When Zack Snyder was given the job to direct the upcoming Superman reboot, one of the first statements he made was that he wouldn’t be considering Brandon Routh to play Superman.
But after hearing about all the fans willing to put aside that Routh could be playing 2 different Supermen in two different franchises, Snyder has given pause to his rash decision and will at least reconsider.
Superman director Zack Snyder may recast Brandon Routh as the Man of Steel afer being impressed by fans…
Originally WB demanded an all-new cast after they were underwhelmed by Superman Returns’ weak box office take.
But Zack revealed that Brandon WILL be considered for the role after he saw an online fan campaign (maybe on CBM?) to have the star reinstated.
“I know!” he told the News of the World. “I didn’t realise there would be such a groundswell.”
He is trying to appease the fans, which is a good sign.
However this doesn’t mean that Routh will get the job.
Of all the problems with Superman Returns, Routh is not it. Routh appeared too young to be playing a Superman already established in the hearts of the people and now returning from a long otherworldly sabbatical. Routh himself did a great job with the role and certainly looked the part, and that he was “too young” might be the worst you can say about his role, it actually works for Snyder’s vision.
But can we disassociate the actor from the role when he is playing the same part in a movie unrelated to the existing franchise?
It is still a longshot, but at very least Snyder is listening.
I think Routh is perfect. There were so many moments in Superman Returns where he seemed so similar to Christopher Reeve. He has the perfect look. I think people love the Superman films and they simply want someone who has a certain presence on screen..Routh certainly had that in my opinion.
To answer your question: yes!
Routh was really one of the *only* redeeming qualities about that movie. I’d love to see him play the part with some good material. I think it could be killer.
I hope Routh gets it.
I’d say cast Henry Cavill for Clark Kent/Superman. This guy was nearly Bruce Wayne and James Bond as well. I’d say give him a chance for the Man of Steel.
Hmmm, I was just ok with Routh as Superman, He wasnt great and he wasnt terrible. It’s not for me to say if he deserves another shot as Superman, but I think there are other actors out there just as capable.
Routh comes off a little dry and distant sometimes, much like Kianu Reeves. I get Kianu and I like it, and I am not necessarily saying its a bad thing, just not sure it’s right for the Superman character.
I just dont feel like Routh nailed the emotional scenes during the film. I guess that was Christopher Reeves greatest strength portraying the Superman character…. he made you believe!
It’s a courtesy read I’m sure, to appease the Fans. Routh was a decent clone of Christopher Reeve and did a good job in “Returns”. That movie in my opinion had so much love and care to resemble/honor the “Donner” version that it gave me chills, but ultimatley suffocated the final product.
Routh is done w/ Supe’s
Zack wont put him in, this will be “Zacks” Superman, and I’m kinda intrigued to see what he doe’s with it.
Takes us in the oppisite direction Zack! and blow us away
I loved routh as super man, he’s just great at conveying the man of steel and completely looks the part.
I think its kinda sad if he doesnt get another craic at playing him.
I don’t think you guys give the movie going public enough credit. If this movie is done correctly it will be easy to dissociate Routh from the previous film. The guy is an actor. He can play the role differently.. I can feel that Routh is going to get this role. There is just something telling me it will happen.
I can disassociate Routh from Superman Returns. I would love to see him in the next Superman film but yeah the larger movie going public might get confused.
It’s a shame Routh was wasted on Superman Returns. I’m one who says he was too young for the type of Superman he was playing. There is a lot of talk about the guy from Mad Men playing the new Superman. It’s too bad he didn’t play him in Superman Returns and Routh play him in Snyder’s reboot (since it’s about a younger version).
With that being said, I think you can’t have Routh play him in Snyder’s version now that he was in Superman Returns. The average person had a hard enough time trying to figure out if the Norton Hulk had anything to do with the Bana Hulk. If you use Routh again, everyone will assume it’s a sequel to Superman Returns. The geeks will get it, but the general public will NOT be able to disassociate. Sorry–it just won’t work. You’ve got to recast him.
