Waiting For Superman

We’re waiting. We sit in front of our computer screens with coffee breath clicking on our favorite movie news website hoping to hear that a new Superman film is on its way. We assume that Warner Bros and DC Comics are hard at work searching endlessly to find the right director and writing team to take on this seemingly impossible task. We hope to see a Superman film that displays a healthy balance of action and drama with sequences and villains ripped straight for the pages of our favorite comics. We’ve been through this before, and for some Superman Returns was the reward for our efforts, for others it was a disappointment after so many years of waiting.

Loyal Smallville fans are once again lobbying for “their Superman” Tom Welling to strap on the boots in what is being called a “revamp” by Jeff Robinov at Warner Bros. Their tireless work which includes petitions and manipulations of their top choice in a Superman suit are spread out in forum threads across the internet. Although smaller in number but just as relentless in their pursuit, fans of Brandon Routh are also making the case for “their Superman” to once again don the cape using similar tactics as the “Wellingites”

Fans of Routh were pleased with a story that broke on Latino Review in which Paul Levitz at DC mentioned that Brandon Routh had been to the DC offices in NY and LA to discuss Superman. This confusing turn of events sparked debate on movie forums across the internet as Superman Returns “apologists” and “haters” clashed over the validity of the Latino Review claim and both wondered how Routh could play the role of Superman if WB was rebooting the franchise.

It certainly is a question to ponder. How is it possible for WB to reboot a franchise while at the same time using the same actor in the role of Superman from a previous film that they are trying to distance themselves from? If going forward with Brandon Routh as Superman will the general public associate the universe that Bryan Singer created with this reboot? If the same situation applies with using Tom Welling in the role on the big screen, taking along the Smallville Universe, then it certainly has to apply to Routh. WB and DC might be thinking that if they do an origin story with Routh then it would erase the storylines of Superman Returns. It does happen in the comics, but this is the big screen we are talking about. Sometimes the audiences are not as forgiving.

I thought Routh was a good Clark Kent, but I would give his take on Superman solid at best. If they are truly going with a reboot which Robinov’s comments seem to suggest, then I find it hard to believe that they would cast Brandon Routh in the role. Sure it could be looked upon as a compromise between fans and non fans of Superman Returns going forward, but if true, this compromise could result in WB paying the price…again. Let the waiting game continue.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121936107614461929.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

http://latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-dc-comics-president-gives-superman-update-5511

JL(M) Is A Go For 2009

According to the juggernaut that is Variety "Justice League Mortal", which is the rumored new title, is fast tracked to drop in 2009. This is a almost a complete 180 to recent news floating around the internet the last couple days speculating that JLM might be pushed back to 2010 and moved to Canada. Even George Miller, the JLM director, called the movie's status "precarious". Exerpts from the Variety article below:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981504.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Now that the writers strike has been resolved, Warner Bros. is pushing ahead with its plans to make "Justice League" in time for a 2009 debut. Warners tried to get "Justice League" into production earlier, but put it on indefinite hold in January, allowing the cast options to expire. At the time, the studio said it didn't want to move ahead until the scribes had another shot at the script.

Scribes Kieran and Michele Mulroney are busy polishing up the script, which is expected back at the studio in several weeks, and the cast has been advised to keep training for their superhero roles. Director George Miller is in pre-production in Australia.

Now from all reports Adam Brody is playing The Flash, Common is playing Green Lantern, Megan Gale has won the role of Wonder Woman, and Arnie Hammer may or may not be playing Batman. What about Superman? As of now the actor who is supposed to strap on the cape as Superman seems to be shrouded in mystery. DJ Controna and Scott Porter seem to be the front runners to pull on the tights but I can already hear the Welling Rumors being whispered in my ear again.

What does this mean for Man of Steel, the sequel to Superman Returns? I assumed this might mean that a sequel to Superman Returns is completely dead. From what I am hearing that might not be so. There are now rumblings that Man of Steel may have finally found their writer(s). Interesting.

Hollywood Kryptonite Foils Man of Steel?

The build up toward Superman Returns was a fantastic experience for me. I was found myself scouring the internet for news throughout casting, pre-production, production, and I am still discussing this movie on forums across the internet even now. Fortunately, I was able to get close to some of the people involved in production of Superman Returns on both sides of the fence along with others in the industry who had first hand knowledge of production. Naturally said industry insiders were also able to give me some information on a possible sequel, which now seems to be in jeopardy. Below is a message I received on August 26th of 2007 from a internet message board I frequent. I have blocked out some of the message as well as the identity of the poster in order to protect their identity.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/IronGiant29/ManofSteel.jpg

The next day Film Ick ran the same story which you read if you click the link below. Either Film Ick had the same source on this one, or they ran with my story.

http://www.filmick.co.uk/2007/08/whats-gonna-come-of-man-of-steel.html

What really surprised me looking back at the message, is the information on Tom Welling and JLA. The source introduces the idea of Welling being cast in JLA after season 8 is completed. Obviously the strike has changed things and Welling might be free to sign on sooner than that. We'll all find out where this project is going by tomorrow.

Truth, Justice, and the Hollywood Way?

Superman! Batman! Wonder Woman! All of them together on the big screen? Sounds like a fanboy dream but it seems that it might be a nightmare for Warner Bros. George Miller's Justice League of America has yet to be "officially" announced but comic book fans all over the country have sure had a lot to talk about in relation to the project. The biggest discussions and debates swirling around on forums across the internet has involved casting, the biggest question, who is going to be playing the Man of Steel?

The first bomb was dropped by Rob over at IESB on G4's Attack of the Show, where he announced that Tom Welling "most likely" will be Superman and was "pretty confident" in his sources. Click the first link below for video the announcement and the 2nd link for the article at IESB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9cZvKOZaXg
http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=1&article=3138

What happened next can only be described as "Kingdom Come" as fans of Tom Welling rejoiced while fans of Brandon Routh were feeling the disappointment of their Superman being passed up for the role. Rob's announcement instigated some heated debates among fans as well as an explosion of rumors debunking the Welling announcement and rumors that further supported Rob's information.

Although the first most of us heard about Welling being up for Superman was from Rob's announcement there were those claiming that a poster from Countingdown had beat Rob to the punch long before his announcement on G4. The poster, known as Emijayne or Jayne, made her appearance on IESB to contribute what she knew about Welling and Superman and her following from Countingdown multiplied. You can check out her blog below, some believe she is a fraud, some swear by her information, but one thing is for sure she has turned herself into an internet celebrity by no fault of her own. I have given Jayne a little bit of heat from time to time indirectly on some of the forums, but she is definitely tied into the movie industry. Judge for yourself.

http://theinfamousemijayne.blogspot.com/

Some of the more recent news out of Hollywood is now pointing to Justice League being delayed or even canceled with a report today suggesting if the movie is not greenlit by Jan 15th, then it will be revisited after the strike.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/01/and-justice-for.html

If this movie doesn't end up happening or if Tom Welling is not cast as Superman, it is not because of lack of support from the fans of Smallville and Tom Welling. They have stormed every major website and every major poll showing their support for "their" Superman. Check out the poll below for a sample of this devotion to their hero.



Special Thanks to Mike22 & OobeDoobBenubi of The Hype for the above manip.
http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=13217106&postcount=217