Routh and Bale are not going anywhere

[Superman_]

MOVIEHOLE:

Justice League confirmations

Date : August 22, 2007 Posted By : Kirby Kegar

Update! :Yes, its true that Brandon Routh and Christian Bale won't be starring as Superman and Batman, respectively, in the "Justice League" movie - but they will both still be starring in the stand-alone "Superman" and "Batman" sequels. So don't fret fans, there will only be a new Bats and Supes for the team-up movie.

I was speaking to a pal at Warner Bros this morning who let slip that the "Justice League" movie is just as full-steam ahead as the rumours suggest it is. It will definitely be up next year.
A casting director for the movie will be onboard next week and it's then that they'll be going after their tighted strongmen.

Director George Miller ("Mad Max") has some ideas who he'd like to cast as Batman and Superman but naturally, they mightn't be the same faces the WB want. Either way, doesn't sound like Christian Bale or Brandon Routh will be involved in the film. I assume that's a financial thing.

(Update : We have been informed by another source at Warner Bros that it will be an all-new cast and that Bale and Routh will NOT be back (that DOESN'T mean Bale and Routh won't be reprising their roles in solo adventures).)

So within the next month we should start seeing a few announcements about the movie.
Meanwhile, our friends at IESB had a chat to Christian Bale whoconfirmedthat he hasn't been asked back to don the tar cape.

So according to this they are just using a different Superman and Batman for team-up movies only while Routh and Bale will still play Superman and Batman in solo movies.

 

[Zaed]

I think this is a very bad idea... Well as far as Batman is concerned at least.
I dont much like Routh as Superman so i think they could find a better person to play Superman but for Batman...

Bale is the man. It's going to be damn hard to find a person who fits Batman better than him.

 

[ANTOINE X]

Man! No bale? no Routh? I hope you re making this up cause thats the worse decision ever. Routh did one movie bale did on movie and they are already changing the cast? Could those idiots understand that if people like the new batman and the new superman in JLA it could f*** up the solo batman and possible the solo superman?

 

[chosen1]

Why are they doing this?

This is so ******ed. They should just do an animated film and have Routh and Bale do the voice overs.

 

[Prognosticator]

Bad idea from beginning to end. Part of the whole excitement when I was a child was the possibility of seeing not only characters I was familiar with on screen together, but the actors' chemistry! And although I've grown up to accept many many disappointing results, I would still feel the same now.

People want to see the same actors. There's a feeling a continuity to the whole thing that I swear could make the difference in $100 million.

Whatever the source on this, it sounds like another line of hollywood exec cluelessness. It's likely a "testing the waters" type of announcement....to see if they could get away with it.

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Everyone's so opposed to this, but I doubt anyone beyond the fanboy circle honestly gives a damn. I don't think Bale has imprinted his image of Batman on anyone as severely as the fans.

And I'm actually kind for glad for both of them. It's a wise career move. I'm not against this at all.

 

[Red Mask]

O.K....so...

Any news on the rest of the characters?

 

[Octoberist]

so routh and bale are teaming up for a movie after their respective sequels...but before that, we'll get JLA without them.

How convoluted is that?

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Why would they want their entire careers defined by and remebered for one character?

 

[CFE]

I'm relieved Bale and Routh aren't doing JLA...more so for Bale. After a darker depiction of Batman...to sell out and do what would obviously be a brighter film with teammates no less...it just wouldn't work.

CFE

 

[BillyBatson]

I like the aformentioned idea of doing a high end CGI animated JLA movie. I am talking about the kind of cgi that was used in the cinematics on the Marvel Ultimate Alliance game. A full length movie with cgi animation like that would rock and that way we wouldn't have the arguing over the actors not looking the parts. I think its the easiest way to satisfy everyone.

 

[odiin]

idiots, the lot of them.

replace Superman with Martian Manhunter or Supergirl

replace Batman with Question, or Nightwing.

No Christian Bale/Brandon Routh should = no Batman/Superman

Use your heads, WB.

