After the miscalculated attempt to revive Superman by fan-boy director Bryan Singer, the studios have decided to seek the talents of the team behind the latest Batman films to re-invigorate the franchise. Whilst Singer’s intention was to annex the original Richard Donner film by incorporating Marlon Brando‘s performance and extend the main parts of Superman II, he was unable to create a successful launching pad for the quintessential superhero.
The DC universe has had a tumultuous time with their iconic characters on screen, from the horrendous efforts of Joel Schumacher’s continuation of Tim Burton‘s Batman and most recently with the poorly received Superman Returns. Though when the talented Nolan brothers came along they did something totally different when they adapted the Batman character by taking the superhero vigilante and supplanting him into a distorted modern day reality.
Gone were the Gothic interpretations of Burton’s metropolis and the caricatured portrayals and in return they have offered the famous characters as human counterparts, flawed and dysfunctional with all the modern day trappings. The most notable variation was Heath Ledger’s Joker who was wildly different from Jack Nicholson‘s take and especially Cesar Romero‘s campy TV version. The modern day Joker spoke of his personal torment and the vicious assault by his father resulting in his scarred face which he then covered with make-up to resemble an evil clown of sorts.
Jonathon and Christopher Nolan
So what is in store for the new Superman Reboot you’re wondering? Well it all began some time back when Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer were brainstorming ideas for the third Batman flick and Goyer told Nolan of his take on the classic character – in an interview Nolan spoke of this conversation:
A lot of people have approached Superman in a lot of different ways. I only know the way that has worked for us. That’s what I know how to do. He basically told me, ‘I have this thought about how you would approach Superman.’ I immediately got it, loved it and thought: That is a way of approaching the story I’ve never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting.
Hollywood journalist Nikki Finke spoke of a studio rumor revealing that the script has Superman dealing with the likes of Lex Luthor and Braniac, but this isn’t much to go on and until casting is confirmed we’ll have to keep on guessing. The biggest issue is who’s set to play Supes in the reboot which is unlikely to feature Brandon Routh who did well in the recent season of Chuck, but as Superman gave a flat performance and failed to bring the raw energy of the character to life. Whilst many names are floating around at present such as TV’s Mad Men star Jon Hamm and Friday Night Lights regular Scott Porter, confirmations will only be given when pre-production ramps up, so for now all bets are off.
The production is still in development and is not expected to get underway til late 2011 with it’s cinema release date scheduled for around December 2012. With Christopher Nolan set to be completing Batman 3, it is unlikely that he will direct the Superman reboot, and is on board only as producer. Whilst David S Goyer had hoped to direct the flick the studios are less than enthused for the inexperienced director to take the reigns of what will be a big budget pic, however rumors are circulating that Jonathon Nolan may get the gig with his brother giving a helping hand. The word is that Jonathan is planning a new TV show with JJ Abrams billed as a crime thriller entitled Person of Interest, and it’s possible that this could be used as a testing ground for Jonathon’s directing talents when shooting the pilot or during other episodes.
Nonetheless the new Superman Reboot entitled The Man Of Steel is resting in good hands and with the accomplished Nolans overseeing this adaptation, fans should feel some assurance that one of their favorite characters will get film’s royal treatment.
What you have to remember about Batman and Superman is that what makes them the best superhero characters there are, the most beloved after all this time, is the essence of who they were when they were created, when they were first developed. You can’t move too far away from that.
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