Ed

February 27, 2021 10:10 am

On a side note….val zod in this picture looks like he is sighing for being called on to the save the world

‘Siiigghhh….it was just a beautiful day…oh well…’

Last edited 2 years ago by Kal-Ed

zendog

February 27, 2021 12:08 pm

I have mixed feelings on this too. If it comes out – of course I’ll probably watch it. I’m still trying to accept that there are always going to be multiple universes of which Superman exists. Just think these studios over complicate things – when sometimes a ground-breaking movie might be just to keep things very simple. For me – no-one has really managed to make get to the true CORE of superman in recent years. He’s supposed to be the leader of the Super-heroes – not just another hero, that you can politicise or turn into an EMO

redcape

February 27, 2021 1:24 pm

Reply to zendog

I not sure if it’s possible to make this character in a way that’s going to appeal to every group out there. All movies are going to be “quota” driven, and if someone feels left out, the stink will be broadcasted all over the media turning even the best efforts into some form of negativity.

Kal-Ed

February 27, 2021 1:34 pm

Reply to redcape

Just like when Spike Lee complained that there were no black people present in Clint Eastwood’s Flags Of Our Fathers.

supergepetto

March 1, 2021 1:16 am

Now the geniuses at Warner Brothers want to waste their money working with a relative unknown to make a Superman film. Aren’t there scores of talented skilled screenwriters or comic book writers who can do the job? It would be a gimmick stunt to make a black Superman. I have no problem with them introducing a black Kryptonian who was a friend or member of the El family. As far as Abrams is concerned, The Force Awakens was good to a point, but the next two Star Wars film where he produced the awful The Last Jedi and directed the… Read more »