Sequels Design your own Story Concept(s) for the Sequel to Superman Returns

[Lobo]

Thank You

 

[batman44]

I like it Lobo.

 

[Lobo]

Thanks

 

[dpm07]

Wow, Lobo! That's pretty impressive. It really fits in well with a sequel based loosely on the approach Singer is going with the current SR film.

I'll be honest. I've made it no secret that I am not overly impressed with Singer's approach or design, but I am impressed with your approach and design to a Superman sequel.

I had an idea for a trilogy, but it's not with the approach or style in the same vein as Singer's doing, so it's pretty null and void now. However, you really flipped things around, and make the idea for a sequel well presented.

 

[Lobo]

Thank you for the feedback and I'm glad people seem to like it. I'm trying to figure out how to complete the trilogy now. Where do I go after Brainiac? I love Darkseid Brainiac and Mongul and all in the comics work but on film they all come off the same i.e. a superpowered alien who wants to destroy/invade the Earth, and only Superman stands in there way. I want to use villains that dont need kryptonite to battle Superman, and I dont want the same archtype 2 movies in a row the evil super powered alien as I mentioned above. So right now I'm thinking who I should use to end the trilogy?

 

[Batman the 6th]

What about Zod and co?

 

[KalMart]

Aside from Supes/Lois's kid being ******ed and aging rapidly into Bizarro, like I proposed in another thread....I'd like to see a straight character piece. One that entails a growing religious sect that believes that Superman IS the returned Messiah. This eventually becomes a nationwide obsession amongst the predominantly Christian US population. Not only does Supes have to deal with millions of obsessive believers, but enraged nations of different faiths, who ultimately cast Supes as the Devil (or their version of it) and declare a holy world war on Superman and the US. Should he fight on the side of the US, henceforth proving his blasphemous allegiance in the eyes of other nations, or does he denounce all deism, alienating an entire culture that he has sworn to defend?

The film would start with a seemingly placid interview of Superman in front of an international panel. He is asked if he believes in God....and off we go. Could be quite reflective of today's state of worldly affairs.

 

[Batman the 6th]

That would be a very controvercial fan fic, just like DaVinci Code. So, go for it!! I loved the DaVinci Code, well, the book was better in detailing, but yeah. Of course most of my family is Catholic, and they don't agree with it. That's why when I choose my own religion, I'll probably choose being Protestant.

 

[Logan Howlett]

I WANA SEE THE MAIN MAN! Lobo neeeeeeeeeeds to be in the next film, OH YA!

 

[The Batman]

Brainiac should defeintely be the villain

I'd introduce Lana Lang as Clark's new love interest.

I'd bring in Characters like Cat Grant and Steve Lombard, and maybe Jack Ryder. The Daily planet cast needs to be beefed up

Lex would have some role in the movie.

 

[HUMAN]

In the aftermath of trajedy in Smallville, Martha Kent finally gives up on the farm. But as hope seems to fade, Clark rekindles an old flame from the past in the form of Lana Lang. Back in Metropolis, Lex has made it back to civilization and is plotting on ruining Superman and the populace at large. Through corporate buyouts, Lex uses his Vanderworth fortune to obtain Cadmus Labs. Luthor decides that the best way to defeat his enemy is to get his enemy on his side. Through emotional hardships and the threat of a new Superman, Clark must juggle love and defeat in his new journey.

 

[Jochimus]

My idea is heavy on action, and is basically a combination of the S:TAS episodes "Prototype" and "Heavy Metal", with a dash of Byrne's run thrown in, and deals with what would happen if Superman wanted to save the people he loves but couldn't.

Basically, Superman trashes some Intergang agents hired by Luthor, and one of them - John Corben - is gravely injured, enabling Lex to transplant Corben's neural engrams into his new 'advanced defense prototype' robot which is really a new toy with which Lex can destroy Superman. The robot "malfunctions" and bashes Superman into a bloody pulp which Corben promptly tosses into Hobs Bay, but Project Metallo's chief engineer, John Henry Irons, is enraged by Lex's misappropriation of the prototype and leaves Lexcorp, faking his own death to protect himself and his family from a possible hit. The 'accident' draws EMTs away on a goose chase from the hospital where Corben's comatose body is being kept alive to be worked on till it's safe for his mind can be transferred back into it, and Corben's body dies, driving him mad and sending him on a berserker rage in which he bombards the city - and especially the Daily Planet, since there's so keen on Superman and he's kind of responsible for this whole mess - with Kryptonite blasts. The lingering buildup of Kryptonite radiation poisons a fourth of the city, including half the Daily Planet staff and Lois, rendering them all deathly ill. There's meant to be some emotional resonance here in that Superman couldn't save Lois this time even if he had powers, but motivated nonetheless and despite the brutal licking he took in the first round, as Clark Kent he tries to track down Metallo's creators and comes in contact with Irons, who's looking to blow the whistle on Lexcorp to a media outlet that Luthor hasn't bought and paid for. Superman then collaborates with Irons to quickly fabricate some light armor (resembling the red-and-blue exosuit from Byrne's run) that can mimic Superman's powers just well enough to give Big Blue a chance in the final showdown against Corben whilst Irons - now targeted by Metallo after Luthor realizes that only someone of Irons' genius could build such armor for Superman - combines his engineering skills with Kryptonian science to create a means of mass-producing a cure for the Kryptonite poisoning.