 

[The Impaler]

One thing thats not being discussed, what about the rest of the cast? will they take over as the others in their respective franchise films?

 

[odiin]

One thing thats not being discussed, what about the rest of the cast? will they take over as the others in their respective franchise films?

I think no one has talked about it because it seems so obvious they would, but after this news, I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the case.

That would be soooo stupid of them, but I have little faith anymore, anyway.

 

[FaT_tONle]

If WB wants to get their sh:tty property off the ground... why can't they just do an ensemble to introduce the characters without Batman and Superman? you wouldn't have to call it a JLA... let it be a prequel to a JLA or some sh:t. This is beyond mental ******ation... this is flat out comical watching a studio sh:t this badly on comic book material yet again... and we thought Fox was the Devil. At least they know how to make money while sh:tting on the fans... WB can't even do both...

 

[Philly Phanboy]

Bad idea from beginning to end. Part of the whole excitement when I was a child was the possibility of seeing not only characters I was familiar with on screen together, but the actors' chemistry! And although I've grown up to accept many many disappointing results, I would still feel the same now.

People want to see the same actors. There's a feeling a continuity to the whole thing that I swear could make the difference in $100 million.

Whatever the source on this, it sounds like another line of hollywood exec cluelessness. It's likely a "testing the waters" type of announcement....to see if they could get away with it.

QFT

 

[odiin]

If WB wants to get their sh:tty property off the ground... why can't they just do an ensemble to introduce the characters without Batman and Superman? you wouldn't have to call it a JLA... let it be a prequel to a JLA or some sh:t. This is beyond mental ******ation... this is flat out comical watching a studio sh:t this badly on comic book material yet again... and we thought Fox was the Devil. At least they know how to make money while sh:tting on the fans... WB can't even do both...

Seriously. Quoted for freakin' truth.

 

[CConn]

If WB wants to get their sh:tty property off the ground... why can't they just do an ensemble to introduce the characters without Batman and Superman? you wouldn't have to call it a JLA... let it be a prequel to a JLA or some sh:t. This is beyond mental ******ation... this is flat out comical watching a studio sh:t this badly on comic book material yet again... and we thought Fox was the Devil. At least they know how to make money while sh:tting on the fans... WB can't even do both...

From a fan's standpoint? Because it just wouldn't be the Justice League. Or at least, the Justice League we all know and love. Batman and Superman are an integral part of that. While there might have been times when Batman and Superman weren't present in the League, for the most part, it's always been about them, and to have a Justice League movie without them would just seem incomplete.

From a business perspective? Because Batman and Superman are extremely, EXTREMELY popular characters that have very large selling power and will almost without question pull the general audience into the theater, and help to open them up to and introduce them to all of these other, lesser-known, characters.

Honestly, from my perspective, there's honestly not one good reason why Batman and Superman SHOULDN'T be in a JLA movie. Except for a bunch of whining fanboys who are too obsessed with Batman being "dark and serious" to embrace any other version of the character. Not that there's anything particular wrong with that; Nolan embraces the vision. As did Burton. But that's the thing; you have Batman Begins, Batman, and you will have The Dark Knight. People who like the Justice League don't have anything. Nothing live action. And to say Batman and Superman shouldn't be in it just because YOU don't like that (valid, straight from the comics) interpretation of them is just plain selfish and ignorant.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

This is going to be bad. Simply because I see this is an attempt to move away from the super serious, older tone of the current Bat and Supes films. I wouldn't be surprised if some young twenty somethings who just got off doing teen comedies took up the reigns in this film.

They're also alienating their stars by doing this. Just wait. Good things come to those who wait.

 

[FaT_tONle]

From a fan's standpoint? Because it just wouldn't be the Justice League. Or at least, the Justice League we all know and love. Batman and Superman are an integral part of that. While there might have been times when Batman and Superman weren't present in the League, for the most part, it's always been about them, and to have a Justice League movie without them would just seem incomplete.

