Mark Millar's Many Thoughts On Superman

[TruerToTheCore]

I'm sorry guys, I just don't trust Millar to write a good Superman movie. I just can't get over some of the stuff he said.

That would be?

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I feel a tiresome arguement coming about.

 

[Showtime]

I really don't understand Millar's approach in regards to marketing himself and his desire to do Superman. I believe he has met with WB two times previously, maybe three, and I believe this is according to his own account of the situation. I might be wrong on the amount of times he has met with them. Obviously he has some kind of connection with WB and of course DC.

Which is why it confuses me that he would even bother openly talking about it like he does? Studios certainly don't love that, and the only reason to do it would be to garner fan support. Why would Millar need fan support if he had a big director and already had a story? The whole thing is pretty confusing.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

I feel a tiresome arguement coming about.

How about buying some "Superman Showcase" tradepaper backs? Number 4 came out a few days ago and it has the awesome Ant-Head Superman story in it, and the first Lexor (shows the real Lex Luthor) story, and the Nightwing/Flamebird team-up

 

[TruerToTheCore]

I really don't understand Millar's approach in regards to marketing himself and his desire to do Superman. I believe he has met with WB two times previously, maybe three, and I believe this is according to his own account of the situation. I might be wrong on the amount of times he has met with them. Obviously he has some kind of connection with WB and of course DC.

Which is why it confuses me that he would even bother openly talking about it like he does? Studios certainly don't love that, and the only reason to do it would be to garner fan support. Why would Millar need fan support if he had a big director and already had a story? The whole thing is pretty confusing.

To be honest: I don't think that WB will listen to him. They will probably make a "Batman Begins"-styled movie. Origin-First appearance-Defeat-Final Fight. So basically Superman: THe Movie in new clothes!

If this is the case - Millar should work out his ideas in a comic book.

 

[Showtime]

To be honest: I don't think that WB will listen to him. They will probably make a "Batman Begins"-styled movie. Origin-First appearance-Defeat-Final Fight. So basically Superman: THe Movie in new clothes!

If this is the case - Millar should work out his ideas in a comic book.

The whole thing is just odd to me, didn't he just go to them with a pitch a little back, within the year? Then he said that they wouldn't let him do it because he was a "Marvel Guy". Isn't he still a "Marvel Guy"?

 

[Showtime]

Yeah so false that WB is about to push the reboot button on the franchise t:

Look I'm mixed on the film I saw it twice when it was in theatres once in IMAX 3D so it's not like I didn't lend out support. I'm a Superman fan it wasn't the movie I wanted but it was what we had you know. You spend your whole life waiting for a movie you want to make sure to get all the details.

That being said I don't know one person offline outside of females that liked this movie. It just wasn't well balanced it was way too one sided it was too depresssing for a Superman movie and the numbers show it because many people didn't go back to it except it's hardcore fanbase.

$270 Million dollar produtcion budget

391 million worldwide total

200 domestic

191 foreign

A 121 Million dollar profit when a Superman movie has no reason not to out perform a Batman movie. This is why it wasn't the best way to go in the long run. WB shot themselves in the foot with that movie their best interest always was and always will be money. This is why they're so happy with the Batman thing and it helped them realize maybe a quality product could make more money.

They needed a real blockbuster for Superman's movie comeback and SR wasn't it regardless of how you feel about it these are the facts otherwise we'd have the sequel coming soon. We could only hope they greenlight a Superman product worthy of big money.

Although I understand your intention and argree that Superman Returns failed to meet projections and expectations, your numbers are fuzzy. The 270 Million is innacurate, check Variety. Also, that 121 million you are refering to isn't straight profit and is merely the difference. Box office doesn't work like that.

 

[The Sage]

The whole thing is just odd to me, didn't he just go to them with a pitch a little back, within the year? Then he said that they wouldn't let him do it because he was a "Marvel Guy". Isn't he still a "Marvel Guy"?

I always thought that sounded weird since Millar & Gough, creators and producers of Smallville, helped write Spider-Man 2.