Basically this premise is supposed to go back to the concept of Superman as an inspiration, rather than as a direct solution to a life-threatening crisis. It's also meant to accommodate WB's penchant for merchandising their superhero properties into oblivion without totally ignoring Superman lore.

 

[BobJM]

Superman: Man of Steel

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of the events of SR, Metropolis is still undergoing construction. As the world slowly begin to accept Superman's sudden return, a new villain emerges with ties to Kal-El's past.

Brainiac, once Krypton's information computer database, arrives on Earth via meteorite. When Lex sends a team of scientists to retrieve and study the rock, they discover that there are evident properties from Krypton. While being studied in LexCorp's subbasement, the meteor mysteriously comes to life and murders the scientists with tentacles that emerged from it. As Lex comes down to check on the status of the study, he is locked in. Brainiac begins to speak to him, forcing him to build Brainiac a vessel or shell to live in due to Luthor's knowledge of Kryptonian techonology.

Lois and Richard's relationship has hit tough times as her apparent feelings for Superman become more and more evident. Jason, older now, is becoming more active in sports and athletic programs at his school. Richard suggests that he and Lois call off the engagement so that they can rethink their feelings for each other.

After the body for Brainiac is built, he attacks a bridge, nearly killing Lois. Superman arrives and fights him, wondering who it is and what exactly are its ties to Krypton. Brainiac defeats the man of steel, but must leave to repair damages.

Superman reluctantly accepts an unusual alliance with Luthor to defeat a common enemy. Lois is kidnapped, used as bait by Brainiac to lure in the last son of Krypton. Superman and Lex track Brainiac to one of LexCorp's missile silos, where Brainiac plans to launch an attack on Earth, ultimately wishing to destroy it so that all of its information (now downloaded into his system) becomes much more valuable and that he be the only being with access to it.

In the end, Superman manages to defeat Brainiac and save Lois. Luthor, however, attacks Superman with Kryptonite, wishing to defeat him as well. Superman manages to overcome Luthor's betrayal and stop him once and for all. Luthor is put in jail.

Lois and Superman share a kiss before he pulls away. He loves her, but he knows that now they can never be together. He's Superman and he'll always have enemies and that she has a family that she needs to be with.

 

[GL1]

Based on what I know SR my sequel would go something like this

An ancient villain from the Planet Colu named Vril Dox visited Krypton long ago and tried to destroy it, he was defeated by Kryptons Science Council (this would be long before Jor-El was even born) and the essence of his mind was trapped with in the crystals of Krypton. When Luthor created New Krypton he tainted the pure crystals with Kryptonite which cuased Vril Dox consciousness to re-awaken, and thats why it continues to grow, I'd have a space shuttle piloted by Hank Henshaw crash onto the NK planetoid (it would crash because Brainiacs control of Machinery) He'd use the wrecked ship to create a body for himself thought not the one were used to just yet, Once he had a body he'd use his powers to start collecting debris of all sorts of alien metals floating around space and eventually take the form he had in TAS which is my favorite Brainiac design. Superman would go investigate the Space Shuttle crash, and find the crew dead, while on NK Brainiac would instantly recognize Superman as Kryptonian due to the symbol on his chest, he is able to hide himself from Kal-El for the time being. Superman brings the shuttle back to Earth so that it's passengers can get the burial they deserve. As Superman flies back to Earth with the doomed shuttle Brainiac realizes that under a yellow sun the kryptonians powers are great, with Superman now back on Earth, Brainiac with his powers and technological know how begins to transform New krypton into his Skull Ship...

