Superman Returns Writers Ditch Man Of Steel

Depending on how you look at it, this news can be seen either as a set back for Man of Steel, or a huge leap forward. Word coming from our friends over at IESB is that the team that penned Superman Returns, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, have taken a pass on Man Of Steel (the reported name of the next Superman movie).

As a result, WB is now taking pitches for Supe’s next outing from other scribes — just as the studio is trying to figure out which actor will don the character’s tights in “Justice League.” WB reps said the next film will in fact be a sequel and not a reboot although the idea of Superman’s son was not well received. The trade continues and says that Superman star Brandon Routh will return to reprise the role and not go the way of Universal’s Hulk with new star Edward Norton taking the lead.

So here’s the thing… personally, i think this is good and bad news. I’m one of the few people who actually enjoyed Superman Returns. No, it wasn’t what I was expecting… and no, it really wasn’t all that good of a comic book movie… but I still thought it was a very solid movie in general and I really like the way Bryan Singer managed the film.

Having said that, even I hated a couple of aspects of the first movie. Lex Luthor once again going after real estate?!?!?! He’s the greatest criminal mind of our age… can’t he come up with something different? And Super Kid?!?! Worst idea ever. Superman is a deadbeat dad. Nice.

So new writers I can handle… but the sad truth is that with these guys leaving the project… it could mean Brian Singer may ditch it as well. And i think that would be an unfortunate thing.

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36 thoughts on “Superman Returns Writers Ditch Man Of Steel

  1. SUPERMAN RETURNS WAS A GREAT FILM IN ALL ASPECTS. ALOT OF THESE BLOGS TALK ABOUT LEX IS BORING OLD NEWS GOING AFTER REALESTATE AGAIN, SUPER BOY BAD IDEA, SUPERMAN WILL BE BAD DAD, I DIDNT FEEL ANY OF THIS TOWARDS THE FILM. LEX LUTHER ISNT GOING AFTER REAL ESTATE HES GOING FOR POWER AND I THINK A ADVANCED CITY GROWN FROM A SUPER COMPUTER CRYSTAL COMBINED WITH A BIT OF KRYPTONITE TO KEEP THE LOCAL GOD OF HIS BACK WOULD GET HIM THAT IF ONLY HE DIDNT UNDER ESTIMATE THE TRUE POWER OF KAL-EL. SO UP TO NOW LEX IS STILL THE GREATEST CRIMINAL MIND IN THE WOULD LETS FACE IT THERE WAS NOTHING HUMANS COULD DO TO STOP HIM AND STILL REMAINS SUPERMANS GREATEST ENEMY. SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK LEX IS OLD NEWS FOR SUPERMAN BUT SUPERMAN IS STIL ALIVE SO I HIGHLY DOUBT DC COMICS WOULD HAVE LEX GIVE UP AND PUT HIS FEET UP THINKING ‘OH WELL I TRIED’. NO LEX WILL BE BACK. THE FLOATING KRYPTONITE THROWN INTO SPACE BY SUPERMAN LEAVES GREAT ROOM FOR IDEAS FOR FUTURE SEQUALS ESPECIALY WITH A NEW KRYPTONIAN SON, WHOS TO SAY HIS DESTINY IS THE SAME AS HIS FATHERS. THE FUTURE OF SUPERMAN MOVIES ARE TRULY MOVING FORWARD SO IF YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THE FILM WHY MAKE LAME EXCUSES TO CALL IT BAD LIKE HIS NEW SUIT LOOKING DULL, THAT SUIT IS WELL MADE AND WELL DESIGNED AS IS THE MOVIE. I HAVE TO SAY WELL DONE TO EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE FILM.

  2. Is it just me or are we tired of having a Lex Luthor? Yeah, yeah, we know he’s a “great criminal mind” but its boring already. With movie technology where it is, bring in a Metallo or a Mongul and have them go toe to toe with Supes. If you want Luthor, have him as a side thought aiding the ones going after Superman. What about Darkseid? Cmon people, lets see how many buildings we can trash in a real fight? Let’s see supes chuck cars at his enemies and lets see them chuck them back at innocent bystanders. Think comic books because if you a movie like an all out street brawl, fans will make it a $500 million easily.

