Mark Millar's Many Thoughts On Superman

[Showtime]

If anybody from the comic realm is going to be involved, it most likely would be Johns.

 

[Dark Jaguar]

True. But MP can bring up 77% on RT until she is blue in the face. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter it got a B on Yahoo movies. Part of why MP likes to bring those scores up is because she believes SR is worthy of a sequel. But what matters is what the top dogs at WB feel in terms of whether or not SR is worth following up with a sequel. If 77% on RT and a B on Yahoo movies are so important in proving SR's worth there would be no guessing or debating of whether or not we would be getting SR2. Obviously it goes beyond that at WB, and thankfully so, which is why "reboot" and "reintroduction" are now being thrown around.

And yet Bryan Singer is signed on for the next movie. WB has Routh under contract.
And Paul Levits isn't opposed to a sequel.
My point being: No one has taken the idea of a sequel off the table.

SO... I guess people will have to accept that maybe SR wasn't as bad as many of you thought it was...

 

[FlawlessVictory]

If anybody from the comic realm is going to be involved, it most likely would be Johns.

Showtime, I'm curious, you mentioned indications are that Singer is no longer involved with the next Superman film, at least as director, are you saying this because you heard something recently?

 

[The Sage]

If anybody from the comic realm is going to be involved, it most likely would be Johns.

Don't think Morrison would get involved?

 

[FlawlessVictory]

And yet Bryan Singer is signed on for the next movie. WB has Routh under contract.
And Paul Levits isn't opposed to a sequel.
My point being: No one has taken the idea of a sequel off the table.

SO... I guess people will have to accept that maybe SR wasn't as bad as many of you thought it was...

Yes, and guess what, a top executive at WB went out of his way to say the character needs to be "reintroduced" and SR failed to position the character properly. And again, doesn't matter how bad I thought SR was, or the rating on RT is, it matters what people like him think.

 

[FaT_tONle]

People need to stop with this Singer still on board nonsense... if he was on board we would have got this film in 2010... c'mon people THINK. Of course WB isn't going to come out and confirm anything one way or the other... they have almost three more years to make a decision on this thing. They want to keep people guessing. Or maybe it is just an after thought at this point... 2012 is light years away.

 

[Showtime]

Actually you're wrong, they aren't going to keep people thinking, they are going to release a slate sooner rather then later.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Actually you're wrong, they aren't going to keep people thinking, they are going to release a slate sooner rather then later.

You think by the end of this year?

 

[I Am The Knight]

People need to stop with this Singer still on board nonsense... if he was on board we would have got this film in 2010... c'mon people THINK. Of course WB isn't going to come out and confirm anything one way or the other... they have almost three more years to make a decision on this thing. They want to keep people guessing. Or maybe it is just an after thought at this point... 2012 is light years away.

Well, even if they wanted Singer back, I don't see how he could have the time to do it for 2010. It has taken him almost 2 years to finish Valkyrie. They certainly shouldn't rush the next Superman film.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Actually you're wrong, they aren't going to keep people thinking, they are going to release a slate sooner rather then later.

But why would they do that? And what slate exactly? Release dates? Because I don't see Nolan comitting anytime soon and I think a lot depends on that. Other than GL, I don't expect to hear much of anything for Superman. We have already been waiting a good two years...

Well, even if they wanted Singer back, I don't see how he could have the time to do it for 2010. It has taken him almost 2 years to finish Valkyrie. They certainly shouldn't rush the next Superman film.

I am saying WB would not have put it off if there was still some loop hole, which I don't think there is... there is no reason why they'd wait till 2012 and then bring Singer back.

 

[The Guard]

We're not supposed to relate to Superman. He's supposed to relate to us. We might be watching him, but he's the one looking up to us.

I disagree. You should be able to relate to some elements of any good character. Superman isn't an alien who grew up an alien and then came into our world as an outsider. This is an alien who grew up human and looks at the world from a mostly human perspective, despite realizing that his alien heritage gives him larger responsibilities.

Why is everybody assuming Millar´s ending would be sad?

Because the idea of Superman doing squat to prevent the Earth itself from dying is kind of depressing, and contrary to everything his character stands for. You CAN give the Superman saga an ending, sure. But that would be inappropriate in a mainstream version of the character. The whole point of Superman is that he wages a neverending battle for Truth, Justice, and The American Way. He's about hope and inspiration. Not about failing miserably because he's an alien and everyone else is just human. Are we really supposed to believe a world with Superman to inspire it would just allow themselves to become extinct? Now, maybe there's more to it than he lets on, but it doesn't sound like an appropriate end for the Superman mythology to me.

Now, you want Superman to have a dream (or nightmare) or a time travel adventure about what Millar is proposing, that makes him realize what he has to be to help the Earth? Fine. But to make that the actual conclusion of his story? Wrong move.

 

[SuperDaniel]

This is Millar's latest post on the subject:

"Groan. As if I'd just end it with him the last man alive and feeling like ****. There's a lot more to it than that, the scope of the story simply being the beginning of time to the end of time, really.

MM"

Then some poster asked with it will have relation to this Jim Steranko story:
http://theages.superman.nu/400/exile.php

His response:

"There'd be elements of that, but not entirely. The Steranko story had a huge effect on me as a kid and you can see it in the final ten pages or so of Red Son where we just go further and further into Superman's future. Also, remember that this isn't downbeat. The idea is that Superman lives forever, but then it moves into something else and it's actually pretty wonderful. Nothing to do with time-travel or anything, but this absolutely doesn't close the franchise by any means. I wanted to do something that was part Godfather/ part 2001.