Jon Hamm is a fan favourite but it’s only fanboy talk that brings his name up. The studio is not considering him at all.
And I totally agree with your assessment over the routh situation
First of all, the real reason for no sequel to SUPERMAN RETURNS was because of the Siegel/Shuster lawsuit. Now the reason for moving forward with a new movie is because of the Siegel/Shuster ruling by a judge. There has yet to be a ruling on the Siegels suing for have of the box office returns for SUPERMAN RETURNS and that is the real reason for no sequel. completely researching the lawsuit will reveal all of this.
That being said Brandon Routh has been working out with a trainer for about 4 months now. Thomas Tull, president of Legendary Pictures sent a trainer to Brandon Routh telling him to “get into full on SUPERMAN shape.” Routh is bigger and more ripped than in 2006 and is the guy for the job. It does not matter about previous films because the new SUPERMAN movie will be focused on his early days which means it is before the other movies. Also, Tom Welling’s Superboy transitioning to SUPERMAN will end where SUPERMAN the movie began. There is going to be a different approach with Clark Kent in the new movie and ending Smallville at the point where Superman the movie started will not work for this new movie. Also Brandon Routh looks more and more like SUPERMAN than anyone on the planet. If you have not seen him lately, all it will take is one look and you will see it looks like he already has the role intact! If you have any doubt, contact Thomas Tull and ask him who is going to be playing the duel role of Clark Kent/SUPERMAN in the new movie.
Can you explain how making THIS Superman film by the WB studios is any different from profits allegedly owed to the Estate of Siegel/Shuster?
That estate gets a cut of EVERYTHING made with Superman in it. How is making a reboot instead of a sequel going to change anything?
The Siegel/Shuster’s own specific elements about Superman, like his origin, Krypton, costume, key characters like Lois, Jimmy, Perry White and the Kents. Much of the elaborated history of Superman does not belong to them.
But if they make a Superman movie, even if its a sequel to Returns or not, they still get their cut.
There is no connection between chosing to reboot instead of continuing. The Siegel/Shuster estate is in the same position regardless of the script choice.
Returns had its flaws, and they are avoiding the corner they painted the character into and starting over. The success of a more serious Batman and Big Budget Iron Man has spawned many new films being rebooted to fit this new improved genre.
If you have read the courts ruling awarding parts of superman back to the Siegels you would know that in that ruling the judge said that Warners knew about the Siegels filing in 2004 yet proceeded with a new movie in 2006. That being said, if they do not get a movie into production by the end of 2011 then half of the profits from Superman Returns will be awarded to the siegels because the judge had ruled that Warner’s purposely delayed another Superman movie , after returns, to avoid the 2007 amendment the Siegels had filed with the court. That is how I can explain it. Like it or not, it is all in the judges ruling and if you take some ime to actually read it, you would have known this already.
And just to clarify, by filing in 2004, the Siegels knew they had the right to regain ownership of Superman, under the law, in 2006. And I noticed you avoided any reference to Thomas Tull and who he has already said will be in the dual role of Clark Kent/SUPERMAN.
And by getting a movie into production by 2011, Warners will have to share only the profits from the new movie, with the Siegels, and not from SUPERMAN RETURNS. Again, all of this is in the judge’s ruling. But to make it easier for you to understand, the judge has simply said that the Siegels filing claiming that Warners was delaying a sequel was valid and that Warner Brothers purposely delayed a sequel to attempt to drag out this lawsuit for years, so either get a new movie into production and share the profits or pay out for the previous movie.
That still doesn’t explain why they wont sequel Superman Returns. (which was your assumption)
The court says they have to make a new Superman movie, yes. But there is NOTHING saying that it has to be a reboot. Which is what you said.
They were required to make another movie (which they will make a cut of) but there is nothing saying it couldnt be a sequel to Returns.