  3. People, People. Bryan Singer did a good job in what was given to him. He said, that he did not know much about Superman as he did with X-Men. Hey, look, what he did with the X-Men. Now the second is at hand for Superman. Superman is more realistic than Marvel. Everyone on marvel is just about mutated. So, it is quite easy. DC, people are aliens and almost realistic base. It is much harder to create. To be honest, Superman did not really have a true enemy to really, fight. So, give Singer a chance to do what he do best without tying his hand, like they did in the first movie trying to replicate a dead man name Christopher Reeves. Let Brandon have his own time. Reeves is dead and Routh is alive, so, give the man his shot. Remember this. Reeves done those two last sucky Superman films. Hey, deal with it.

  4. What Bryan Singer needs is, a new writer and Mark Millar is the man to do it. He hopes that his writing contract expires with Marvel so DC can sign him I hope this happens.
    Superman needs and new image already done in SR, new story, done, and new direction they can do that too.
    Lex Luthor will always be around, like The Joker is to Batman. THey both will appear in JLA and Batman versus Superman I bet, Heath Ledger and Kevin Spacey great villian combination. Brandon Routh and Christian Bale great hero combination.

    Enough Said!!!

  5. Hi clark kent,

    How are you doing today? I like your suit and I want to wear a suit too. When do I get the suit? I have your dvd and I watch it all the time and I like alot.

    Thank you

    Sincerely

    Maraphalla Chan

  6. Hi clark kent,

    How are you doing today? When are you come to pick me up. I want clark kent to come to pick me up? I love to become a superman.

    Thank you

    Sincerely

    Maraphalla Chan

  7. Hi clark kent,

    How are you doing today? I want to become a superman and then I could help peolpe like you. When should I become a superman?

    Thank you

    Sincerely

    Maraphalla Chan

  8. Personally, I would like to see Singer replaced on Man of Steel, and he can take that 15 year-old looking Lois Lane with him.

    I’d like to see somebody totally unexpected take the helm…John Millius.

  9. Hi clark kent,

    how are you doing today? I like clark kent because he save everybody life and he protect all the people. I like his movie alot. I watch his movie all the time. I want to see clark kent? I want to talk to him because I like to see him. I know he is supermen and I always keep a secret all the time. I like to become a superman like clark kent.

    Thank you

    Sincerely

    Maraphalla Chan

  10. I enjoyed SR to a point…

    Routh was good enough and the movie had an elagence to it and a certain classic atmostphere to appreciate.

    Mainly though it felt as though it exsisted for nostalgia!

    I think that Singer was far too faithful to the original movies and his movie eneded up being a poor rehash of Superman the Motion picture. Times change… gotta roll with em.

    My only concern now is that i don’t like seeing reboots and if they do that then the whole superman movie legacy will become disjointed… but then again i don’t see what they can do with the damned kid (as much as i would like to see him die) i don’t think that would work well coz who wants a kid to die in a superhero movie.

    Who knows what they will end up doing… just up the ante a bit Singer come on!

  11. i am more interested in the story i read today about nolan and bale both being very pissed off about batmans inclusion in a JLA movie.

    In one of the mags it has reported that nolan who is deep in post on dark knight is not happy at all…..

    i wonder how that will play out….

  12. Bosworth was godawful. The last time I saw that film, I just closed my eyes and imagined Rachel McAdams in that role. God, Rachel was BORN to be Lois Lane. She’s got the right look, she can be sweet, she can be strong, she’s a great actress, she’s the right age, need I go on?! Man, they missed a killer opportunity by not casting her.

  13. I loved Superman Returns. It was not an action movie. Not all superhero movies have to have wall to wall action and violence. That’s one of the interesting and unique things about SR. John, you’re not the only one who liked the movie. There’s a lot of people who are not anti-SR. Don’t let the legions of Bryan Singer/Superman Returns haters on the Internet fool you.