 

[Showtime]

I always thought that sounded weird since Millar & Gough, creators and producers of Smallville, helped write Spider-Man 2.

The whole thing is weird, which makes it seem more obvious that the reason they didn't select his pitch had nothing to do with him being a "Marvel Guy".

 

[I Am The Knight]

I'm not a fan. Growing up I was a DC and Marvel reader but as an adult just DC and Millar's writing is one of the things that turned me away from Marvel. They only had me with the NewUniversal revival by Ellis and then chickened out and put it on hiatus. I don't like Wanted or Kick-Ass either.

I think Grant Morrison & Garth Ennis were doing what he does better than him 14 years ago. So I'm no big Millar though his work on The Authority was good and I'd take early Ultimate X-Men over the movies anyday. I'm far from a big fan but the one thing I give him credit on the man knows himself some ****ing Superman. He happens to have a passion for the character too Red Son and his Superman Adventures run I'm telling you those are definitely written by a pre-crisis fan they're labors of love for the guy. Better him than some hack I say.

So Millar's Superman would be primarily Pre-Crisis, right?

 

[Cain]

Although I understand your intention and argree that Superman Returns failed to meet projections and expectations, your numbers are fuzzy. The 270 Million is innacurate, check Variety.

I won't check Variety cause I don't susbcribe to hollywood newsletter but ok. What were the actual numbers higher or lower? I've seen some people go as far as $300 million because of failed projects. I got the numbers from box office mojo so drop the science.

Also, that 121 million you are refering to isn't straight profit and is merely the difference. Box office doesn't work like that.

Doesn't half the box office go to movie chains that play the features? isn't this why movie theatres depende on concession stands and movie studios on home video and TV broadcasts? how does it work?

 

[TruerToTheCore]

So Millar's Superman would be primarily Pre-Crisis, right?

That's self-explanatory! "Superman" means -of course- "Pre-Crisis Superman"

 

[nintendo nerd]

Yeah so false that WB is about to push the reboot button on the franchise t:

Look I'm mixed on the film I saw it twice when it was in theatres once in IMAX 3D so it's not like I didn't lend out support. I'm a Superman fan it wasn't the movie I wanted but it was what we had you know. You spend your whole life waiting for a movie you want to make sure to get all the details.

That being said I don't know one person offline outside of females that liked this movie. It just wasn't well balanced it was way too one sided it was too depresssing for a Superman movie and the numbers show it because many people didn't go back to it except it's hardcore fanbase.

$270 Million dollar produtcion budget

391 million worldwide total

200 domestic

191 foreign

A 121 Million dollar profit when a Superman movie has no reason not to out perform a Batman movie. This is why it wasn't the best way to go in the long run. WB shot themselves in the foot with that movie their best interest always was and always will be money. This is why they're so happy with the Batman thing and it helped them realize maybe a quality product could make more money.

They needed a real blockbuster for Superman's movie comeback and SR wasn't it regardless of how you feel about it these are the facts otherwise we'd have the sequel coming soon. We could only hope they greenlight a Superman product worthy of big money.

So you are one of those persons that think a poor performance at the BO= A bad movie.

Many great movies have failed at the BO. And many many bad movies have made hundreds of millions at the BO.

 

[Cain]

So Millar's Superman would be primarily Pre-Crisis, right?

Yeah if he even gets a chance anyway. I still think they should get Geoff Johns involved but if Millar ever got the gig he'd do just fine.

 

[Showtime]

I won't check Variety cause I don't susbcribe to hollywood newsletter but ok. What were the actual numbers higher or lower? I've seen some people go as far as $300 million because of failed projects. I got the numbers from box office mojo so drop the science.

Variety is a website as well...www.variety.com.

The 270 Million includes failed projects, which means it has nothing to do with the budget for Superman Returns, you're looking at one of the following:

$204 Million
$209 Million
$215 Million

Not exactly science.

Doesn't half the box office go to movie chains that play the features? isn't this why how does it work?

Yes and no. You're on the right track though.

