After rumors and rumblings in the Hollywood camp, WB President Jeff Robinov has confirmed with The Wall Street Journal that Superman will be undergoing a form of reboot to make it more brooding and dark:
Warner Bros. also put on hold plans for another movie starring multiple superheroes — known as “Batman vs. Superman” — after the $215 million “Superman Returns,” which had disappointing box-office returns, didn’t please executives. “‘Superman’ didn’t quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to,” says Mr. Robinov. “It didn’t position the character the way he needed to be positioned.” “Had ‘Superman’ worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009,” he adds. “But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all.”
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“Superman [Returns] didn’t quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to,” said Robinov. “It didn’t position the character the way he needed to be positioned. Had Superman worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009. But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all.”
[…]
Like the recent Batman sequel — which has become the highest-grossing film of the year thus far — Mr. Robinov wants his next pack of superhero movies to be bathed in the same brooding tone as “The Dark Knight.” Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.’ DC properties. “We’re going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it,” he says. That goes for the company’s Superman franchise as well.
Comments 24 Responses to “Superman ‘Reboot’ Confirmed by Warner Bros.”
Why?
Returns was fine!
They just don’t what to do
Look I agree with you Keith. To make Superman dark is a mistake, the problem is they are trying to compare two completely different comics. Batman is a vigilante a vengence seeker of justice, Superman is not. Superman is a beacon of light, he is incorruptible to the extreme and he will risk everything to do what is right and will not toy with the criminals. Batman Beginnings had Batman bouncing a guy thinking he was plummeting to his death, that isn’t what superman does. yes he gets mad, yes he gets angry, but he always does what is right. Making Superman dark would tarnish the character and would make the franchise fall. I am in favor of the original intent for the next script, I want to see Doomsday, I want to see the cliffhanger of superman truly being dead, I want the original death of superman series to come out and have the posers be born. I want to see Steel try to fill in and I want there to be a cyborg Superman and I want there to be a Superboy, preferably his illigitimate son introduced in the Returns movie.
This is a HUGE mistake by Warner Bros. Bryan Singer already has an idea to make the next one a marked improvement over Superman Returns. Returns was in no way a bad movie, and the few flaws it had, Singer already was prepared to address. I think Bryan Singer’s phoenominal track record should warrant giving him another crack at the Man of Steel.
This is unbelieveable. Give me another Bryan Singer, Brandon Routh duo. Singer has proven himself with Xmen 1+2, and we all know what happened in 3 when he left the franchise. Singer admits he had to establish Superman’s relationships and place in the world in Returns. He will bring the action next. To get rid of him would be like getting rid of a royal deliciously plump apple for your mediocre grocery store one. We the fans have to do something. Their going to have two different Batman’s advertised anyway when Justice League comes out. Why not Superman. They want to introduce a new guy in Justice league, and make a franchise with him, Dark Knight stye. Superman Returns was great because it was the sequel to Reeve’s Superman II. They’re making $455 mil off a movie where Nolan started from the beginning, but now they want to do it for Superman. What can we do as fans seriousely?
I’m not totally sold on the idea that Singer is right for the Superman franchise. But what I can’t believe is this studio exec/moron wants to go “dark” with Superman? What? Does he know the character at all? I agree with usfcire 100%. Superman is a beacon of light in a dark world, not the other way around.
I hope when they talk about going “dark” with Superman, they are talking about his enemies. I think there’s a lot of room to explore Lex Luthor’s darkness, etc. The problem with the prior versions of Superman (including Returns) is that a campy villain is hard to relate to. For Superman to be 1) super and 2) incorruptible and 3) a symbol of hope, he needs to face a truly dark and evil adversary — his total opposite, almost his equal in strength. If, on the other hand, they make Superman darker himself… I won’t even watch the movie.
They need to keep Singer on the project, with those things in mind.
No more Lex Luthor plz. It was never believable to see Superman fighting a human adversary. Bring in DOOMSDAY ! Let us see a hell of a real bloody fight with good plot line.
AAHhh, don’t they know anything?!! Look Superman is difficult to do right because you can’t just throw a bunch of dark revengeful action in there. But you can make it heroic to the point the whole cult following (and everyone else) loves it!
I wanted batman to be dark, and it was a perfect fit. We need superman to be the ultimate hero, stronger, faster, smarter than the bad guys. I hope enough GOOD superhero movies have been released since Returns that they’ll know how to do this movie correctly.
I agree with those who dont want a reboot. i think that would be another mistake by WB. i agree that Singer should stay on and give him another chance. he gave us two great x-men films. i liked how singer had Superman Returns continue from Superman 2. now hear me out on this, but i still think a batman/superman team-up is possible. if they can pair up ironman and war machine in the ironman 2, why not pair up batman and superman? they are world’s finest. of-course it will need a good script and great director. my main idea is to take christopher reeve’s superman universe and have other heroe movies follow on the same path which could bring us to a justice league film. i could think up a trilogy of a justice league trilogy, especially if the death and return of superman story arc was the final justice league film. just think about all the animated series that Bruce W. Timm and his team came up with over the years and how they connected all those series. if WB can get thier hands on top rate directors and actors, id say they could go the distance. heck WB can even make up for Batman and Robin in a way by including tat franchise into the same continuenity, knowing how Metroplis was mentioned in Batman Forever and superman mentioned by name in Batman&Robin. thats just my two cents. just think about it. you can get anyone to play batman, but superman is different story and hes not dark like batman is.
let TOM WELLING be the superman in the Superman 2( man of steeal)movie !!!! pls:)
I don’t think the superman returns movie was bad but I think they should not have used kryptonite in the movie, it didn’t impress me personally since they should have used other creative ways to kill superman, come on lex can’t not use the the same thing AGAIN besides it was used in the first movie. as for the reboot it is a BIG MISTAKE since bryan singer
promised more action in the sequel and superman was going to fight a alien villain, those bosses should let bryan singer continue with the sequel and if they don’t like it then they can reboot it also never use kryptonite again in any superman
movies or it will be the death of the franchise.
