Some insight into Goyer's script perhaps?

[KrypJonian]

Last night I picked up the newly released Superman: Secret Origin Deluxe Edition, collecting the mini series by Johns, Frank, and Sibal. David Goyer did the introduction for the book where he said some interesting things...

"There is a heart breaking moment halfway through the first chapter in which young Clark is told the truth about his heritage. He races out into the night, sobbing, stumbling through the cornfields. Eventually, his foster father, Jonathan, finds him."

'I don't want to be someone else,' says Clark. 'I don't want to be different. I want to be Clark Kent.'

[And here's the kicker...]

'I want to be your son'

"Right there in that moment, Geoff contextualized Superman in a way that I'm not sure has ever really been done before. I had an 'aha' experience when I read that. For the first time I was able to grasp how lonely Clark must have been when he was growing up. And what a sacrifice Clark must continually make by being Superman."

"As I write this, I am midway through my first draft of a new Superman screenplay. It's a task that has stymied many talented fimmakers in the years since Donner's film. And for all I know, it will end up stymying me as well."

"But I've got one advantage that the screenwriters who came before me didn't have-- and that's access to all the wonderful Superman stories written by Geoff Johns-- first and foremost being the SECRET ORIGIN issues reprinted in the very volume you are now holding"

Interesting, no? Will this be the theme upon which the new Superman movie will revolve?

 

[KrypJonian]

Does anyone else remember, when the whole Nolan/Goyer thing started, them saying something along the lines of them finding a way to relate to Superman...?

I've been dying to know since all this started what it was that turned Chris Nolan, who never wanted anything to do with Superman, into the "godfather" of the project. Goyer said he had an "aha" moment.... Is that what started all of this?

I personally really liked Secret Origin, so I wouldn't mind that being the basis...

Sorry if this is not new news deserving it's own thread...

 

[solidsnake86]

I would say this thread is more deserving than the 90% of casting threads that go nowhere in terms of discussion. IMO this is great news, I really have enjoyed Geoff johns work on superman and he really nailed some aspects of the character. Thanks for posting this as I am waiting for the trade paperback. I think it's very interesting how goyer did the intro and i have always said that the first issue was a great way to touch on smallville in a movie without actually going in-depth and I hope goyer uses some aspects.

 

[Micah12345]

It's exciting to hear anything about this movie, even just a little tidbit like that.

 

[gillberg2k1]

Good stuff, here!

I'm glad to know Geoff Johns is finally getting some props/referenced for his influence on the new take.

Exciting stuff. Im sure more is to come.

 

[Kokomo29]

I absolutely loved SECRET ORIGIN so this little insight into Goyer's thought process makes me really, really happy. I remember reading the part that Goyer was referencing and then reading it over and over again. It is just such an emotionally gripping moment in the story. For the first time in my life I felt for Clark and I knew that from that point on that I was really going to enjoy the rest of the SECRET ORIGIN story.

 

[Kurosawa]

Meh, we'll see. It's according to how far they go with it. I personally like the idea that to a degree, Superman is lonely, but I'm also not a supporter of the "Clark Kent is the true person, and Superman the disguise mindset" as it is the exact OPPOSITE of what Siegel intended Superman to be and what Superman was for the first 50 years of his existence, the era that everything else of note came from, and the time when Superman was actually relevant. I don't care for a selfish Superman at all. I'd much rather him accept with pride and confidence that his powers can be the greatest force for good the world has ever seen than to see him mope about wanting to be like everyone else.

There were parts of Secret Origin I did like, although they were all classic elements that Johns borrowed from Superman's glory days of the 60's.

 

[BH/HHH]

Interesting

 

[Rust]

Absolutely. Goyer's "new" take sounds like this triggered it. Doesn't necessarily mean other stuff from Secret Origin would be adapted, just the human aspect of Clark in this particular part.

Just glad to hear something...

 

[KrypJonian]

I definitely don't want an emo, lonely, unassured Superman... But I don't mind seeing him unsure of something when it is the first time he experiences it. It makes it a little more relatable.

Like when he first finds out he's not actually a boy from this planet, it would make sense that he'd freak out a little... Then move on. I just think it's a nice touch. TAS did this too... Fear and anger with the Krypton reveal, then acceptance.

 

[Rust]

Yeah, I imagine they'd reveal it to him in his late teens, so no emo stuff required here. A "normal" reaction for someone that age. And yes, very heartbreaking. Great onscreen potential if delivered equally strong.

 

[Kokomo29]

I definitely don't want an emo, lonely, unassured Superman... But I don't mind seeing him unsure of something when it is the first time he experiences it. It makes it a little more relatable.

Like when he first finds out he's not actually a boy from this planet, it would make sense that he'd freak out a little... Then move on. I just think it's a nice touch. TAS did this too... Fear and anger with the Krypton reveal, then acceptance.

