A sequel to Superman Returns has been in limbo since the beginning. Warner Bros was unhappy with how the film performed, and fans were unhappy with the lack of action and unnecessary out-of-canon third act plot twist. But director Bryan Singer showed up at Comic Con expressing his desire to make a sequel that would give the fans what they wanted. Warner later announced that Superman: Man of Steel was given the official go-ahead, and a June 2009 release date was touted. Then Singer got distracted by the Tom Cruise WWII film, and a Justice League movie appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Variety’s Anne Thompson wrote a blog post last week which I quickly dismissed as an opinion piece. But I’ve since been told that the comments were more fact based than opinion. So here are Anne’s comments about the current state of the Superman sequel, Justice League and third Batman film:
“Speaking of DC Comics pics, it is highly unlikely that Bryan Singer will return to shoot the next Superman movie. (The director is finishing up Tom Cruise’s Nazi film Valkyrie, and prepping The Mayor of Castro Street). The next Superman we will see on the big screen will not be Brandon Routh, but a younger Superman among a cast of youthful superheroes in The Justice League. That movie will likely not be shot, however, until after the WGA strike is resolved. Warners is so happy with Dark Knight that their fondest hope is that Nolan will return to do another Batman.”
Warner appears to want to do a total reboot with the DC comic line-up, aside from their successful Batman franchise. So it sounds to me like Routh might also be out as Superman (ie read: MY SPECULATION, not Anne’s), which is a shame considering he didn’t do a bad job. Plus, why bring Singer’s extra baggage on for Justice and the sequel? It’s bad enough that they’ll have two Batmans to market.
And while I love Singer, and wish he would return for Man of Steel, I must admit it’s a smart move by the Warner execs to cast a new Superman for Justice League. They’re planning for a franchise. They want a young star who can take on a trilogy or two.
But Warner Bros doesn’t understand is that fans don’t want the teen titans. They don’t want more-cartoony. But this appears to be the direction they are heading towards. I’m convinced that fans want dark and edgy, real but tounge firmly in cheek, action packed but with a dramatic backbone. Why can’t the studios look back at how the former comic book movie franchises fell, and see that this is the wrong move to make? Maybe because while most everyone I’ve talked to hated Spider-Man 3, it is still the 12th highest grossing film of all time. And with statisics like that floating around, executives are likely to believe that fans want things like multiple villains and corny dance sequences in Jazz clubs.
And it’s a shame because I think Singer could have made an incredible Superman sequel if he was given the space. But that film, we might never ever see.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Hi, no disrespect, but i read that quote; “The next Superman we will see on the big screen will not be Brandon Routh, but a younger Superman among a cast of youthful superheroes in The Justice League.” now that statement to me says that the next time we will see superman is in the new justice leauge movie, meaning that we could see Brandon Routh reprise his role as Superman at a later date after Justice Leauge. I think the quote was more so stating that Justice Leauge is coming out first and a sequel to Superman is coming out later. Also i dont ever remember hearing a rumor that Brandon Routh was ever casted as Superman for the Justice Leauge. Did i make this post confusing enough??
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Yea exactly where in the article does it say that Routh is not going to return for the sequel? It says ¨The next Superman we will see on the big screen will not be Brandon Routh, but a younger Superman among a cast of youthful superheroes in The Justice League.¨ now call me crazy, but that doesn´t translate into Routh not returning for ¨The Man of Steel¨. It just means we won´t see Routh as Superman for a while.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Yeah, Anne Thompson does NOT say that Routh WON’T be in the Superman Returns sequel.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
The Brandon Routh bit is my speculation (I’m not sure if they came out clear, so I’ll clarify. If they are revamping Superman with a new actor for Justice, why would they bring Routh back for the sequel, especially when they are trying to forget the Singer film ever happened?
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I say ditch Singer and Routh and start all over. The first film was a disaster and no sequel can convince the massive audience for a Superman film otherwise. Superman is the most powerful superhero of all time - you don’t pay tribute to Christopher Reeve and make it sappy and give it homoerotic undertones and waste an unlimited budget. Superman should be like Beowulf x 1 million in terms of startling action. So why does it sound like Thor is now the most epic of superhero franchises?
If your Superman doesn’t become one of the top five movies of all time, you’re fired.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Dear Warner Bros. this is how to make Superman Great again.
1. Cancel Justice League/BatmanvsSuperman,
wait until batman nolan movie era done.
2. Get Michael Bay.
3. Matthew Reeve–Son of Christopher Reeve, as Superman.
see matthew reeve here–>http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah7381.shtml
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Out of cannon? Canon? Cannon? They should have shot Luthor out of a cannon and into the sun at the end, since as non-canon as it may have been, it would have been bloody interesting.
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
They should still make Man of Steel. Follow up to Superman Returns. That was a great Superman movie! If you don’t think so, watch Superman 3, and then watch Superman Returns again. Seriously, people should be grateful for what Singer gave us.
I don’t care is Singer returns for Man of Steel (although I want him to), just so long as SOMEONE who is a great director makes it. Forget Justice League, bring on the Man of Steel!!!
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I’ve been saying the same god damn thing for years. I agree with peter 100% Justice league hasn’t even started filming yet and it is already on a path to self destruction. Studio’s will continue to make bad decsions.
January 4th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Personally I liked Routh as Superman and I hope that they retain him for any non-Justice League sequel. But yeah, if I was Routh I would stay as far away from this JLA debacle as I could.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Booting Singer and Routh is the best news to come out in ages. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Superman fans!