I want to say again the reboot is a mistake and let Bryan singer do the sequel making superman dark is not good idea, Bryan singer said superman was going fight a alien villain in the next movie which I guess the story is going to be dark especially this new villain which I guess none other BRAINAIC.
I agree that the next Superman movie should start from scratch from Superman’s planet being destroyed to his journey to becoming one of our greatest heroes. This film should have depth along with more actions and emotions. Superman Returns was paste together by people who really didn’t know what they were doing. Come on, how would Lois know Superman was the father of her son? He took her memories of them being together in Superman II away with a kiss. Bring an enemies with more fight.
Returns was just fine. I loved it. A dark Superman flick won’t work, Superman is not a “dark” character.
@Brown
If you saw a kid who could throw a piano, who else could be the father???
I really think the difference between a good comic book movie and a bad comic book movie is the villain. You have to have the right guy to measure the hero against. Superman can’t really be SUPER if he isn’t really tested: mentally, physically, and emotionally. If Superman is a symbol of hope than his opponent needs to be capable of making the audience appreciate that.
If the movie version of Lex Luthor had been more like the Lex Luthor we get in Smallville, or in the animated versions, or in the comics, Lex might have worked as an on-screen arch nemesis. But that’s not what we got. We got an underground living goof, with no back story, who surrounds himself with fools.
I actually think the movie version of Lex is redeemable, but they need to have a whole origin flashback sequence to remove the stain of camp from him and make him scary. It might not be a bad thing, too, if they created a story-line where he was redeemed in the public’s eyes, too (maybe he helps the government fight an invading alient?). I know Kevin Spacey is a capable enough actor if you give him the material to work with. Lex Luthor, at his core, is like a cross between Hannibal Lector and Adolf Hitler, with an off the charts IQ. And he loathes Superman.
I’ve wondered how Brainiac, Doomsday, and Darkseid would translate on-screen. I think it would be tricky.
@Tim.… Hey retard,
Superman Returns was too start were Superman II left off. If you can remember, at the end of Superman II Clark kisses Lois and when this happens his kiss takes her memories of who Clark Kent really was away. My point is they shouldve never had the little boy in the movie period. Lois wouldve never known that she even slept with Superman. Tim why dont you watch Superman II all the way to the end before you throw your two cents in it because you dont know what your talking about.
me again and I’m still for the sequel and I suggest let Bryan do this thing besides they is going be action in this sequel and an alien villain if u don’t believe me look at the first two x men movies and they were a hit, the reboot is designed for making superman dark which is a mistake come on every hero is different.
A movie called punisher war zome was a flop in the box office after being rebooted so the superman franchise is in danger so does anyone know how to contact the wb president like his e mail address? maybe we can persuade him to change his mind.
Warner Bros. what are you thinking? Superman Returns was fine. I agree with the previous writers you can’t compare Superman with Batman. Batman is a character who’s haunted by his past and decisions. Supermen is a character who symbolizes everything that is good and he allows us to hope for something better. Had there been no Batman no one would have thought anything was wrong with the ticket sales, but the execs couldn’t help themselves and had to compare them. If they’re afraid that the Superman franchise will tank then making him dark will be the last nail in the coffin that will kill it. Superman was fine the way it was. My family and friends along with myself loved Superman Returns and left the theatre ecstatic waiting for the sequel. It’s been 2 years and I haven’t seen a thing. Then I read this crap and was thoroughly upset. This is why the indie business is booming, because big studio execs have no vision and are ruled by the almighty dollar. They’re afraid to take a risk and believe art is only good if it sells. Well Superman Returns was good art. Warner Bros. don’t mess with a good thing.
I agree with you Tonie superman returns was not a flop in the box office but a success, let bryan singer do the sequel.
Showing some love to this topic “new to this wordpress”. I defiantly agree with it also. If you really think about it than it all makes alot of sense
I didn’t like the size of the costume’s S logo on the chest nor did I like the size of the red underpants because the chest’s S logo was a scupled medallion it was too small neither did I even like the red cape because it didn’t have a yellow S logo which was on the belt instead the cape was meant to be lycra like the rest of the suit and the costume’s colours were also meant to stay bright red blue and yellow, none of the other fans liked any of the changes to the Superman costume so Goyer if you’re listening to this change it back to the classic version from the comic books. That explains why Superman Returns wasn’t true to Richard Donner’s classic movie which brought the late Christopher Reeve to overnight stardom back in the late 1970s.
The other reasons why Superman Returns was a massive disappointment are because: it had poor stunts good CGI a poor crew except for composer John Williams a poor script and a poor cast except for Marlon Brando’s performance as Jor-El so that also explains why Superman Returns didn’t quite take off critically commercially or financially.
Warner Bros. If you’re listening to this you certainly can’t make the Superman franchise dark and brooding because Superman doesn’t come from the exact same darkness as Batman Robin Spider-Man or even the Punisher.