All Things Superman: An Open Discussion - Part 8

[FilmNerdJamie]

From what I hear, it was barely a Superman script.

Same way Amazing Spider-Man was barely a Spider-Man script?

 

[Willi Berg]

It's a Nolan/Goyer script, revised by Jonah Nolan. A Nolan production, directed by Zack Synder.

If Synder had full control, Superman would still be wearing trunks

It's his movie, but Nolan has a major influence on things. Almost a silent partner with Synder.

See, this is the type of thing where I think that Nolan is given too much credit.

Not that he wasn't a part of getting the whole ball rolling. But it lessens Goyer's input and it lessens Snyder's.

When Snyder was chosen it became his production, working with WB. Including the look of the movie, including the costume. Nolan wasn't there, he was off making his own movie. Nolan mainly worked on the initial story with Goyer.

 

[Prime]

Its true that Snyder doesnt have full control, HOWEVER, he did have to do heavy revisions on Nolan/Goyer's script because he (alleged) hated it.

From what I hear, it was barely a Superman script.

First time I hear such a thing. And I doubt Snyder would do heavy revisions on the script. Minor revisions yes but I doubt much more. Im sure he just added more spice to the supposedly weak 3rd act.

 

[Dr.]

And didn't Snyder's writer Kurt Johnstad have a go at the script too?

I like Jonah N’s stuff a lot. So I’d be very pleased (and relieved) to know that he contributed to the MOS script. But apart from an intial (year-old) rumor, there’s been no confirmation that he or Johnstad are involved enough to earn co-writer credits.

 

[Willi Berg]

I like Jonah N’s stuff a lot. So I’d be very pleased (and relieved) to know that he contributed to the MOS script. But apart from an intial (year-old) rumor, there’s been no confirmation that he or Johnstad are involved enough to earn co-writer credits.

I've been wondering about that when I looked at the credits on IMDb (whatever that means) since it only credits Goyer and Chris Nolan:

Writing credits
David S. Goyer (screenplay)

David S. Goyer (story) and
Christopher Nolan (story)

Joe Shuster (characters) and
Jerry Siegel (characters)

But yeah, it would be nice if J. Nolan did contribute, but it hasn't been confirmed and maybe he and Johnstad's revisions were more the work of script doctors, who don't usually get credit. Or maybe Jonah had some ideas or a take that wasn't ultimately used.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

You guys do realize its rarely "officially confirmed" when people come on to do script-doctor work, right? That's the whole point. Get it, do your tinkering(s), get paid, get out, no credit.

Hell, they're taking a lot from Flyby and that would make J.J. Abrams, and even McG to a degree, contributing writers on The Man of Steel. And yet you won't see their names in the credits.

 

[Rodrigo90]

See, this is the type of thing where I think that Nolan is given too much credit.

Not that he wasn't a part of getting the whole ball rolling. But it lessens Goyer's input and it lessens Snyder's.

When Snyder was chosen it became his production, working with WB. Including the look of the movie, including the costume. Nolan wasn't there, he was off making his own movie. Nolan mainly worked on the initial story with Goyer.

Yeah, that's true.

But I think WB would have told Synder to follow the guidelines Nolan and Goyer set out very closely.

 

[Willi Berg]

But I think WB would have told Synder to follow the guidelines Nolan and Goyer set out very closely.

But as there has been a lot of talk of script revisions, these guidelines were constantly changing and the strongest guidelines Nolan and Goyer likely gave were more to do with themes and story concepts and ideas. When production started that's when I believe Snyder and his crew, including a design crew, started working on looks, costumes, environments etc. I actually would more likely believe that it was WB that wanted to go without trunks for Superman, which judging from previous incarnations attempts like McG's, was something they had thought about before. And especially now, when they overhauled Superman's look in the comics too.

 

[HighFivingMF]

You guys do realize its rarely "officially confirmed" when people come on to do script-doctor work, right? That's the whole point. Get it, do your tinkering(s), get paid, get out, no credit.

Hell, they're taking a lot from Flyby and that would make J.J. Abrams, and even McG to a degree, contributing writers on The Man of Steel. And yet you won't see their names in the credits.

Wasn't it originally supposed to have Lex and Brainiac as the villains according to Latino Review? Think maybe they're saving those elements for a sequel?

 

[Adenjo]

but Nolan has a major influence on things. Almost a silent partner with Synder.

Not that silent..
I heard he sat in the corner wearing a black cloak and whenever Snyder did something he didn't approve of he put his hand on his shoulder and whispered "I think not. mortal."



Then again, I also think my toaster is out to get me.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Then again, I also think my toaster is out to get me.

"Marge! Marge! The doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me!"

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

"Marge! Marge! The doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me!"