Bottom line is no matter how you slice it, Superman Returns didn't turn a profit domestically against it's budget which is where studios are always focused.

 

[I Am The Knight]

That's self-explanatory! "Superman" means -of course- "Pre-Crisis Superman"

Well, if you don't think Post-Crisis is a valid interpretation, it certainly would be

Yeah if he even gets a chance anyway. I still think they should get Geoff Johns involved but if Millar ever got the gig he'd do just fine.

He's definitely dying to do it, and I'm intrigued with his recent comments...

 

[Cain]

So you are one of those persons that think a poor performance at the BO= A bad movie.

Many great movies have failed at the BO. And many many bad movies have made hundreds of millions at the BO.

No guy I'm just stating why anything would be better than that movie. Not just in the eyes of millions but also the studio themselves. The movie didn't have the impact on pop culture that a modern Superman movie should've had. It polarized the fanbase instead of uniting them. It wasn't that universally loved Superman movie that they needed in light of Batman Begins.

Which for the record though I'm a Batman fan I never really liked but I'm glad it did well enough to not only lead to more movies because it connected with many people but also making millions of new fans which leads to the longevity and relevance of Batman for years to come.

I don't think box office affects quality I loathe Transformers and Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Men's Chest and millions of people loved those movies and made them big hits. There are many movies that I absolute love that flopped royally and I'm sure many of you never even heard off. It has nothing to do with me thinking box office = quality.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I really don't understand Millar's approach in regards to marketing himself and his desire to do Superman. I believe he has met with WB two times previously, maybe three, and I believe this is according to his own account of the situation. I might be wrong on the amount of times he has met with them. Obviously he has some kind of connection with WB and of course DC.

Which is why it confuses me that he would even bother openly talking about it like he does? Studios certainly don't love that, and the only reason to do it would be to garner fan support. Why would Millar need fan support if he had a big director and already had a story? The whole thing is pretty confusing.

Exactly. I believe he is full of it. That probably means that I should stop talking about it.

 

[The Sage]

The whole thing is weird, which makes it seem more obvious that the reason they didn't select his pitch had nothing to do with him being a "Marvel Guy".

Perhaps at his first attempts at a pitch, WB were just focusing on getting a sequel to SR made?

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

Perhaps at his first attempts at a pitch, WB were just focusing on getting a sequel to SR made?

WB was taking pitches for sequels and reboots. They just flat-out didn't like his ideas...

 

[Cain]

Variety is a website as well...www.variety.com.

The 270 Million includes failed projects, which means it has nothing to do with the budget for Superman Returns, you're looking at one of the following:

$204 Million
$209 Million
$215 Million

Not exactly science.

Thanks for answering so condescendingly. But alright so now we got concrete numbers. What happened with the money invested on failed projects? why does the media always include them as if WB was looking for SR to pay them off. Did they just write them off?

Bottom line is no matter how you slice it, Superman Returns didn't turn a profit domestically against it's budget which is where studios are always focused.

Hold up you presented me exibits A through C up there but now say this? If you would've refutted the 200 million domestic from my previous post I'd understand this but all you addressed was the budget. So did it actually make 200 million domestic? it obviously had to be more right?

 

[Showtime]

Perhaps at his first attempts at a pitch, WB were just focusing on getting a sequel to SR made?

Considering they had people pitching reboots as far back as 2007, I don't believe that to be the case. They had a number of people in and out pitching sequel ideas and reboot ideas in early 2007, directors, writers, and producers.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

WB was taking pitches for sequels and reboots. They just flat-out didn't like his ideas...

What do you know, me and WB have something in common.

 

[Cain]

If all he's doing is blowing smoke up our asses then yeah I say let me know when WB actually says anything even remotely close to official then.

 

[solidsnake86]

Even Morrison said he pitched a movie and they rejected it so who knows what is up with them. At the same time though for WB to decide to go with a reboot I think that they must have had a pitched that they liked or a base to start from. I think it took them way to long to decide which route to go with so I'm betting that they heard one they liked.