Anyway, it's ****ing great. New news on it at all, but then no decision has been made on Superman in the months since they first opened a dialogue with my director when Bryan left. Anything could happen. I know they're talking to at least one other director and OF COURSE it'll be a reboot. Anyone who says "we don't need to see Superman's origin for a modern audience" is either clearly a hardcore fanboy who will OBVIOUSLY know it, over 30 or didn't take a confused kid to Superman Returns. More time has elapsed since Donner's origin in 1978 than the 50s TV show origin and Donner obviously knew he had to reinvent the mythology for a new generation. I have Superman, Brainiac, Darkseid, Luthor, Metallo, The Parasite and Doomsday to explain over our three picture idea and it all needs to be done as simply as possible. Plus 45 minutes on Krypton with Scarlet Jungles, Jewel Mountains, Brainiac stealing Kandor, etc.

Trust me. If this happens it will be great. If it doesn't I have five flicks of my own invention to keep busy with right now. But nobody will bring more passion to this than the team I've been asked to be a part of.

MM"

 

[I Am The Knight]

45 minutes on Krypton?

 

[Dark Jaguar]

I disagree. You should be able to relate to some elements of any good character. Superman isn't an alien who grew up an alien and then came into our world as an outsider. This is an alien who grew up human and looks at the world from a mostly human perspective, despite realizing that his alien heritage gives him larger responsibilities.

ACTUALLY, Clark has always had to deal with the issue if fitting in. That's his big internal struggle. He has to hide what he is to be Clark Kent, and that's what makes him so much the outsider.
how do you relate to that unless you are an outsider? The average person in the audience isn't.
So it's foolhardy to try and make a relatable Superman... Like, Clark doesn't drink... he's not gonna go for a beer with Jimmy (I didn't like that part.)... You're not gonna be chillin' at a bar in Metropolis, and Superman is gonna walk in and say "Hey, Bill, gimme a cold one, wouldja?? Been a craptastic day saving the world... AGAIN!"

But what Superman is... and this is what transcends the need to relate to the character... he's reliable. Mr. Dependable. He'll always there in the nick of time to deflect the bullet, melt the gun, and throw the bad guy through a wall.

Clark will always strive more and more to seem like an average person. And in that character we'll always be able to relate.
But Superman... ****... HE'S SUPERMAN!! I can't relate to that. But goddamnit, I can depend on that.

 

[The Sage]

I disagree. You should be able to relate to some elements of any good character. Superman isn't an alien who grew up an alien and then came into our world as an outsider. This is an alien who grew up human and looks at the world from a mostly human perspective, despite realizing that his alien heritage gives him larger responsibilities.

I wouldn't argue this much. However, I find that Superman sees the world on a far grander scale than humans do.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

More likely than none, Millar's going to use all the press he's gotten (which only came because of running his mouth) as a way to say, "Well, WB wouldn't take my ideas for a Superman movie. So I'll put it in a Superman comic..." And then announce the title of said comic and its release date.

 

[Showtime]

I love Millar's passion, and some of his ideas are great, but why doesn't he just publish the entire script online at this point?

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

I love Millar's passion, and some of his ideas are great, but why doesn't he just publish the entire script online at this point?

Because there's no $$$ to be made off that...

 

[The Guard]

If Millar doesn't want to be misinterpreted, maybe he shouldn't be quite so vague when talking about specific plot points.

 

[Cousin Itt]

If anybody from the comic realm is going to be involved, it most likely would be Johns.

It would be great if Johns got involved.

I'm loving his run on Action right now. He really gets Superman.

 

[Cain]

Who cares if it's an epilogue? It's an illlogical, inappropriate epilogue for a Superman franchise.

Slow my tone? Is that like "Chillax"?

Who the hell says chillax?

 

[Cain]

If anybody from the comic realm is going to be involved, it most likely would be Johns.

It should be as he already works for them anyway. They should have him consult on the GL movie too.

 

[The Guard]

ACTUALLY, Clark has always had to deal with the issue if fitting in. That's his big internal struggle. He has to hide what he is to be Clark Kent, and that's what makes him so much the outsider.

I'd argue that Clark's big internal struggle is about trying to maintain a normal life, a human life on any level, when he can do what he can do because of his alien heritage, and the responsibilities that that brings. Not about hiding what he is and trying to fit in because he's "different". That's important, but secondary, to the Superman mythology.

We're going to have the "which is the real person" argument again, arent' we?

how do you relate to that unless you are an outsider? The average person in the audience isn't.

The average person in the audience hasn't been a lot of things. You don't have to be something in order to be able to relate to and understand and sympathize with a character and what they're going through.

 

[Dark Jaguar]

I'd argue that Clark's big internal struggle is about trying to maintain a normal life, a human life on any level, when he can do what he can do because of his alien heritage, and the responsibilities that that brings. Not about hiding what he is and trying to fit in because he's "different". That's important, but secondary, to the Superman mythology.

We're going to have the "which is the real person" argument again, arent' we?



The average person in the audience hasn't been a lot of things. You don't have to be something in order to be able to relate to and understand and sympathize with a character and what they're going through.

No. I've seen the Kill Bill, vol. 2.
But we've just said the samething. trying to maintain a normal life would be trying to fit in.

And you may not have to be something in order to empathize. But it sure does make it easier.
The best way they've ever gotten the most human relation to Superman has been his desire to be loved by Lois Lane. That's a major chunk of the story there, his relationship with Lois Lane. And we all can relate with being in Love, on some level.
And that's why the on going love story has always been such a major part of the movie plots... And that's where the persona of Clark Kent comes in to play.

 

[The Sage]

I'd argue that Clark's big internal struggle is about trying to maintain a normal life, a human life on any level, when he can do what he can do because of his alien heritage, and the responsibilities that that brings. Not about hiding what he is and trying to fit in because he's "different". That's important, but secondary, to the Superman mythology.

I'd say Clark's biggest internal struggle is about maintaining his faith in humanity in a gray and cynical world.