Thus we avoid the infinitely wretched sequel to the depressing miasma of SR. Routh played Superman like a dead fish, with all the charm of blank slate and the energy of milk toast. Singer confused depression for emotional drama, thus we got the most limpid, apathetic, pulseless cardboard Superman ever. All of the life and color was purposefully drained out of the movie to stimulate a faux-tragic romance worthy of the Lifetime channel.
So, cheers to new beginnings. And may George Miller crack the whip to get his project in shape. His cast (as it is now rumored) sucks, but he, Barrie Osborne, and WETA shouldn’t be underestimated. It doesn’t guarantee JLA will be any good, but it’s a stable foundation to build on.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
i hope this is just a rumor, i thought superman returns rocked. i hope they keep the orig actor for continuity’s sake
January 4th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
It’s so exciting that Singer’s terrible movie is being flushed along with his powder puff Routh. Maybe we’ll get someone who can act next time.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I agree, with the audience above, making Justice League of America is too early in film production right now. we all haven’t seen Baman and Superman take off in full force yet. Marvel is already daying, that The Avenger s movie will be made and Jon Favreau(Ironman Director) wants to direct the film not until all of Marvel’’s finest have had their feature film. Anyway, Superman The Man of Steel whould still get made, WB is in the middle of the WGA strike and depending how things may or may not go, this strike will affect Smallville, Supeman sequel and any other Superman projects in the works. Let’s pray to God that this WGA strike finishes with a positive note, Superman is my all time favorite crime fighter of all time, Batman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, Superboy and all other famous iconic DC characters follow afterwards. I also, want to see Supergirl The Girl of Steel return to the big-screen with her big role-model cousin Superman. I want Hayden Panettiere to get the role because, She is a wonderful actress, I love her and She is a Supergirl figure in Heroes as Claire Bennett-Petrelli. Go Hayden!!! Get that role make me proud!!!. Merry Belated Christmas Superman fans and Happy 2008 to you all.
FOR THIS REASON I’VE SENT TO YOU MY ONLY SON KAL-EL!!!
YOU HAVE GREAT POWERS EVENTHOUGH YOU’VE BEEN RAISED
AS A HUMAN BEING YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THEM!!! JOR-EL of KRYPTON.
Thanks, For Supporting THe Man of Steel!!!
Get Superman Returns on DVD, HD-DVD, BLU-RAY Disc
or All Three I plan too later on.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Whatever, it seems Superman personified was much more interesting before, and died with Christopher Reeve. There was a definite flutter of excitement, even with the broadway musical play that plummeted featuring Bob Holiday. Just watch the recent dvd documentary of LOOK UP IN THE SKY: The Amazing Story Of Superman which is an excellent recap with celebrity commentaries, and then decide, who is the real man of steel.
Lately, my ideal Superman has been kept alive by the latest DC COMIC issues. . . hoo-ee!
But I did like the Superman Returns CD. The music is better than the movie itself, by far. Routh looks good as Superman, but he has lack of charisma to make me loose my seat in the audience. Way too laid back and nonchalant, for a Superman coping and learning to live and love his earthling pals.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I think Routh is perfectly capable of playing with the charisma Reeve had. It’s just that the script for Superman Returns really didn’t give him the opportunity to really have that. In fact, he doesn’t really talk much in the movie (one of my only complaints with the film).
Saying that, SR as a whole is much better than the last two Superman films, especially Superman III (horrible). I have watched Look Up in the Sky, and I still have the same opinion as before. Now, watch Superman III and understand that as a whole, Superman Returns was actually pretty good.
I believe Superman: Man of Steel, if done right, has great potential if done right, and if they don’t try to reboot the franchise. I really don’t like how studios are frequently considering rebooting franchises. Either makes a sequel reguardless if the first one made $100 million less than expected and just make a really great sequel, or wait 10-15 years and THEN reboot.
January 21st, 2008 at 8:50 am
If WB are stupid enough to scrap singer and rouths sequel then they are just repeating the same mistake they made when they took dick donner away from completing supermanII…….. fans demanded and finally were awarded with dick donners far superior version of superman II which proved that - had donner been allowed to, he would have probibaly made a fantastic trillogy!!
now i heard many scripts before superman returns, scripts involving a superman that doesnt fly, doesnt wear the suit or cape, fighting giant spiders …… brian singer returned to dick donners amazing style and realism while incorperating his own vision… if they take it from him they are making the biggest mistake ever! he just saved the franchise and they would be killing it off!!
FINALLY for those of you who thought there was not enough ass kicking on superman (returns) part…… go back and watch the original, chris reeve didnt throw a single punch in that one either, it was a chance to introduce reeve as superman then give him opponent’s (general zod and co) in the sequel…
this is all singer has been trying to do, “here is the new superman, this is where he’s been, why he’s been away, this is wat has happened to the other charaters since superman left, this is the new loius, this is luthur e.c.t
now that we feel comfortable with that he WILL give them amazing things to do and new enimies to overcome in the sequel….. you cant rush action, without story or character structure action becomes irrelevent , it’s like having a fight for no resaon!
January 21st, 2008 at 8:57 am
just another note……………… justice leauge??? come on! superman has all the powers of the other guys combined!!
ive never understood why he even needs the other guys at all :s
July 18th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I think they need a total revamp. Brendon Routh LOOKED way too young, there was zero chemistry with Kate Bosworth, and seemed like a virtual remake of the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie: Lex Luthor with massive real estate scheme, weapons of destruction, Marlon Brando’s droning monotone, and John Williams score.
Personally, I’d like to see Superman as Jerry Siegel created him, something of a wise-guy vigilante with a tough guy attitude. Once you get him to take charge he tells you to do what he says. He’s a pumped FDR looking into corruption, and personifies America at it’s strongest and most guileless.