When Superman was getting the Reboot treatment, we were told that writer David Goyer was going to do something with Superman that we hadn’t really seen on film before. Now that sounds like scripted PR catchphrases there, but now that we know where he is coming from it seems he really is grasping something new.
It seems that the reboot will be strongly influenced by the Superman Secret Origins comic written by Geoff Johns. WorstPreviews quotes Goyer about his process:
“There is a heart breaking moment halfway through the first chapter in which young Clark is told the truth about his heritage. He races out into the night, sobbing, stumbling through the cornfields. Eventually, his foster father, Jonathan, finds him. ‘I don’t want to be someone else,’ says Clark. ‘I don’t want to be different. I want to be Clark Kent. I want to be your son’
Right there in that moment, Geoff [Johns] contextualized Superman in a way that I’m not sure has ever really been done before. I had an ‘aha’ experience when I read that. For the first time I was able to grasp how lonely Clark must have been when he was growing up. And what a sacrifice Clark must continually make by being Superman.
As I write this, I am midway through my first draft of a new Superman screenplay. It’s a task that has stymied many talented filmmakers in the years since Donner’s film. And for all I know, it will end up stymieing me as well.
But I’ve got one advantage that the screenwriters who came before me didn’t have – and that’s access to all the wonderful Superman stories written by Geoff Johns – first and foremost being the SECRET ORIGIN issues reprinted in the very volume you are now holding.”
That sounds great to me.
I always thought that Superman deserved more character development. No one is stronger, or faster, or more invulnerable. So what do you write about a guy who by definition cannot be beaten? KRYPTONITE!
Honestly, I am tired of every story with Superman falling back on Kryptonite to take away what empowers him just so the badguy has an angle. Donner’s films were close as Lex Luthor, an ordinary man stood a chance at challenging Superman. But even he had to use Kryptonite.
I like that this will focus on the CHARACTER of Clark Kent and bring a real depth to the Man of Steel, but even still I hope we will get to see some whoopass and a real enemy worthy of his powers. I am tired of Luthor in the films (not that he isn’t required) and Zod would be interesting if they do a different take on him.
Throw in a token powerhouse like Metallo, create a story with depth and when he realizes that he alone can use his powers to stop this threat we get a major fight in the end.
“Right there in that moment, Geoff [Johns] contextualized Superman in a way that I’m not sure has ever really been done before. I had an ‘aha’ experience when I read that. For the first time I was able to grasp how lonely Clark must have been when he was growing up. And what a sacrifice Clark must continually make by being Superman.”
This has already been done. The show is called Smallville and is the same plot line.
Some Ah Ha moment…
Doomsday would be very one dimensional as said above, if your gonna bring him into the story or arc theres not alot you can do if you see in smallville they had to make it a human/krytopian that crashed alongside kent… and they had to give him a human face/body otherwise no one would be interested in him.
So I think its a very bad idea just to have him.
Zod is the right choice, or Brainiac… Darkseid is a top choice but perhaps to be left for 2nd/3rd film.
I just hope they do it properly like with batman begins while the films like 2 hours and half, the 1st hour and half is just setting up Bruce wayne and other charactors before we see the dark knight :)
This add’s more hope to an already anticipated Supe’s film.
Bring on the subtance fellas…..
This IS Superman
Superman must have a villain that challenges him to feel helpless, or at least give the impression that he might lose. I like the idea of Braniac or Doomsday, but maybe it’s too expected? I would much rather see something along the lines of Darkseid in the way he was a much stronger, much more powerful over the top villain at the conclusion of Superman TAS.
Also, how about a new pic for these superman posts? just sayin…
Nice shout out from Goyer for his buddy Geoff. I remember them back when they wrote Justice Society together. They were always on DC’s message boards and were really cool. Glad they’ve both been as successful as they are. Sounds like the story is in good hands.
Doomsday and Brainiac are OVERDUE for a live-action appearance in a Superman film. Hope Zack Snyder knows this.
Brainiac is cool, but I hope they stay away from Doomsday. I’ve always seen him as a very one dimensional character. I’d also think that since they’re reportedly focusing on a younger Clark Kent trying to find his way in the world it would be too early in the story for Doomsday. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd movie if the reboot takes off. If they’re going to use Doomsday, I’d prefer he be used later in the story arc.
Completely agree. I think metallo is a little weak (especially if they went with the kryptonite core). But Braniac, Doomsday, Darkseid would all be great villains. I actually think that if they wanted to do a trilogy that would be the best way to do it. Similar to the Mandarin with Iron Man (I understand don’t want to copy too much). You can have a story line though:
1. Braniac (either created by Luthor or sent from above like Superman by Darkseid, reverse FF42 it where he starts out as seemingly understanding and attracted toward Superman but turns)
2. Doomsday (could be a great “Death of/Weakening” sequence at the end, Doomsday could also be a darkseid pawn.)
3. Darkseid ultimate battle super spectacular!!!! Some final resolution of Kal-El’s two halves/responsibilities
That being said, I wonder how people would react to a new trilogy without Zod.
I always thought they should focus on Clark’s farm boy upbringing because this is who he truly is at heart. He is a rural American farm boy raised by loving parents. It’s these characteristics that make him Super not his abilities. He is a good man at heart who was taught the meaning of love and sacrifice by his parents. I think so many people forget about that with the character. Every time he put’s on that uniform it’s his Clark persona that allows him to transcend ego and not get caught up in the power, accolades or hero worship that surrounds him. They’ve always made Clark the blank slate and Superman and Kal-El the true identity. How can Kal-El be the true identity, he doesn’t have any solid memories of Krypton or his biological parents.Hopefully they get it right this time. As for villians, bring on boom tubes,mother box’s and the god’s of the fourth world. It doesn’t get any better than that. You have cool sci-fi mixed in with character’s of epic scale and mythological power. You wouldn’t even have to bring Darksied in until the second or third movie. The New God’s of New Genisis would come to earth heralding the coming of Darksied. They would be mistaken as a threat. Superman would intervene, big battle then cliff hanger of parademon’s invading earth.
Wouldn’t Metello just be another use of kyptonite?
Kind of. He has a Kryptonite powered core, but they didnt HAVE to do it that way.
i agree with Rodney i am tired of luthor as the villan in all the superman movies. Superman needs a more powerful villan so there is a major fight that dosent involve kryptonite and shows supermans raw power and abilities i also love that the script will be more charecter drivin too.