Let's just put the question out there by method of polling

[Timstuff]

Routh is easily replaceable. He was decent as Superman but was nothing special. I agree with the sentiment that some people seem to want him because they already have seen him, and therefore he's a "comfortable choice." I think they can do better though, and on top of that they need to replace him if they want this to be a true reboot. Casino Royale would not have been a reboot if it still had Pierce Brosnan in the title role (although ironically, it still had Judi Dench as M, even though her backstory was rebooted along with Bond's), so I think a new Superman actor is called for. The new movie has to sever all ties with prior ones, because if it's got Routh then the public is going to think it's a prequel or sequel to SR, and then be confused when it's wildly different and has no continuity.

 

[Webhead2006]

Lets keep things as simple as possible. Once again we have an opportunity to start completely fresh but there are still people who can't let go of the past. This is partly the reason why we are in this mess now. No Routh, no Williams music, let's start completely new from the ground up. No mistakes this time by trying to cling onto something.

This is so what i want to see happen. i just want from the start to be all new and all different. and then promote it as that a new and different take on the superman legend and go from there. As for the clark actor he needs to have that persona and charm reeve had as superman. Which in my opinion routh sorely lacked and i dont really see much of any growth in that on his chuck role.

As for the whole production deal. Yea we do know they have to be in some form of production by 2011. But i am sure they would probably want to be in production for 2011. Be that early or mid 2011. Like between feb-may, or june-july start date for production. So then either it could come out summer 2012, or winter 2012. Or if they need more time hold off release to summer 2013. But if they were to start early 2011. They would probably want to have director deal official by june i would figure. So then from june- rest of the year they could start testing for all roles and hopefully nab leads by oct/nov. So then it would give them 5-8 months to get in shape, and any other prep work they would need to do and training.

 

[elgaz]

I say let him back. He still fits the bill more than any other names I've heard mentioned recently, and now he's a little older he's got the Superman look even more.

The new 007 films show that you can have older characters being played by the same actors (M for example) and the audience buys it.

I think in general the public have to be given a little credit - they won't always get that confused. I can understand confusion if you had the entire same cast as Superman Returns, same suit, same crappy CGi, same style of filming, etc ................................. but bring back Routh - and ONLY Routh - and I don't see any problem. Once you're 5 mins into the new film and well absorbed, Superman Returns will only be a distant memory.

 

[KrypJonian]

Wheras I liked Routh as Superman, and would like to see him get another shot at the role with more of a chance at making it his own with some speaking parts...

I have to go with a new actor, if for no other reason than to seperate this movie from a movie that the general populace deems a disappointment.

If Routh was to play Supes again, you would need the rest of the cast back for it to work. Even though I liked the SR cast, again it would draw too many parallels to SR. And doing a new movie with Routh but with a new supporting cast would be just as bad as doing a Superman movie with Tom Welling but recasting the entire SV universe and negating their continuity as well.

I have to go with a new Superman. We didn't think we could find a worthy Superman 5 years ago, but Routh came along and lots of us dug it. I'm hoping it will happen again with a new actor.

Either that or DC will have the balls to continue with the SR cast and a better story, but I'm not sure they want to risk the association with SR.... pansies...

Either way, I'll take a new Superman movie any way I can

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Really? REALLY?

Completely and utterly, I thought he was fantastic and embodied the character.

 

[KrypJonian]

Crazy thought here but why not use him as Jor-el in the reboot.

Holy crap, I totally called this one too, before I read this. I'm in!!!

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Completely and utterly, I thought he was fantastic and embodied the character.

AVEITWITHJAMON, you're aiming low and shooting lower. I know you to have read your fair share of Superman comics by now. You should know that Routh in SR only embodied some aspects of the character (the sad sole survivor, self-sacrificing hero). That's hardly embodying Superman. There's way more to the character than that.

 

[GreenKToo]

IMO, I doubt they expect TDK numbers with the first film, or even I.M. numbers.
I would think that they want it to make just enough ( B.B.) to warrant a sequel.
If reusing Routh causes some folks to stay away because they think its more of SR, then it would be foolish to use him again....
This film will have enough to overcome without confusing SOME of the public.

The media will already be talking about all the starts and stops with Superman and singers failure to win enough of the public over to warrant a sequel. We dont need them also saying ''is it a reboot or a sequel'' because routh is there.

 

[stargazer]

AVEITWITHJAMON, you're aiming low and shooting lower. I know you to have read your fair share of Superman comics by now. You should know that Routh in SR only embodied some aspects of the character (the sad sole survivor, self-sacrificing hero). That's hardly embodying Superman. There's way more to the character than that.

What a condescending post.. I agree with Aveith completely. Looks like we saw a different film than you. To us Brandon totally embodied the character. He was SUPERMAN in the flesh. Period.

And I won't get into an argument with you, it's pointless by now. So let's agree to disagree.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

What a condescending post.. I agree with Aveith completely. Looks like we saw a different film than you. To us Brandon totally embodied the character. He was SUPERMAN in the flesh.