...Brainiac now has his ship ready and heads towards Earth ready to destroy it. Hamilton is the first to discover that NK is shifting course and now headed straight for Earth. As this haaapens their are reports from all over Star labs, Wayne Industries, Kord Tech etc

Brainiac gets to Earth, a massive smackdown between him and Supes occurs with Superman only beating Brainiac thanks to some help from Luthor...

This is an AWESOME movie origin for Brainiac, coupled with Brainiac controlling all Earths' technology for his own sinister purposes, could add some very interesting challenges for Superman... perhaps even a 12-trials like scene as Brainiac guages his abilities.

I can't subscribe to the happy shuffling away of the Richard White and Jason characters... they need to be present and notable, in my humble opinion. I'd rather have Brainiac outright kill them, at least they'd provide emotional fodder rather than just sinking into the night. Jason presents a great problem for the Superman mythos and I'd rather he stick around to be a thorn in the side of our comfortable and played out Clark-Lois-Superman love triangle... though, the idea of Richard sacrificing himself to weaken Brainiac so that Superman will have a shot does sound pretty cool.

I'd much rather persue a return of Lana Lang until the Lois situation can work itself out in a more natural, narrative way, say by the end of the third movie... after all, Clark will likely have to rely on his stored Kryptonian ship, the only thing that won't be affected (maybe) by Brainiac's stranglehold on technology.

Also, while Lex should start building his powerbase a bit more conventionally, I think he deserves a scene or two to explain why he's not in jail for his thwarted plan in SR and why he's suddenly decided to bide his time. And help Superman, which is, by the way, a very cool idea, and would make a GREAT scene. I don't think they should develop him into an evil business man... I want an opportunistic Lex that will take the first opportunity to rule the world, and would succeed but for Superman's ability to consistently surpass his own limits...

As for action sequences, there's the initial space investigation where Clark is hurled to earth, there's Brainiac's 12 trials for Superman all around the world, stopping a runaway train, Lana falling and the like, and then the carnage that results as Brainiac's skull ship hits earth. You could almost tie in Darkseid as a crystal construct and Metallo as earth tech corrupted if you wanted to...

 

[Hypestyle]

Post some ideas for how you would handle a sequel to SR:

My ideal sequel would feature Brainiac and Darkseid. (see JL episode "Twillight")

Its likely Brainiac will be hinted towards the end of SR like Joker was in Begins. He could be a supercomputer that landed on Earth in 78 from Vril Dox (around the same time as Clark). He merged with Milton Fine and over the past decades has been amassing knowledge....he can corrupt and assimilate technological and biological systems.

I want the movie to center around Superman's quest to rescue another Kryptonian when he realizes there may have been one more survived, frozen in stasis for 30 years. Darkseid has possession of this person on the wartorn Apokalips and as Superman plans to do whatever it takes to save his person, Darksied is planning a fullscale invasion of Apokolips' neighboring planet, New Genesis.

Brainiac takes over control of all of Lexcorp's weapons and arsenal; missles, mecha, assult tech etc and theres a war for the domination of Earth. Richard White (now Lois' husband) is killed when the Lexcorp building explodes, reminiscent of the WTC. Superman was in space piloting his ship in search of the other kryptonian (STAS style), tracing her signal and coming very close to locating her, during the attack and arrived too late. He learns a tragic lesson that as much as he wants to be there to save everyone, he cant...he has limitations.

Superman wants to be there for Lois and her son in this dark time and this may be the only chance for him to repair his relationship with her, but he knows he cant...the world needs him. Hes forced to face the reality that if he leaves her again, especially now, he'll never get another chance to be with her again.

In addition to trying to avert a massive war for domination of the human race (Brainiac), Superman must travel far into deep space to save this other survivor of Krypton from Darkseid's evil grasp. He must save the last daughter of Krypton, a young child (about 12) named Kara Zor-El, his biological cousin. She obviously doesnt become Supergirl in this movie (not for some years) but shes the element that Superman puts everything on the line to save, including his relationship with Lois and with humanity, .....and he doesnt even know if this Kryptonian girl really exists or a deception by Darkseid to lure him away from Earth..

But she exists....and is in great peril.

With the planet New Genesis (full of innocent lives) also on the verge of destruction at the hands of Darkseid's Apokolips....Superman must save 2 worlds; New Genesis (A utopia that reminds him of what Krypton would have been like) and Earth. Can he? Or will he have to make the ultimate decision between them of which to save at the expense of billions of innocent lives being lost. Will the outcome of this final act mirror the tragedy earlier in the movie where Superman couldnt save Richard and the people in the Lexcorp tower?