Exactly! t:

 

[BH/HHH]

I definitely don't want an emo, lonely, unassured Superman... But I don't mind seeing him unsure of something when it is the first time he experiences it. It makes it a little more relatable.

Like when he first finds out he's not actually a boy from this planet, it would make sense that he'd freak out a little... Then move on. I just think it's a nice touch. TAS did this too... Fear and anger with the Krypton reveal, then acceptance.

Superman TAS did it spot on for me

 

[El Payaso]

Clark was raised a human being in spite of his powers and suddenly when he's a teenager he finds out he's an alien.

Don't go and tell me he grew up all that time aware that he is Superman so he would immediately accept his true nature. I won't buy that in spite of being an alien and having to keep secrets from everybody he doesn't have lonely feeling on the inside either.


That said, what I read sounds great. My faith in you grows a little Goyer, don't screw it up this time.

 

[Stripesy Strip]

"I want to be your son"

Maybe he's like that with the whole human race. He wants to save them because he wants to belong to them. He wants to be the good son.

That would be a theory.

The other side of this is that maybe Superman is just a good guy who does what comes naturaly and it's no use trying to find something deeper there. I know it's harder to find stories that comes from that but still...

 

[El Payaso]

Maybe he was raised as the son of Jonathan and Martha and he wants to keep being that.

 

[BH/HHH]

Its strange how I saw this thread today and my Superman Secret Origin Deluxe hardcover has just arrived

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

While I liked Secret Origins I prefer Birthright and Earth One better. I like the idea of a Clark Kent who is not sure that he wants to be Superman but instead just wants to be able to finally fit in with the rest of the world. He doesn't have to be a lonely person much like how Earth One Clark was but he shouldn't just be like alright I have these powers time to put them to use right off the back like how he was in Secret Origins. Personally I think I like the way it was done in Birthright and Earth One on how he chose to be Superman.

 

[BH/HHH]

I think Birthright is perfect to be honest, they could have adapated that to the a Superman film for me and that would have been awesome.

I still dont know if I liked Earth One, it was abit depressing but it is a different take on the Man of Steel, it certainly was an interesting take but I don't want to see that version of Superman on the big screen.

 

[DIRECTOR]

this story line is what was missing in Superman REturns. who cares if this guy can fly, if we don't see how/why this guy became superman than why I'm I watching?

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

I think Birthright is perfect to be honest, they could have adapated that to the a Superman film for me and that would have been awesome.

I still dont know if I liked Earth One, it was abit depressing but it is a different take on the Man of Steel, it certainly was an interesting take but I don't want to see that version of Superman on the big screen.

Agreed on Birthright. As for Earth One I wouldn't mind seeing it as the storyline for the movie as well remember Goyer praised that series as well and I would love to see some elements from the series in the movie (like how Krypton was destroyed or how his suit looked or Krypton's technology, and him looking at a few jobs before going to the Daily Planet) but not the whole story line (meaning him being the loner type unless that is what leads him to join Earth Ones's JLA much like how it did with him in The Batman when he realized that even Superman needed help and he couldn't do it alone). I think the only reason why I wouldn't want to see Earth One yet is because I want more insight on who he is before I say this should have been used for the movie. I mean we got some insight on his childhood a little bit but not to much. With Earth One we see him becoming Superman with Birthright we got to see both since it is six issues longer then what Earth One is. As for the reasons why I would pick these two over Sceret Origins is because it felt like Johns used to much of Superman: The Movie in it and it felt like I read and seen this story 20 times already and although I liked it it did seem old and tired while Birthright and Earth One felt fresh and new and something I want to see more of.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

this story line is what was missing in Superman REturns. who cares if this guy can fly, if we don't see how/why this guy became superman than why I'm I watching?

Because that storyline is Superman the movie and Singer was under the impression everyone saw it.

 

[gillberg2k1]

"I want to be your son"

Maybe he's like that with the whole human race. He wants to save them because he wants to belong to them. He wants to be the good son.

That would be a theory.

Something like this... I think the idea is that he's coming to terms with who he really is, and what he is about to become.

He is the savior of a group of beings seemingly destined to destroy themselves. It would be so easy to turn his back on human beings. Yet he's been shown unconditional love by them, and he has seen their potential.

Just as he was adopted by the Kents, he makes the choice to adopt mankind.

Powerful stuff here.

 

[DrMylesOBoogie]

I love Johns but Secret Origins was poor after the first issue. Don't care for the goofball Clark Kent at all.

 

[El Payaso]

Because that storyline is Superman the movie and Singer was under the impression everyone saw it.

And that his mistake. He should have situated his movie better than just putting some quotes from the original movie. How many people knew/reemembered that it was the crystals that built the FoS?