Superman Limbo II: Why The World Needs Superman

Warner Bros. is actually making a bold move when you think about it, they are introducing the cinema world to a DC hero other than Superman or Batman. (Does Catwoman Really Count?) Green Lantern is set to light up the screen on December 17th, 2010 and if done right, this could be a staple franchise for years to come. Now that Lantern finally has a firm date and the “Dark Knight” has turned into dollar signs, where does that leave our favorite alien with a red cape? Does WB even need him? Do we need him?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to return to the world of “Giant Spiders” and “Polar Bears” ie development hell. I don’t think WB wants to either, at least I hope not. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes with the “Brothers Warner” since "Superman Returns" ended its theater run in 2006. They have stopped and started on multiple Superman projects, met with multiple directors and writers, who have thrown out both reboot and sequel ideas. These ideas have turned into outlines and treatments and then subsequently crumpled up and thrown into the trash. All of this occurring while Bryan Singer is under some kind of “right-to-refusal/pay-or-play” deal.

Bryan Singer was given the opportunity of a life time, a project he has coveted for years, and some feel he dropped the ball. Others felt like he hit it out of the park like your average steroid heavy slugger. Obviously WB was mixed on subject, but in the end, money talks and it looks like Bryan finally walked. After the success of “Valkyrie” Bryan is going to stick to what made him and has signed on to direct “The Prisoners”. Although directing Valkyrie might have helped to bury his chance to direct a sequel to “Superman Returns” it was probably the best thing that could have happened to him at this time.

WB obviously wants to get Superman right, thus why they have been meeting with as many directors and writers as possible since 2007. The likes of Gore Verbinski and Orci and Kurtzman reportedly met or spoke with WB on multiple occasions along with other big names. Early pitches delivered by Bryan and concocted by him and writers Mike Dougherty and Dan Harris didn’t seem to impress WB. I give them credit for being careful with the character but if there is any time to get the most out of Superman it is now. Comic book films are bigger then ever and besides “The Dark Knight” WB is falling further behind Marvel each and every day.

Warner Bros has been lucky enough to have the Harry Potter franchise at their disposal for the last decade but the spectacled man child is about to bow out. With Batman, Green Lantern, Terminator, Sherlock Holmes and Hobbit in their arsenal WB is armed and dangerous for some years to come, but having Superman on their side doesn’t hurt. It all depends on Alan Horn who just signed a new two year deal with WB which will be the end of his run with the studio. Does Horn want to redeem himself with a more action packed Superman film or go to battle with what he has and leave Superman to somebody like Jeff Robinov who will go “darker” with the character in 2012 or beyond?

My sources at the studio insist that Brandon Routh is still their Superman no matter the direction they choose to go. However, if Horn isn’t up to facing the risk for a Superman film flying to theaters in Summer or Winter 2011 then Routh has run out of luck and wouldn’t be strapping on the boots for another adventure. At this point every day that passes is critical for the character of Superman, you remember the 90’s? Let’s face it, Christopher Reeve isn’t walking through that door, Richard Donner isn’t walking through that door. We just have to hope that Superman will fly again in the near future, preferably in 2011. You’re on the clock Mr. Horn. Time is ticking.