Is this mysterious Kryptonian child that Superman seeks the key to saving both worlds and unlocking the Kryptonian secrets to Superman's Birthright?

This idea humanizes Superman again, forcing him to make important choices (Singer style) and then adds an outworldy element that takes Superman out of the confines of Earth and into the endless reaches of deep space (my own vision). The story of the New Gods (Apokalips/New Genesis wars) could be told through a origins flashback introducing the backstory (similar to STAS who were succesfully able to deal with the New God story and Darkseid in a 2 part episode). This movie will feature Brainiac's first appearance, but not his last.......After Fine's body is destroyed, the Brainiac computer will leave a trace of itself in Lex (who will be unaware of it). This element of Brainiac will re-awaken in the next film. It may subtly control some of Lex's actions; driving him to attempt to attain a position of power over the humans (US presidency) where Brainiac could get access to all US military, tech and defense knowledge.

I'd cast Hugo Weaving (V for Vendetta) as Milton Fine and Micheal Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile) as Darkseid (he has the voice).

neat--- MCD as Darkseid-- perfect casting.. i definitely want to see more villains in the next film, more fight scenes..

 

[ISHMAEL]

This is Darkseid's movie though. Brainiac is just a side villian (like Scarecrow in Begins) but he doesnt end in this movie. He returns in the next, in a new form....thats why it isnt necessary to give him complete and total focus here. He may not even be revealed as Brainiac yet, its more of a setup. The power goes out, Lexcorps weapon systems out of control, armegeddon and an unknown mysterious cause at the root of it all.

Id prefer him returning in a new form in the following movie and growing as a greater threat over time, thats his nature.

And Darkseid was introduced as a regular Superman villian in 'Apokalips Now' so we know its still interesting if he goes head to head with the Man of Steel. It doesnt need to be a JLA movie to use him, I doubt we'll ever even seen one at the rate were going.

Despite that Superman (Brandon Routh) needs to interact with the following pivitol comic book characters before the franchaise is dead;

- Luthor (done)

- Brainiac

- Batman (WF movie someday hopefully)

- Darkseid

Theyre all the most intergrated superheros/villians to the Superman.

 

[The Eradicator]

For the sequels, Singer better not use Zod or a group of new Kryptonian villians that don't even exist in the comics. That would just be totally stupid.

One possibility for the second film is that he uses Brainiac and the Eradicator. However, I think the Eradicator should be a device that helps Superman defeat Brainiac. They could go the route of TAS and make Brainiac of Kryptonian origin, while Singer can include the Eradicator as a force of good that acts as a parellel to Brainiac. The second film should end with Darkseid looking over the earth and planning its invasion, while the Eradicator warns Kal-El that the "butcher of Krypton" is heading towards Earth.

I think it would be cool if they somehow tie Darkseid to Krypton in the third film. Maybe an interplanetary war took place between Krypton and Apokolips years before Kal-El was born and Jor-El was somehow involved. The cataclysmic effects of this war led to the instability in Krypton's core and its shifting closer to the red sun. Using information and new crystal modules provided by the Eradicator in the second film, Superman could find out about Darkseid's involvement in Krypton's past. With CG, they could recreate Brando's oral movements to match entirely new dialogue where he reveals information about Darkseid. This third film should be absolutely epic, as Superman faces off against an Apokoliptian invasion on his adopted planet. Singer could also include flashbacks that shows a young Jor-El fighting in the Apokolips/Krypton war (it would follow the route of Godfather II in a way). The film would take place both on Earth and Apokolips.

The whole Krypton/Apokolips war could be an allegory for a war between Heaven and Hell. On the STM DVD, Tom Mankiwiecz talks about how Krypton was sort of designed with the concept of Heaven in mind, and I think Apokolips should be the total opposite of what Krypton is.

Another possibility for a trilogy is that they bring in Metallo for the second film, and then Brainiac for the third, but I like my first idea better.

 

[thorstone]

They should do something truly different. How about a Superman who is 80 years old, has lost everyone he ever loved, his Metropolis has grown to something totally different, and he is in his last days.

^Giger Metropolis

^Newman; simple costume, no S on the belt, no belt. Darker Roman tones and shoulder/cape silhouette.

^Doomsday

My story would get going quickly with Superman confronting Darkseid who in the last quarter of the movie unleashes Doomsday upon Metropolis.

 

[Batman the 6th]

Except Supes wouldn't be getting weaker as he gets older, the exact opposite. Like in one million.

 

[Xybalba69]

i really liked the idea of Jason getting killed and Richard sacrificing himself in order to help Superman defeat the villain...