No, we saw the same film, the only difference is that you're inexplicably fixated on one actor that had a minimal go at the character. To say Routh "embodied Superman" isn't a matter of opinion, it's simply false.

 

[stargazer]

No, we saw the same film, the only difference is that you're inexplicably fixated on one actor that had a minimal go at the character. To say Routh "embodied Superman" isn't a matter of opinion, it's simply false.

Wow.... are you for real? Whatever dude... see, this is one of the reasons why I hardly come to this forum...

 

[GreenKToo]

No need to argue over it folks. Logically, with it being a reboot, it would seem like all new actors would be cast, BUT, we don't know for sure yet.

patience.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Wow.... are you for real? Whatever dude... see, this is one of the reasons why I hardly come to this forum...

We can still be friends. I have some red kryptonite we can experiment with, should be interesting.

 

[stargazer]

We can still be friends. I have some red kryptonite we can experiment with, should be interesting.

Friends? I don't even know you... maybe you should go out to the real world sometime?

 

[Webhead2006]

I still say we need a clear fresh start with everything all new. if they want to take this film as a fully new take and direction for the character. And its likly the way it will be. Since we know Wb wasnt overall happy with how SR turned out and all that.

 

[Nightwing1983]

Lets keep things as simple as possible. Once again we have an opportunity to start completely fresh but there are still people who can't let go of the past. This is partly the reason why we are in this mess now. No Routh, no Williams music, let's start completely new from the ground up. No mistakes this time by trying to cling onto something.

And for those who think there can be no one better than Routh, did you even know who Routh was before he was cast? Did you push for him to get the role then? Because, just like you didn't who he was back then, the same can happen with a completely brand new unknown that you just don't know about yet!

Why is it that when someone wants anything from the earlier films to return--Routh, the theme music, whatever--they're just "clinging to the past?" I mean, come on! If you want to play that game, you might as well say that ALL Superman fans are "clinging to the past" by wanting them to make another movie about the character at all.

You get a lot of people saying, "you like the Donner movies? Blah blah blah, seventies!" However, in the outside world, there are probably just as many people saying, "you like Superman? Blah blah blah, thirties!"

 

[Lighthouse]

Completely and utterly, I thought he was fantastic and embodied the character.

AVEITWITHJAMON, you're aiming low and shooting lower. I know you to have read your fair share of Superman comics by now. You should know that Routh in SR only embodied some aspects of the character (the sad sole survivor, self-sacrificing hero). That's hardly embodying Superman. There's way more to the character than that.

What a condescending post.. I agree with Aveith completely. Looks like we saw a different film than you. To us Brandon totally embodied the character. He was SUPERMAN in the flesh. Period.

And I won't get into an argument with you, it's pointless by now. So let's agree to disagree.

No, we saw the same film, the only difference is that you're inexplicably fixated on one actor that had a minimal go at the character. To say Routh "embodied Superman" isn't a matter of opinion, it's simply false.

Wow.... are you for real? Whatever dude... see, this is one of the reasons why I hardly come to this forum...

We can still be friends. I have some red kryptonite we can experiment with, should be interesting.

Friends? I don't even know you... maybe you should go out to the real world sometime?

 

[GreenKToo]

That poor poor horse. I wonder if his name was timex.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Friends? I don't even know you... maybe you should go out to the real world sometime?

Routhland is probably your idea of the real world. I'm not interested in going.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

If Ryan Reynolds can star in the Deadpool REBOOT after X-men Origins, Routh can theoretically work in a Superman Reboot, especially 6-7 years after SR came out.

The studio still wanted him some months ago, if they still have interest in him, I'd definitely have no problems with Brandon taking on the mantle of Superman.

There simply haven't been any better names thought of yet in the casting threads, a complete unknown is the only other option..

As far as SHH polling on here goes, last year when Routh was "in the mix" for Superman, the casting poll here had him leading by an overwhelming majority.

 

[Red Cherry Lips]

I'm assuming we all know Routh has little to no shot at ever donning this suit again, especially with a completely new team on-board with a reboot in mind.

With that said; no. Routh did decent, in the sense that he didn't completely f**k up. But you could say that for anyone in the SR crew. Despite any shortcomings with the material, you should be able to rise above that and hold your weight. Examples? Shia Labeouf and Chris Pine. These two arguably had some flat, outright terrible lines and moments in their respective scripts. But they had the gravitas and charisma to pull it off at no detriment to their performances. Say what you want about their movie or character, they undoubtedly made it work. More importantly, they had the audience on their side.

This is what Routh was missing. He technically checks off everything you would need, but he lacks that X-factor which separates naturally leading men, from actors who are playing a leading role. Physicality is of little consequence here. As many of you should recall, Routh was no stud or muscleman when he was first cast. So to show off his build as support for his stay, is moot. Anyone with a decent frame could replicate that same structure.

