Jason McTeigue talks Superman Reboot!

[Kevin Smith]

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/08/2...director-reveals-his-vision-for-man-of-steel/

"I think if I was ever going to go near Superman, I would do a complete reboot—take it in a direction that you would absolutely not expect, actually," McTeigue told MTV News. "So, that would be my thinking on it, if I was ever going to go near Superman."
Elaborating on the direction he'd like to take Superman in a potential movie, McTeigue said recent events would seem to work in favor of a new take on the Man of Steel.
"I think it's good that they just had a court case where, basically, if you make another Superman movie, you can't touch Superman growing up—that's part of the story that you can't touch any more," he said. "That wouldn't be a bad thing. I think everybody's a bit sick of seeing the origin story."
While we can't stress enough that McTeigue isn't officially on board the potential big-screen reboot of the "Superman" movie franchise, it's certainly interesting to know what one of the rumored top contenders would like to do with the character if he had the chance.

YES!! Reboot FTW! I like him already.
My idea: It's Superman's second month in Metropolis and he's figuring out how things work (Luthor owns/runs everything, the city's beautiful exterior belies it's criminal nature, Daily Planet is the only non Luthor owned business, reporters are bribed/threatened not to print the truth, basically do a modern version of the 1938 stuff). Lois and Clark are "rivals" because Clark turned in the first interview with Superman, which Lois wanted which is how he got his job there at the Planet, there's a sort of "sexual tension" between the two. Oh, and Brainiac is the BIG BAD, Luthor is a supporting character. Parasite or Metallo could show up at the end. Lots of action, lots of Supes pissed and punching stuff. I think that's what we all wanna see.
Superman is a combination of the Byrne/Golden Age/TAS Superman, people are afraid of him and what he can do so he must act very nice towards everyone, very human, he cannot betray their trust, that's a dynamic I'd focus on in the film.

 

[Octoberist]

James McTeigue..close though!

 

[Kevin Smith]

sorry for the idea post, probably doesn't make much sense the way I wrote it, very rushed here, lol...

 

[ClarkLuther55]

"I think if I was ever going to go near Superman, I would do a complete reboot—take it in a direction that you would absolutely not expect, actually," McTeigue told MTV News. "So, that would be my thinking on it, if I was ever going to go near Superman."

The director should bring his own vision to the movie, unlike Singer who just rehashed Donner's movies. But how far does this guy want to take it, in a way people "would absolutely not expect?" We need someone who can just do SUPERMAN, not try to put his own stupid spin on it (JJ Abrams Superman, CINO, Singer's super-son). The character is a classic icon and you shouldn't stray too far from it. You need to find tha good balance between taking a fresh approach to the character, and still making him recognizably Superman.

"I think it's good that they just had a court case where,

Wasn't the court decision devastating and conceivably able to ban many of the most important parts of the Superman mythos? Then again, if he wants to change everything, maybe it's not a bad thing to him.

basically, if you make another Superman movie, you can't touch Superman growing up—that's part of the story that you can't touch any more," he said. "That wouldn't be a bad thing. I think everybody's a bit sick of seeing the origin story."

This part I just really disagree with. "Everyone" is sick of the origin? When has the origin even been done recently? Donner doesn't count; you know as well as I do that kids these days aren't watching a 30 year old movie. Even the Bruce Timm animated series came out 13 years ago and ended close to 10 years ago, meaning it is before the time of TEENAGERS today. Even if you do remember the Timm version, that's a cartoon and the whole point of a MOVIE is to see the character in flesh and blood on a bigger stage.

So really, where has this origin been supposedly done to death? This idea is so common in the online fandom, yet I can't see the rationale behind it. It seems to me that fanboys are projecting their own skewed perceptions onto the rest of the population. THEY know Superman's origin, so they don't care to see it again. Nevermind that a lot of young people today haven't been properly introduced to the character.

Singer's biggest mistake was assuming he didn't have to do the origin. Imagine being a kid in 2006 going to see your first Superman movie. You're excited, but then the movie opens with some boring text telling you that you've already missed all of Superman's great adventures, the very things that make him Superman. That was a big middle finger to the younger audience, even if that wasn't Singer's intention. Superman Returns isn't an iconic Superman story, but rather a weird little post-Superman story with Singer straying into some of his own made-up changes.

Batman Begins was the huge success that Superman Returns SHOULD have been. A movie that reintroduces the character to the general audience, made by a great director who combined his own vision with many of the character's iconic elements and stories. That got people invested in the character, because they were invited onboard from the start and got to see what made him tick. THAT'S how you properly reboot a superhero.