 

[Micromind]

Its true that Snyder doesnt have full control, HOWEVER, he did have to do heavy revisions on Nolan/Goyer's script because he (alleged) hated it.

From what I hear, it was barely a Superman script.

The first and second act written by Goyer and Nolan was the reason that WB was impressed with the script, the third act was rumored to be weak, so Snyder's trusted writer Kurt Johnstad was (reportedly) brought in to revise the third act, though he is not credited.


oh, and it is very much a Superman script.

 

[Dr.]

You guys do realize its rarely "officially confirmed" when people come on to do script-doctor work, right? That's the whole point. Get it, do your tinkering(s), get paid, get out, no credit.

Well, behind-the-scenes, uncredited “script doctoring” is a given on many movies. But when we hear that a famous screenwriter has come onboard a production, it’s not unreasonable to think that their contribution will be significant (at least enough to earn credit).

 

[Rodrigo90]

Not that silent..
I heard he sat in the corner wearing a black cloak and whenever Snyder did something he didn't approve of he put his hand on his shoulder and whispered "I think not. mortal."



Then again, I also think my toaster is out to get me.

 

[mackytung06]

I agree with this.

I think Goyer did most of the work on the basis of the script. He worked with Nolan and they figured out main themes and ideas. Then Goyer wrote the bulk of the early draft, with Nolan's guidance.

Then the script went through many revisions. There was even talk of a change in villains. And then Jonah wrote his take, and maybe the idea of him directing was an early consideration.

Chris Nolan and WB then worked together to find a director. Once Snyder was chosen, that was when Nolan and co. were less involved. The script continued to be revised by Snyder and Kurt Johnstad. There was talk that there were problems getting the third act right and changes were happening right up until shooting. There was some talk of it being a bit disorganised even as shooting started.

fact???

and i read that j.nolan hated it in some article. a simple google search will do.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

fact???

Yes fact. A simple Google search will do.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=kurt+johnstad+working+on+man+of+steel+script#

and i read that j.nolan hated it in some article. a simple google search will do.

Hmmm..... Let's test that.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=jonah+nolan+hates+man+of+steel+script#

It appears the only thing the Google search links to, are these threads. None of which say what you are saying. Wanna find some evidence for your unsubstantiated claim?

 

[The Guard]

But...but Goyer doesn't have third act problems...

 

[Dr.]

Yes fact. A simple Google search will do.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=kurt+johnstad+working+on+man+of+steel+script#

That search yields a number of results with the “headline” phrased as a question (e.g.,“Is Kurt Johnstad re-writing MOS?”). And to that, Betteridges’ Law of Headlines might be relevant: Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word “no.”

Most of the search hits cite Movie Hole as the originating source. The writer there is some guy called Caffeinated Clint; in turn, he cites “one of our more reliable scoopers” as his source.

Now, this info might actually be true. (As I said before, I would be relieved to learn that J. Nolan was a co-writer.) But a year later, some confirmation would be expected. So far, everyone seems to be referencing the same fellow - the estimable “scooper.”

 

[batman44]

Richard Schiff briefly talks Zack Snyder, Superman.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Excl...scusses-Man-Steel-Navy-SEAL-Extras-30665.html

 

[Rodrigo90]

"Marge! Marge! The doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me!"

Eew, dog water!

 

[mclay18]

You guys do realize its rarely "officially confirmed" when people come on to do script-doctor work, right? That's the whole point. Get it, do your tinkering(s), get paid, get out, no credit.

That's true if the WGA determines your contributions didn't warrant a co-writing credit (like the Mulroneys script tweaks on set for MOS). But I think once that MOS one-sheet surfaces, we'll see if Goyer is the only credited writer in the film. But I think Jonathan Nolan and/or Johnstad will make the cut as co-writers.

But on occasion, unused material is attributed to the writers. Sheldon Turner got a "story by" credit for X:FC because a good chunk of his unused Magneto script was used in the film.

The first and second act written by Goyer and Nolan was the reason that WB was impressed with the script, the third act was rumored to be weak, so Snyder's trusted writer Kurt Johnstad was (reportedly) brought in to revise the third act, though he is not credited.

We don't know that yet. See my comment above. Christopher Nolan got a co-writing credit for Batman Begins, and his contributions were the equivalent of a script doctor polish.

 

[Showtime]

I believe Jamie is referring to "Script Doctors"

 

[Showtime]

The first and second act written by Goyer and Nolan was the reason that WB was impressed with the script, the third act was rumored to be weak, so Snyder's trusted writer Kurt Johnstad was (reportedly) brought in to revise the third act, though he is not credited.


oh, and it is very much a Superman script.

Well...Nolan had to literally bail out Goyer at one point in regards to the original drafting. Goyer was having...a lot of trouble apparently.

 

[ElDuderino]