We need our Chris Pine. He proved almost brilliantly that you don't need a name or established works to step right into a beloved iconic role....and straight OWN it. I don't know a single person who didn't love him or at least give props for stepping into famous shoes with such ease. Routh was ok, but can anyone here really say he strayed from previous interpretations and made the character definitively his to claim? I feel like many are holding onto Brandon because he's "safe" and are afraid that whomever the new guy is, won't be able to live up to the role. Sorry, but that to me is fundamentally wrong. I can sympathize if Brandon gave a superb performance that would garner extreme backlash from the crowd, if he's replaced...but c'mon. His fanbase is ridiculously low for a franchise this large.

Well said.

 

[Daybreak_st]

I'm assuming we all know Routh has little to no shot at ever donning this suit again, especially with a completely new team on-board with a reboot in mind.

With that said; no. Routh did decent, in the sense that he didn't completely f**k up. But you could say that for anyone in the SR crew. Despite any shortcomings with the material, you should be able to rise above that and hold your weight. Examples? Shia Labeouf and Chris Pine. These two arguably had some flat, outright terrible lines and moments in their respective scripts. But they had the gravitas and charisma to pull it off at no detriment to their performances. Say what you want about their movie or character, they undoubtedly made it work. More importantly, they had the audience on their side.

This is what Routh was missing. He technically checks off everything you would need, but he lacks that X-factor which separates naturally leading men, from actors who are playing a leading role. Physicality is of little consequence here. As many of you should recall, Routh was no stud or muscleman when he was first cast. So to show off his build as support for his stay, is moot. Anyone with a decent frame could replicate that same structure.

We need our Chris Pine. He proved almost brilliantly that you don't need a name or established works to step right into a beloved iconic role....and straight OWN it. I don't know a single person who didn't love him or at least give props for stepping into famous shoes with such ease. Routh was ok, but can anyone here really say he strayed from previous interpretations and made the character definitively his to claim? I feel like many are holding onto Brandon because he's "safe" and are afraid that whomever the new guy is, won't be able to live up to the role. Sorry, but that to me is fundamentally wrong. I can sympathize if Brandon gave a superb performance that would garner extreme backlash from the crowd, if he's replaced...but c'mon. His fanbase is ridiculously low for a franchise this large.

Yeah, very well said man. Great post.

 

[Timstuff]

If Ryan Reynolds can star in the Deadpool REBOOT after X-men Origins, Routh can theoretically work in a Superman Reboot, especially 6-7 years after SR came out.

Wait, whaaaa.....?

The two situations are COMPLETELY different. Deadpool is a minor character in the Marvel universe and has very little mainstream notoriety. The general audience isn't even going to know that Deadpool was in Wolverine. With Superman though, he's sucha big an iconic character that if they bring back Routh, the audience is going to assume Routh + Superman = Superman Returns sequel = crap. It's not actually a reboot, because there hasn't even been a Deadpool movie before, only a cameo of the character in another film that happened to be played by the same actor.

I don't think there was anything special about Routh anyway. He was just a walking mannequin for Bryan Singer to put into a Superman suit because he needed someone who looked like Reeve. The number of people clamouring for a "reboot" that uses the same actor as SR seems like it can be pretty simply illustrated:

Imagine you're in a new town and want to get some hamburgers. There's a McDonalds right up the road, and a bunch of places you've never eaten at before ranging from mom & pop dives to some more obscure chains that have not made it in your region yet. Being overwhelmed with choices, you eventually just say "let's go to McDonalds," because even though it's mediocre it's familiar, and that's better than taking a risk on a burger place that you've never tried before. There's probably several places that have superior burgers, but familiarity overrules quality since you're hungry, in a hurry, and don't want to have to make a tough decision.

Like I said, there was nothing special about Routh to me. He was adequate, but he is easily replaceable, and hopefully we can get someone more talented this time around. In his post-Superman career he's shown himself to be a pretty forgettable actor despite having headlined a major film. Even ignoring how nonsensical it is to make a reboot without even changing the lead actor, Routh doesn't really have much to bring to the table other than his look.

 

[solidsnake86]

You know timstuff superman returns wasn't complete crap, half of you guys make sweeping generalizations and have this revisionist history of how things happend. Do you honestly think anyone cares or let alone remembers routh, if he was recast no one except what, the 17,000 users registered for this message board, would even care. You don't want routh, thats your opinion, but dont make it sound as if its this huge mistake or people in the general audience would remember.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

You know timstuff superman returns wasn't complete crap, half of you guys make sweeping generalizations and have this revisionist history of how things happend. Do you honestly think anyone cares or let alone remembers routh, if he was recast no one except what, the 17,000 users registered for this message board, would even care. You don't want routh, thats your opinion, but dont make it sound as if its this huge mistake or people in the general audience would remember.

I'm pretty damn sure they would remember Routh. I've called the general audience clueless for the most part (bless their souls), but that isn't to say they have some form of amnesia.

Superman Returns plays on the satellite once in a while, so it's not like it's distant and lost history.