My idea for a reboot: Superman in the 1930s

[House_of_El]

While I was reading my Superman Archives Vol. 1 tpb I came across an idea for a reboot of the franchise if there ever was to be one. How about a Superman film that is set in 1938, the year of his first appearance. I thought of his costume being a mix of the Silver/Modern Age version and the Golden Age version. It would have Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen respectively. Jonathan and Martha Kent would star and would not die. The first half-hour would be on Krypton. Lex Luthor would be a brilliant but crooked and evil polotician. Im still thinking of some ideas about the film, so give me your opinion.

[NotFadeAway]

The 1930's......for the love of god!

[House_of_El]

Originally Posted by venom420

The 1930's......for the love of god!

Is that a compliment?

[WhatsHisFace]

That would be interesting, I'd definitely love to see it, especially if it was a bit Superman Returns and a bit Max Fleischer cartoons.

But with Superman's relevance always being busted on, I wonder if setting it back in time would be a good idea.

[House_of_El]

Originally Posted by WhatsHisFace

That would be interesting, I'd definitely love to see it, especially if it was a bit Superman Returns and a bit Max Fleischer cartoons.

But with Superman's relevance always being busted on, I wonder if setting it back in time would be a good idea.

I think it would be a good idea sice he was so popular back then. I mean Supes was just as famous as a movie star back then.

[NotFadeAway]

Thats right, lets make no effort to bring Superman into todays culture.

[thorstone]

I know that if I were doing Batman-- it would take place during the fourties.

[NotFadeAway]

Originally Posted by thorstone

I know that if I were doing Batman-- it would take place during the fourties.

" shakes head "

[SatEL]

Originally Posted by House_of_El

While I was reading my Superman Archives Vol. 1 tpb I came across an idea for a reboot of the franchise if there ever was to be one. How about a Superman film that is set in 1938, the year of his first appearance. I thought of his costume being a mix of the Silver/Modern Age version and the Golden Age version. It would have Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen respectively. Jonathan and Martha Kent would star and would not die. The first half-hour would be on Krypton. Lex Luthor would be a brilliant but crooked and evil polotician. Im still thinking of some ideas about the film, so give me your opinion.

[matthooper]

Originally Posted by House_of_El

While I was reading my Superman Archives Vol. 1 tpb I came across an idea for a reboot of the franchise if there ever was to be one. How about a Superman film that is set in 1938, the year of his first appearance. I thought of his costume being a mix of the Silver/Modern Age version and the Golden Age version. It would have Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen respectively. Jonathan and Martha Kent would star and would not die. The first half-hour would be on Krypton. Lex Luthor would be a brilliant but crooked and evil polotician. Im still thinking of some ideas about the film, so give me your opinion.

If anyone had imagination, they would realize this is actually a good idea. Imagine a Superman movie with look and feel of Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. We've seen Superman done well in modern time with the Donner films, we've seen it fail in modern times with SR, why not take another approach.

[Gaurav Sharma]

How about a franchise that deals with Superman through the ages. We'll start with 1930s and deal with a problem of that era- Gangsters, Depression and corruption. The entire set up would be based in that time period, the costumes, the make-up and the props. Then, we will move to the 1950s with a different set of problems coming to the fore. Subsequently we move on to different eras with different looks and all. Such a franchise would show the longevity and the relevance of Superman through the ages. The actors shall remain the same, only their looks would change to represent the different times in which the story would be set.

[NotFadeAway]

Why send the character back in time when he hasn't even shown up in 2006 yet?

[Cyrusbales]

I think a 1930's reboot would work well, it would be a period piece with a difference! I think it's be much better than a lot of the other superhero films out there, good idea!

[FanboyX_Returns]

Originally Posted by venom420

Thats right, lets make no effort to bring Superman into todays culture.

Yeah why bother huh?

[Kevin Roegele]

Originally Posted by House_of_El

While I was reading my Superman Archives Vol. 1 tpb I came across an idea for a reboot of the franchise if there ever was to be one. How about a Superman film that is set in 1938, the year of his first appearance. I thought of his costume being a mix of the Silver/Modern Age version and the Golden Age version. It would have Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen respectively. Jonathan and Martha Kent would star and would not die. The first half-hour would be on Krypton. Lex Luthor would be a brilliant but crooked and evil polotician. Im still thinking of some ideas about the film, so give me your opinion.

I would certainly like to see that.

[NotFadeAway]

Originally Posted by FanboyX_Returns

Yeah why bother huh?

I know man......I know!

[turtlefocker]

Originally Posted by GL's Light

If Warners could drag Robert Zemeckis away from his current mo-cap fixation and get him to make a more action-packed Superman film set in a more fantastical universe - one where White Martians might invade at any minute and where mad scientists build giant robots - and they released it in, say, 2012 or 2013, that would likely be a big success in my opinion.

it'd be cool if it took place in the 40's and was done in a similar style to the Fleischer cartoons (in live action).



It would break the current superhero template that all hero films have, and would distance it from Superman Returns and the Donner films because it would clearly be a different universe.

Also their would be no need for an origin story, it could just open with the classic: "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, this amazing stranger from the planet Krypton, The Man of Steel: Superman! Empowered with X-ray vision, possessing remarkable physical strength, Superman fights a never-ending battle for truth and justice, disguised as a mild-mannered newspaper reporter, Clark Kent."


The universe also promises lots of action:

Spoiler!!! Click to Read!:

Come to think of it, if they decide not to make a sequel to SR, this would be the next best option in my opinion.

[Jochimus]

It's an interesting idea, but given the Siegel/Shuster legal brouhaha, I doubt WB would be particularly thrilled by the concept.

Personally, I'd prefer seeing a Superman movie set in the 2430s.

[NotFadeAway]

The only way I would want to see a 1930's Superman show up is if he were to actually show up in 2008.

By this, I mean take the Superman that we know from 1930, having outlived everyone he ever loved, and place him among new characters, villians, and storylines set in 2008.

[Danielson]

I agree with NotFadeAway.

Mostly because it would address the icon's modern problems through a storyline. In my opinion, Superman isn't as popular today because he's too squeaky clean, and he's not a "cute little dork" like Spider-Man. There's really not a whole lot that people of today like to root for, he's not dark, he's not a loser, he's perfect.


So have him come back, do everything right, but he's still not accepted, if you're a wrestling fan, think John Cena. Through some epic story everyone is taught that it's better to do the right thing than to be cool.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Gaurav Sharma

How about a franchise that deals with Superman through the ages. We'll start with 1930s and deal with a problem of that era- Gangsters, Depression and corruption. The entire set up would be based in that time period, the costumes, the make-up and the props. Then, we will move to the 1950s with a different set of problems coming to the fore. Subsequently we move on to different eras with different looks and all. Such a franchise would show the longevity and the relevance of Superman through the ages. The actors shall remain the same, only their looks would change to represent the different times in which the story would be set.

I don't think this is a good idea. I mean, I think it's a very interesting idea, but, story-wise, it would just be too surreal, IMO.

Originally Posted by Jochimus

I'd prefer seeing a Superman movie set in the 2430s.

In the time of Star Trek?