  14. I agree with most of the people on this topic that this movie sucked!! Big time. Disappointed in Singer, considering his rep. on X1 and X2…

    For those who liked based on the fact that the movie was different? Different does not make a movie good…it makes it different but not good. I can’t see being different being a criteria for good.

    Besides how can SR be different? it was the same exact movie as Superman the Movie…the same lines, the same plot (real estate again!!!????), the same villain, the same, the same!! The only thing different were cliche’ plot points, like the kid and the boyfriend…yes very original.

    And I wish people would stop whining on the action…a lot of people including me were not upset over the lack of action…what we were upset about was the lack of plot and a movie homage that reeked of unoriginality.The problem was that it was not trying to be different but trying to be to much of the same. Singer loved the original Donner version and I think he loved it a little to much.

    And please get rid of Bosworth…utterly horrible!

    Routh was good and he filled the shoes well.

    Spacey, I know many did not like, but I thought he was good, but would have been better as a Luthor who was Corporate giant who ruled literally owned Metropolis! Just like the John Bryne version which now exists in the TV series Smallville. Now if Spacey played that version of Lex that would be great!

  15. Singer needs to go too. He was as responsible for the boring story as the writers were. And Im not sure I buy the idea that they wanted to leave, my guess is that they were sort of forced out and are saying they wanted to leave. The studio is probably allowing them to say that to save face and leave on good terms.

    Im torn between whether they should bring Routh back and kill the kid at the beginning, or start completely fresh with a new superman and a total new cast.

    They definitely need an action movie next time though, not a soap opera.

  16. Damned if we get Superman, damned if we don’t. I’d see Tim Burton’s Superman, but only because the same reason John looks forward to JLA (big bomb; all due respect, I like Tim Burton’s films).

    Anyways, I am really surprised with some negative reaction to Superman Returns. Sure, the movie takes place 5 years after Superman II, but I guess times have changed for today. I’ll play devil advocate: Bryan Singer hit a home run on X2, so maybe peole thought he could give the same sense of action and drama for Superman. Instead, and I don’t think anyone noticed this, but I think certain plot points (superkid) were also considered for previous ideas on Superman Lives (when Tim Burton to McG were involved).
    I guess the point I am making is that as good as Superman and Superman II were, today we are more focused on a more mordern view in comic book movies (mostly good action and realistic story). With the mess that is Superfriends, we make never know if Singer could pull an X2 on The Man of Steel, and from the looks of things, we may not care until an X3-style trailer comes out, IMO.

  17. Brad I love the original films.

    Superman the motion picture is one of my favorite films of all time.

    Singers film was just like watching a bad cover band play a set of my favorites bands songs.

    He sucked all the life out of the character and made him depressing to be around.

    Where was the sense of wonder? when he was doing squat thrusts holding big objects standing in all those odd steve reeves poses??

    Beat for beat the film copied all the same moves as donners superior original yet failed to inject any wonder or joy into it at all.

    I don’t need there to be action a plenty if everything else is working but singer made a bunch of bad calls which lead to the film being a dull waste of time.

    allt hat money spent on what?? an ugly looking film that failed to do what it was supposed to do…thrill people.
    there is only one moment that worked for me and that is when superman steps out onto the baseball field and takes in the crowd going crazy for him. that was a great moment but then the film had nothing to match that moment of joy after that,

    Kate Bosworth was horribly miscast as lois lane.

    Parker Posey character was acting ina completely different movie to everyone else and spacey was the only one trying to inject a bit of life into his part but was ultimately drowned down by all the incredible blandness surrounding him…

    If singer had decided to make his own film rather than making a bad expensive fan film tribute to donners films then we might have been on to something but he made this weird pseudo remake sequel and backed himself into a corner he was just not able to get out of.