That the fans didn’t like the direction they left the storyline in at the end of returns is why they are rebooting it. They could have made a sequel and it still would have qualified for the judgement.
They were planning to make another Superman movie anyways. This lawsuit didn’t “force” anything. It simply laid out terms for paying out royalties owed.
Thomas Tull WANTS Routh to play Superman, but no casting has been decided. That’s why I didnt bother to address that vague rumour. He told Routh to get into “Superman shape” doesn’t confirm the casting or give any credit to it.
Do you have a source where he apparently decided over the directors head that he would be choosing the casting? Because the only mention of Tull and Routh online were two years ago when they first teased with a reboot. Lots has happened since then.
http://screenrant.com/brandon-routh-superman-filmnerdjamie-3919/
The lawsuit actually forced another movie because the judge ruled that Warners purposely were delaying another Superman movie, in order to drag out the lawsuit as long as possible. The fact that we are going onto five years without a superman movie has more to do with no sequel than anything else. So it does not matter if you agree with me, the lawsuit is what forced another movie and you have been wrong on most points in this discussion simply because you choose to either not read the lawsuit and subsequent filings or because you want to be right even when you are wrong.
You are a hypocrite. You say “because you want to be right even when you are wrong” when I address every one of your blind assumptions with facts and details while you keep repeating your baseless assumptions.
Yes. They once told Routh to stay in Superman shape. That he recently sent him a physical trainer could be for ANY role. You said he has been working out at Tull’s request for four months now, but Tull can’t give Routh the job and that he wants him in top physical shape is blind speculation. The money spent on maybes in Hollywood is staggering an a physical trainer is pennies. They already said they would let him audition, and Snyder likes Routh, but honestly doesn’t think it will happen. He has said multiple times that he wouldn’t rule him out just yet. Tull doesnt decide. Snyder gets final say with guidance from Nolan.
Yes. They “forced” another superman movie with the lawsuit because they would lose the rights (which is over the rights to Superman’s origins and key plot points – not the character as a whole) if they didn’t. And the lawsuit also claiming lack of payment for royalties on Returns is frivolous and doesn’t take into consideration the 6-8 false starts and money spent on scripts and casting deals that never happened (but were still paid) that they counted against the earnings of Returns (The estate thinks they shouldnt count against this film so they think there is a bigger profit than what their books actually account for)
And there is no SEQUEL. This new film is not at all related to the previous versions so its not a sequel. It is a whole new movie. They had to make a Superman movie. They didn’t have to sequel it. Nothing was forcing a sequel, they were forcing another film using the property. You assume to know so much about this lawsuit and you still insist that Tull talked to Routh and already gave him the job… that Nolan/Snyder haven’t approved or decided on (Tull doesn’t make that decision)
So when you can come up with some FACTS then maybe you can pretend I am wrong, but I haven’t said anything that hasn’t been made public knowledge or already posted. You seem to be the only person on the planet who thinks that an exec has already given the role to Routh.
It is a minor pet peeve how people complain that Superman didn’t make enough money. It came out roughly the same time as Batman Begins, at made 97.5% of the domestic gross of Batman. However, globally it made 4.7% MORE than Batman!
I think the lumpheads at the studio looked at the “budget” of $270,000,000 and thought their ROI wasn’t healthy enough. Kind of wrong minded as that number included every development dollar pumped into the property since WB started trying to develop a new Superman franchise after the BURTON franchise blew up! It isn’t Routh’s fault that someone once thought Nic Cage would make a good Superman.
So while Batman and Superman performed roughly on par, and both had good reviews (Superman 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, Batman 84%), for some reason Superman is considered a dud and Batman was greenlighted for a sequel.
Smart move greenlighting Batman. I hear that sequel did ok at the Box Office and a few critics like it. ;-)
But why not make another Singer/Routh Superman movie? Was it because Singer mucked up the film with a kid, throwback Lex Luthor, and a married Lois Lane? Then why did they greenlight the script in the first place?
If I had to pick between the two, I would have also made a second bat film. But they didn’t have to pick. This issue baffles me.