 

[The Eradicator]

It would be cool if Darkseid and his parademons showed up via boomtube in Metropolis at the end of the second film, and Darkseid ends up killing Richard, similar to how he killed Dan Turpin in TAS. It would be a dark, ESB-type ending, leading into the third film.

And if they ever bring in the Eradicator or a Kryptonian Brainiac, I would love to see how they would react to Jason, a half human/half Kryptonian hybrid that threatens Kryptonian "purity".

 

[thorstone]

I've thought about it some more and the aging of Superman is something that will make him more human than all major comic characters. Everyone else is still in their prime in comics (except maybe Judge Dred but he isn't exactly the same level of importance in pop culture). Yes he will age slower, thus the story is in the future, but it also means he will go through a life like no other; he will have to watch everyone he loves die, he may be the man of steel but he can't stop people from dying. We get to see Superman, not in the prime of his life, but aged, bitter, hurt, and lonely.

My idea for the plot would be that Darkseid is an imperfect clone of Zod (who is trapped, of course, in the Phantom Zone, setup for a trilogy). The cloning process resulted in the clone being composed of inorganic materials. The same for the insane Doomsday whom Zod (in the movie story) created from Superman's father (CGI Brando!) many years ago. Doomsday would be controlled by Darkseid using an indestructable silken material called Gleipnir; the more he struggles against his bindings the tighter they will become. When the stone body of the Doomsday character is damaged diamond will grow in its place. I would imagine horns like the following for the character design:

http://www.wga.hu/art/s/****er/moses/w_moses5.jpg

The movie would end with Superman's death. Doomsday is put away again, and Superman's body is taken. In the sequel a metal clone of Superman returns causing chaos on Earth. Think the Xmen character

Meanwhile Darkseid bandies Superman's body about like Mussolini. Ultimately the body is sent hurling into the gravity field of a dense blue dwarf where he is expected to be consumed rather quickly. However, the unthinkable happens, Superman returns from the dead (and becomes young again); he is supercharged by the power of the blue star and returns to Earth stronger than ever. There he kills the imposter Man of Steel and afterwards beats Doomsday until his entire body is made of diamond, breaks free of the Gleipnir, and flies away (to die in the third).

Part three would revolve around the release of Zod from the Phantom Zone; Superman would still be charged from the blue dwarf. The final battle would involve Doomsday, Darkseid, Superman, and Zod.

I would throw in lots of guest appearances in the films including Swamp Thing, a middle aged Batman wearing a material suit (like Superman and Spiderman) rather than armor, and Martian Man Hunter (that's a character like Mystique in Xmen that has some room for an overhaul).

 

[The Batman]

Darkseid being a clone of Zod?

No....just....no...

 

[Up Up & Oy Vey!]

Crystals form Brainiac, who forms a home on NK.
Brainiac, in his early stage, only has a few vague memories of Superman. As a preserver of Kryptonian heritage, like Eradicator, he tries to create a clone of superman, making Bizarro. Bizarro kidnaps Lois (or as he calls her, Lo-Iz) and Supes stops him. Richard is injured and taken to Dr. Vale, who makes him into a Metallo. His Kryptonite heart poisons him, giving him delusions of Superman stealing Lois. After a huge fight, Jason ends it, revealing his new powers. Brainiac, now with more memory, comes to Earth searching for one last crystal of info. He comes to Lex and Kitty on the island. There is a crystal hidden in the copter that Lex missed. As Brainiac inserts it into himself, Lex stabs him with Kryptonite, making Brainiac an evil monster, bent on destroying the Kryptonian heritage. After a fight with supes, Brainiac is obliterated, but not before he buds off a metalic egg, which becomes Doomsday. This is the cliff hanger.
...
Comments?

 

[thedarks0ldier]

Luthor, having access to Kryptonian, Contacts Braniac and becomes obsessed with Braniac. Braniac should help Lex clone Superman and Bizarro (Pre-Deformation) should make it seem as though Superman and Lex are friends, Making Lexcorp's (Luthor's new arms manufacturer) sore. Luthor, having access to Kryptonian technology, and having his own Superman, Luthor seems, feels, invincible. Superman II deforms into bizarro.

Richard White should die in a plane crash or something that Bizarro caused. Superman has this huge epic battle with Bizarro in the middle of the movie and then finds out about braniac. He asks his father about Braniac and then Braniac tries to destroy the earth. Superman Stops him, and in the end, we find out Luthor has Richard's body, and now we get Metallo and Darkseid for the Sequal. Or Metallo and Doomsday.