  18. Bryan Singer likely has a pay-or-play deal, meaning WB will have to pay him his fee even if they fire him, and I doubt they’ll do that, as last time they had to pay Tim Burton and Nic Cage for the Superman Lives script that never happened. I think they may be intentionally delaying Man of Steel so this Justice League movie will dominate summer 2009. I liked Returns, though it did lack action. Just cast Jude Law as Zod, Eva Green as Ursa, and Gerard Butler as Non. There’s your pitch, Mr. Singer!

  19. I’ll just stay open minded on this one. Frankly, i wouldn’t be at all suprised if Singer himself jumped ship sooner or later given the insanity that it going on at WB right now. He doesn’t need Superman, he has plenty of projects to make.

    I suppose it’ll be back to Tim Burton if that’s the case;)

  20. I would much rather have a Superman vs. Batman movie than a reboot of Superman.

    I still maintain that Superman Returns is a good movie and one of the biggest reasons why is because it was so diferent.

    But where it was diferent didnt tie its hands moving foward. There is still great potential for sequels that can move more toward the action and suspense fans want, but those sequels will have a soul because of the foundation Singer reestablishes in Returns.

    To reboot the franchise you will lose that, and most likely will get something that is just thrown together to sell toys like JLA or some other Jon Peters monstrosity.

    I know Peters was on board for Returns but it ended up being the antithesis of everything he wanted it to be…Thank God.

  21. Superman Returns was just a bad movie, I thought so when it came out, and I still think so, even though multiple showings on Cable have at least given me a mild tolerance of the movie.

    There were a few problems with SR:

    1: Casting
    Other than Frank Langella as Perry White, the cast was questionable at best.
    Brandon Routh is a great Clark Kent, but not so good as Supes. You need someone a little more physically imposing to be Superman.
    I love Kevin Spacey in many other movies, but he is a horrible Lex Luthor. This may be Singer’s fault in how he gave him direction. Luthor is supposed to be an evil Super Genius who is rich, not a spoiled rich thug.
    Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane… Um yeah… She can be good in roles, so again maybe Singer’s fault, but Lois Lane is her own woman who is strong and resilient. Lois is Superman’s equal in her own way (there is a reason he married her, and it wasn’t just her looks), she’s not a fair maiden for Supes to save every 3 minutes.
    The Kid playing Jimmy Olsen… Please stick to making horrible comedies.

    2: Bryan Singer
    The man can make great movies (X1 & X2), but I don’t think he even looked at a Superman comic past the 60’s. The characters were treated like they were from the 50’s rather than anything close to the modern Superman. I think he just didn’t understand Superman, or perhaps the Studio tied his hands too much.

    3: Superchild
    Whoever forced this poorly conceived (pun not intended) idea into the script should be shot. He served no purpose in the story other than to make Lois look even more helpless, or to arbitrarily make the movie appear somehow kid friendly.

    4: Poor plot
    How do you have dialog that hints that Superman left for some great noble purpose, and then never elaborate? The damn movie was pushing 3 hours, and in all that time you can’t at least briefly hint at why Superman abandoned Earth for 8-10 years? (I am assuming 8-10 years based on how old the kid looked)
    Also, in almost 3 hours of movie almost NOTHING happens.

    Superman Returns is very akin to the Hulk, so I would have to agree with the people saying perhaps a reboot is in order, or better yet skip the reboot, and just make a World’s Finest (Superman vs. Batman) movie instead.

  22. WOW! Did anyone love the Superman movies of old (at least 1 and 2)? These movies were not action packed, these movies were not all about Superman fighting giant alien monsters. These movies were drama’s for crying out loud.

    Singer and co. did a wonderful job with bringing Superman back correctly (in my humble opinion).

    The tension between Louise and Superman was perfect, Lex being jadded and more evil was done very well, and B.R. did a fine job as my man of steel.

    I’ll give you the note on the kid being a bad idea, but 95% of that movie was gold. One of my favorite comic movies.

    Appologies to all those who require large explosions and battles. There are plenty of comic movies to feed your needs.

    What made this movie special was that it was different. There was more feeling than action, and what action there was, was done with style and in 100% tribute to the movies of old.