I always thought it was because WB was ready to greenlight a sequel, but someone showed whoever was in charge of production the negative fan reaction online with Superman Returns, so they decided to scrap those plans and start from scratch again.
Critic response and fan response are not always the same. I know the movie has some fans online but I have never met a person that have said they liked the movie. And I’ve made a point of asking everyone when the topic of movies comes up.
The numbers may not look bad but keep in mind that the studio doesn’t keep all of that money. Theaters have to get something.
And this is superman we are talking about. The greatest and most well known superhero. It should have made a lot more than it did. Plus there wasn’t a superman movie in over 20 years. Any bad taste should have been forgotten. Batman had less time to recover.
You say singer mucked up the story yourself. It would be hard to build on a bad story, having to keep all those bad elements. The x-men movies were a big hit. When singer got involved the studio placed a lot of faith in him. They shouldn’t have.
Theatrers don’t actually make that much off the ticket until after thee third or fourth week. The studio gets pretty much 100% in the first two weeks.
Yes but less overseas. The movie opened on a wednesday by the thursday before the third weekend it made 120. I sure they mad money on the DVDs but in theaters I don’t think you can call superman returns a success.
“You say singer mucked up the story yourself. It would be hard to build on a bad story, having to keep all those bad elements. The x-men movies were a big hit. When singer got involved the studio placed a lot of faith in him. They shouldn’t have.”
This is the best answer I have gotten on the subject.
FWIW- you have now “met” someone who liked the movie. I really enjoyed it despite these limitations. But, then again, I am 35 and have an affinity for the Reeve series.
Brandon routh has been working out with a trainer for about 4 months now. Thomas Tull, president of Legendary Pictures sent a trainer to Brandon Routh telling him to “get into full on SUPERMAN shape.” Routh is bigger and more ripped than in 2006 and is the guy for the job. It does not matter about previous films because the new SUPERMAN movie will be focused on his early days which means it is before the other movies. Also, Tom Welling’s Superboy transitioning to SUPERMAN will end where SUPERMAN the movie began. There is going to be a different approach with Clark Kent in the new movie and ending Smallville at the point where Superman the movie started will not work for this new movie. Also Brandon Routh looks more and more like SUPERMAN than anyone on the planet. If you have not seen him lately, all it will take is one look and you will see it looks like he already has the role intact!
i had no problem with his age. he’s superman he may not age like humans. however lois was too young looking. i would love to see him come back as supes. he did well in the role mimicking reeves. the next round he can make his own. i don’t think clark has to be so goofy or nerdy.
Superman ages the same as humans do.
Otherwise, he would look 8 and still be old enough for highschool?
It has been speculated that once he reaches adulthood that his resistance to disease and injury would prolong his life, but he would still mature at the same rate.
So when he said it wasn’t a remake did he mean to say it was a prequal? I say if fans can dissociate, get Tom Welling. But even if the fans could, that doesn’t mean the general movie going audience will. Sites like these are popular but not that popular.
Avi Arad once called this very site (and a few others by name) “the new taste makers of Hollywood” in a Time Magazine article.
I think the very point of it is that most people WONT disassociate the actor playing that character and if they did use Routh the general audiences would still see it as a prequel to Returns.
Also, big NO to Tom Welling. Love him in Smallville, but even worse to try and disassociate a guy who played Kent on 10 years of TV instead of just in one film.
If they use Welling, it will be a Smallville movie. They cant divorce him from that. (Also, I predict a new Superman TV show or Justice League show after Smallville ends)
I thought they were already going to let Routh try out/audition.
“No, Go, or Routh!” ;P
They had said in the past they were going to at least give him an audition, but that unless he really killed it at that audition, it was still unlikely the actor would get the role – purely because he already played the character and they are going with a reboot.
Snyder is reconsidering, but in the long run I don’t know that much more than an audition would happen.
I can disassociate!!! I hope this happens sooo bad!