 

[Evil Twin]

As far as I know, the status of the lawsuit doesn't ban WB from using Superman's origin. Especially since DC still owns Shuster's half of the copyrights and all the trademarks.

Now, WB might choose not to use the origin because the Siegels may be due some compensation for its use.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

ClarkLuther, I completely agree with everything you said. It's amazing the difficulties these directors have with Superman. It's either they can't get past the Donner nostalgia or they feel the need to completely reimagine the character. Not sure if that's what McTeigue has in mind, but saying he would take it in a direction that you would absolutely not expect is not too comforting to hear.

Thing is, the next director WB hires will answer to them. So whatever crazy ideas the next director may have will have to be pushed to the side and he will have to play ball with the studio. WB will not allow another Singer situation where they allow the director to do whatever he pleases. And I'm sure you know, WB has brought in DC writers to consult on these projects, to honor these characters history in the comics as much as possible. So yea, the idea of taking it some direction no one expects is just not going to happen.

 

[The Guard]

1. Isn't it "James" McTeigue?

2. Meh. That doesn't really tell me what he'd do with the character, beyond the obvious, which is a reboot of some kind, which we already know. I don't think you'll hear too many directors say "I'd make SUPERMAN FOREVER".

When McTeigue talks about people being sick of the origin, I'm pretty sure he's talking in fanboy terms, not in terms of the general public so much.

I.E, we've (fans and casual fans) seen origin elements in SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, SMALLVILLE (for years now), various Superman comic miniseries, the books themselves, SUPERMAN RETURNS, and of course, SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE.

I don't know that everyone's "sick" of it per se, but it has been done before, done well, and done many times, if not perfectly in one setting. Could another one work? Absolutely. So could a movie with just elements of the origin, or a franchise that left elements of the origin in mystery until the second film. There are a number of ways a Superman movie could work.

 

[Prison Mike]

I wouldn't be opposed to an origin film for Superman. I honestly don't think it's been done to death and that people are sick of it. I would love to see a film where Lex is the corporate tycoon rather than an underground thief.

 

[Lobo]

Why does this need a separate thread away from the Superman forums?

 

[3dman27]

i have an idea instead of his origin have superman writing his memoirs

 

[Kevin Smith]

Gah! So Sorry, meant JASON!!! Is there any way I can edit that?

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Gah! So Sorry, meant JASON!!! Is there any way I can edit that?

Damn, you really have Jason on the mind!

 

[Lobo]

If you meant JASON!!! that's what you wrote. His name is James, though

 

[Kevin Smith]

James!!! James!!! Goddammit!!!

 

[Kevin Smith]

lol!! pisses me off!! It's JAMES. *****!

 

[Kevin Smith]

guess i keep thinking of the bastard kid in returns and how I don't want that in this movie! lol

 

[FlawlessVictory]

^Oh ok, I thought maybe there was a Jason in your life you needed to reveal your feelings to.

 

[Kevin Smith]

^Oh ok, I thought maybe there was a Jason in your life you needed to reveal your feelings to.

lol.

Is there some way I could edit that? Or mebbe someone else could?

 

[The Guard]

Personally, I think it'd be funny if a mod changed your name to Jason McTeigue for a while.

 

[Wally West]

lol.

Is there some way I could edit that? Or mebbe someone else could?

If there's a way to edit a thread title I haven't figured it out yet. I know how you feel, I've screwed up thread titles before too and been stuck with it.

You'd think people wouldn't feel the need to point it out after Octoberist did in the first post, but lots of people on message boards will take any oportunity to post a comment if they know they're right about something, even if others have already pointed it out. If you don't want to hear it anymore you could ask a mod to merge the thread with a similar one in that's in the Superman forum.

Back on topic... I'm not sure how I feel about Mr. McTeigue. I hope he isn't arrogant enough to think he can reinvent the wheel. Superman doesn't need a massive makeover or to be reinvented. They just need to do a film featuring the post crisis version of the character.

 

[3dman27]

ask a moderator to edit the thred title

 

[Metamorpho1977]

but he didn't really say anything. except that it would be different.

 

[Octoberist]

He's being coy about it, isn't he?

 

[Doctor Jones]

I'm with McTiegue on this. It is an advantage that the origin rights are gone.

Now we can move onto to other things. And he is right. We are tired of the origin. Everybody wants to see something different.

 

[BATZARRO WWD]

I don't completely agree with him on the origin stuff, but I'd certainly be down for the reboot. I don't fear taking Superman in a new, unexpected direction because, at least in films, that could mean anything. Having him fight Brainiac's never been done on film. Or a straight up adaptation of one of the many graphic novels. I'll wait and see before saying he's good or bad for it, though.