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

David Hayter Lands On Lost Planet

Looks like David Hayter is working with WB, but it isn't a Superman sequel. David Hayter has been commisioned to pen "Lost Planet" for WB. Looks like this will take him out of the running for Superman: Man of Steel, if he was even in the running in the first place.

Warner Bros. and Capcom are traveling to "Lost Planet." The studio will distribute a pic based on the hit vidgame that will be co-financed by the Japanese publisher. David Hayter, who is coming off the Zack Snyder-directed WB pic "Watchmen," will pen the screenplay. Project is set to be announced today at the E3 videogame confab held in downtown L.A. Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul will produce through Seaside Entertainment, the shingle they formed to produce fantasy fare.

Has WB Found The Next "Harry Potter"?

Internationally acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is all set to direct a $200-million Hollywood fantasy-epic for Warner Brothers titled “Larklight”. “I was in LA last week to collaborate with writer Steve Knight for ‘Larklight’. It’s something I had signed on three months ago. It’s a franchise book and being hailed as the new ‘Harry Potter’. Warner Brothers has bought the rights. Steve and I are currently working on the screenplay,” an excited Kapur, who made the acclaimed Hollywood film “Elizabeth”, told IANS.

“Steve and I are good friends. We’ve been working on the script extensively. It’s a &200-million project, probably the most expensive film I’ve made and will ever make,” he said.
“Larklight” is the current craze on the bookshelves and its author, Philip Reeve, is being touted as another J.K. Rowling. It was an instant bestseller across the world when released in 2006.
What comes as a surprise is that Kapur has been chosen to direct the screen version. However, Kapur is no stranger to science-fantasies. Remember the aborted “Time Machine” with Aamir Khan, which he is now going to produce for director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra? A young, bright and serious boy plays the lead. Let’s not forget Kapur discovered Jugal Hansraj for his Bollywood film “Masoom”.

Interestingly, Knight conceived and wrote the popular game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, which later became our “Kaun Banega Crorepati”. His last screenplay was “Eastern Promises”. Kapur will first complete “Larklight” in Hollywood before proceeding to do the much-talked about “Paani” in Mumbai.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/shekhar-kapur-to-direct-200-mn-film-for-warner-bros_10031950.html

Warner Bros Targets New Line

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Warner Bros is considering the elimination of New Line Cinema. Link and article highlights below.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120269302876657799.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

New Line Cinema, the studio behind the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has spent the best part of a decade fiercely protecting its turf within Time Warner Inc. Now, barely a month into his new job, Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes is looking to dismantle one of the company's longest-standing fiefdoms.

Moving swiftly to streamline Time Warner's movie business, Mr. Bewkes has flagged New Line as an immediate target for cost-cutting, forcing the studio to confront the scenario it has always fought against: being folded into Time Warner's main movie division, Warner Bros. Entertainment.

People familiar with the New Line situation say Time Warner is considering two options: folding the studio into the Warner Bros. division or keeping it separate and having Warner Bros. handle certain areas such as home video and international distribution. In both scenarios, New Line would be considerably scaled back and given a mandate to go back to its roots of primarily making lower-budget movies.

Selling New Line isn't an option currently being explored. The library, which in addition to the "Rings" trilogy includes the "Austin Powers" movies, the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series and the "Rush Hour" movies, is too valuable for Time Warner to give up, people familiar with the situation say.

Source: Wall Street Journal

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