Superman Limbo III: I'm Still Superman

You may not have noticed, but when the general public exited the theater after almost spending three hours viewing Superman's return to the big screen, they were shrugging their shoulders. They were either shrugging off the bad experience that was "Superman Returns" or they were shrugging their shoulders because there is no way they could pick their favorite scene. Either way, the moment they left the theater they stopped thinking about Superman.

Leading up to "Superman Returns" in 2006, Superman was indeed everywhere. Superman was featured on everything from cereal boxes to lunch boxes. When kids drank a bottle of orange juice and looked at the carton they would exclaim, "That's Superman." That is how WB feels about Brandon Routh who carried the burden of portraying the iconic character on the big screen. The last thing that WB wanted was the general public shrugging their shoulders at Superman.

It is my opinion that a supervillian and some action featuring said supervillian would have went a long way towards boosting the box office of "Superman Returns". I think the general public was turned off by Superman having a kid, lack of action, which a lack of a supervillian contributed to. WB ended up in the worst position possible. They ended up with a film that didn't flop, but didn't meet their projections. WB's one constant was that they are happy with Brandon Routh in the role.

WB's President & Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn, Legendary Pictures Chairman & CEO Thomas Tull, and DC Comic President Paul Levitz are reportedly all in agreement that Routh embodies the character of Superman both in and out of the suit. This is why Routh's likeness is still finding its way on Valentine's Day cards and stationary even today. Most of the information coming from various web sites and sources inside and affiliated WB suggest that they are looking to go forward with a Superman film that would still star Routh as Superman. Kellvin Chavez of Latino Review had a chance to talk to Paul Levitz back in October of 08 about Superman and Brandon Routh:

I saw the one and only Paul Levitz, the President of DC Comics. I walked over to him and had a moment to hang out and chat with him briefly. I could not keep my mouth shut and had to ask the questions that Latino readers are asking. So I went in straight for the kill.

“So Paul, what the fuck is happening with Superman?” Well not in those words actually. Paul looked over both shoulders like he was about to score some basura and said that things are still brewing.

In fact, he told me that “Last week Brandon Routh has come around the offices in New York and Los Angeles as of late to talk about Superman and what we want to do”……blah blah blah!

At first I thought it was the Apple Martini I was drinking but I soon realized that I just heard a bombshell go off in my brain! Brandon? He did say Brandon Routh was coming around talking about Superman! Why the hell would they be talking to Brandon if he was not going to be part of the reboot? Because he’s still in the mix!!!

Granted it is now April of 2009 and a lot has changed over at WB. They've been going through Superman ideas over there in Burbank like Zod dishes out the word "kneel". There are certainly fans of Routh in places that count but actors Tom Welling and Henry Cavill certainly have strong backing in the "fanperson" community. Welling has been every Smallville fans top choice for almost a decade. The worst thing that happened to Welling's chances is they made another Superman film while he was taking Smallville by storm. Henry Cavill has been up for a handful of high profile roles, James Bond among them, but is most known for being a "Top 3 Candidate".

What Would Peter Do:

I would go forward with a "Superman Film". I wouldn't worry about the "Donnerverse" or the "Singerverse". I would tell a Superman: Year One type story in a similar vein to Batman Begins. The story arc would feature Lex Luthor's rise to power in Metropolis coinciding with Superman's first year in Metropolis and how they both deal with the arrival of Brainiac. I would recast every role including Superman searching worldwide for the new "Man of Steel"

What Will Warners Do:

This will depend on what else, time. If they get moving sooner rather than later with Horn still at the wheel and before a transition to Robinov, they will stick with Brandon Routh as Superman. They will also stick with some of the cast. Frank Langella, Kevin Spacey, and Sam Huntington the favorites to return. They will transition to Lex Luthor and Luthorcorp and bring a Supervillian like Brainiac or Doomsday.

Who will write? Who will direct?

To Be Continued...

Superman Limbo: Where Has He Gone?

Superman Limbo II: Why The World Needs Superman

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.

Superman Limbo: Where Has He Gone?

Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” did not meet WB’s projections, the general public’s expectations, or most of the “fanboys” anticipation. The point really can’t be argued because if it did resonate we would already be discussing “Trailer #2” for a film called “Man of Steel” taking flight this July.

Did I enjoy the film? I did. My first go around in theaters I ate up the obsession with trying to recreate the “Donnerverse” because that was the first exposure I had to Superman. Long before I knew he was even a comic book character I was running around in my Superman pajamas enjoying “Superman: The Movie” over and over again on HBO. The problem is fans were ready to say goodbye to the “Donnerverse” a couple of decades ago which is evident by the split this film caused in the fan base and the “shrugging of shoulders” after the general public left the theater. Singer never quite succeeded in continuing the “Donnerverse”, instead creating what is being deemed the “Singerverse”. Many fans consider this version of Superman played by Brandon Routh as a “Bizzaro” version Christopher Reeve’s portrayal, while some have accepted him as the Superman of their generation.

The first time I saw "Superman Returns I watched it and was totally immersed in the film, not really analyzing what I was watching, just watching. By the time I saw it the 2^nd time I had already been subjected to the pros and cons via the many forums across the “inter-webs” so I went in prepared. I wanted to look at this from a different point of view, see it in a different light. I found myself agreeing with some of the cons and I saw the film though somebody else’s eyes.

There were certainly many flaws that I was blinded to on my first viewing and although I still liked the film, I could understand why others didn’t. I became a Superman fan in “limbo” and I think a lot of others are experiencing that same feeling. We’re in limbo, just like the next “Superman Film”.

While the fan base argues on forums and we attempt to sift through rumors and speculation, Superman's suit remains on the hanger. I am going to provide you with some articles that I feel are relevant to look over in order to update you on what has become of another Superman film. After you have had a little while to digest what you have read, I’ll continue my multiple part look into what it is like to be in “Superman Limbo”.

Wall Street Journal: Jeff Robinov

Latino Review: Paul Levitz

Slashfilm: Legendary Pictures