    If new writers come in and make this a popcorn junkie mega action flick – it will suck!!

    Superman Returns was such a pleasent film, I got choked up during many of the scenes. Again this is due to my great Superman fandom, but none the less, Singer and crew were all on the same page and those who loved the originals I feel would have a similar opinion.

  23. Well my biggest grip with the film is the Kid and the actress with the role of lois lane. I can understand that having the kid gives super-man a great weakness much like spider-man and mary jane. But this is a problem with super-man, he is too dame strong. And lois lane was just another pretty faced damsel in disstress. Now if the writers leave fine im not a big fan of any of there work anyway. If Bryan leaves as well then I want to take Rob’s Idea and go for a full reboot but pls keep Brandon Roth.

  24. Im a little upset by this news. I was really excited to see what this team would put together for the sequel. Im wondering if there was too much pressure from the suits to do things that the writers didnt agree with, which to someone wholiked what they did in returns, is bad news.

    Returns was so original and different from every other comic book movie and Im sure now the studio wants The Man of Steel to be a cookie cutter movie with an arc that weve seen a million times before…Meh. I still have hope but if Singer walks, my interest in the sequel just became non-existent.

  25. I’m not quite sure where it says when the writers walk off, that Singer is soon to follow. I’m glad IESB brung up the SuperFriends movie (I refuse to call it JLA; lets call it for what it really is) …because I’m starting to wonder if that could be a factor.

    It should be noted that this is an awkward time due to the upcoming strike for WB asking for “pitches”. “Pitches” to me suggests that it isn’t a re-write, but an entire overhaul. Don’t like Brainiac? Let’s bring in Zod…don’t like Zod (but who doesn’t?) fine…give props to Parasite. Or *Mytzlplyk* (sp?) which could have the kid an elborate illusion by the villian. (hey, you never know) maybe Lex shouldn’t be in the next film…

    I’m thinking it’s only a call out for a re-write of the existing script. But…the clock is ticking!

  26. singer going out!? maybe its not a bad thing too.
    he likes to input to much of his on feelings on his superheroes movies,whith you take his interviews maded by the time of x men or even sups,his always said that he saw some of his own sofferings and dramas in that or those character,and its ok whith you want add some sadness and fear of be considered a mutant in a movie about mutants!(and i not homofobic!!)was his own words.
    sure put wolverine crying like a bicht every time someone dies is a little to much!(thats for me)
    but in the case of superman, he wanted to put his vision about catolicism and jesus christ on the superman persona and above that the history of the adopted son (he is adopted too)and again the felling of be a outsider (the gay thing again!)
    and this is sooo far of what a sups movie should be about!
    so,lets new blood comes to make a superman movie the way it should , a movie about a IMPOSING icon and a figure of kindness,selfsacrifice,charisma,courage and of course including on the formula alot of asskicking action,not a bigrockuplifting and a plane rescue!!
    THAS WAS LAME!!!
    P.S. KILL THE DANM SUPERKID PLISS!!

  27. kristina you are spot on.
    I enjoyed it somewhat when i first saw it but man oh man it does not stand up.
    I think it was tricked by the theme music!

    It is an incredibly bland piece of film making.
    The action scenes are sooooo dull and lack suspense or wonder. I was hoping for chills down the spine and gettin.

    the biggest problem though and I don’t care what anyone says is that brandon routh has the charisma of a wet blanket.

    the creepy stalker scenes were incredibly misjudged and I think singer just got it totally wrong. the whole super kid storyline is awful and he also made being superman look like a total drag.

    it was so oddly depressing that I just couldn;t figure out what singer was thinking.

    I hope this news does lead to singer leaving…

    but I also believe the film is never going to happen anyway.

  28. I recently watched SR again, and man, that is a boring flick. Ugh, the story is stupid, and I know this next critique has nothing to do with the writers, but that film is downright ugly-looking. Tons of browns and grays all over the place. Even Supes’ costume looks a bit dull in terms of color. Ugh. Here’s hoping they staple their balls to the walls for the next one, but I’m not very excited for it.

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