From a business perspective? Because Batman and Superman are extremely, EXTREMELY popular characters that have very large selling power and will almost without question pull the general audience into the theater, and help to open them up to and introduce them to all of these other, lesser-known, characters.

Honestly, from my perspective, there's honestly not one good reason why Batman and Superman SHOULDN'T be in a JLA movie. Except for a bunch of whining fanboys who are too obsessed with Batman being "dark and serious" to embrace any other version of the character. Not that there's anything particular wrong with that; Nolan embraces the vision. As did Burton. But that's the thing; you have Batman Begins, Batman, and you will have The Dark Knight. People who like the Justice League don't have anything. Nothing live action. And to say Batman and Superman shouldn't be in it just because YOU don't like that (valid, straight from the comics) interpretation of them is just plain selfish and ignorant.

You want to accept a JLA with a bunch of recasts go ahead... all I can say is that its your funeral to the wise ass in WB who thought this was a decent idea... I throw out an idea that they could have went with and now you get on me because its not what you want to see either... well guess what... I don't want to see a lame ass attempt at a JLA either just for the sake of launching new franchises... it was merely an idea to keep consitency... don't call me ignorant because I mentioned a different approach... I don't want recasting. Maybe you don't mind it but I do... recasting is a bone head move and WB will lose a hundred million at the B.O for it. That's the cold hard truth... if you want a rush job just for the sake of getting a JLA movie then you are impatient and willing to accept just about anything. This is simply not the way to go. If this is the best WB can do then I will throw them under the bus all I want because this is sheer stupidity. If you don't agree that recasting is a bad move then your clueless... you can't argue that point... sure there are pros and cons... but no one is saying we absolutely need a JLA at this minute... no one accept the impatient mofo's at WB who want to maximize their properties... no one can right mindedly support this decision... you want to then be my guest... I will just deeply sadden me when rich comic book material suitable for movie adaptaions is washed down the drain yet again... and their won't be any excuses for it with a project as massive and as critical as this.

 

[CConn]

What's to say it's going to be "lame ass"?

The script's been pretty well-received, and the director attached is extremely talented in multiple genres.

And there's absolutely no reason to believe this is going to be a rush job. It won't be out until 2009 - giving plenty of time for pre-production this year, and filming in '08. Yeah, WB's greenlit the thing pretty fast, but that could be simply because the script's actually good.

 

[CConn]

This is going to be bad. Simply because I see this is an attempt to move away from the super serious, older tone of the current Bat and Supes films. I wouldn't be surprised if some young twenty somethings who just got off doing teen comedies took up the reigns in this film.

They're also alienating their stars by doing this. Just wait. Good things come to those who wait.

George Miller's a bit older than 20-something, fortunately.

 

[FaT_tONle]

What's to say it's going to be "lame ass"?

The script's been pretty well-received, and the director attached is extremely talented in multiple genres.

Um I was referring to the idea of Supes/Bates not being in it... they should be... but not a bunch of recasts

 

[ddm92392]

I dot think it will be out till about 2010 and as for Routh and Bale well hopefully this is just a rumor and they will be in the final cut cause we definately dont need 2 batmans and supermans

 

[CConn]

Um I was referring to the idea of Supes/Bates not being in it... they should be... but not a bunch of recasts

Recasting isn't a bad idea in the least. It's actually quite a fantastic idea.

Firstly, it separates the JLA movie from the Superman and Batman movies. If it does end up being bad or too fantasy based or whatever, it won't be tied to any of the other films. It won't lessen them or ruin what they've set down like, say, B&R did to Burton's Batman movies. Instead, JLA can exist in it's own little bubble.

Also - while I'm really digging - is it gives someone else a chance to really excel with the characters. Sure, Bale and Routh were great, but I'm honestly really excited just to see what two other actors will be able to do with the roles. Who'll be Batman? Who'll be Superman? Will they be more Keaton than Bale? Or Kilmer than Clooney? That unknown and that chance at having something really great and different happen is a great thing.