Superman Reboot Writers Workshop

[Matt]

That was my fault, i merged the 2 together and i thought it would take the oldest threads poll but it didn't.

I see. Thanks for clearing that up

 

[DarkSovereignty]

title: Superman (sorry for the lack of origanality)


first, i would have it take place during the depression, because thats when superman was originally set in when he was first created, (seigal actauly said he created superman as a symbol of hope during the depression). The main villains would be Lex luthor obviously and Morgan Edge, Edge being the local crime leader of intergang, and thats all i've got thus far. i'm thining of writing a screenplay with this premise, tell me wut u guys htink.

 

[Matt]

Hmm, I'm mixed on a time piece for Superman. On one hand it could suit the character well, on the other it could be terribly corny.

 

[Justice Bringer]

Superman: Ryan McPartlin
No clue if he can act

 

[Matt]

Working titles: Superman is...CLARK KENT!


Act I

Clark Kent, an egotistical, arrogant, all-around Alpha-male returns to Metropolis after a five year reporting expodition (to the Middle East) for the Daily Planet, but when he returns, he finds things have changed quite a bit: Lois is, as expected, still angry with Clark over how their relationship ended five years previously, and Jimmy has found himself a new mentor, Rick White, Perry's White's son and new Vice-Chief Editor for the Daily Planet (Perry is expected to make his retirement announcement in the coming weeks, and all signs point to Rick becoming the new Chief).

Kent feels out of place in the new atmosphere of the DP, but tries not to show weakness in front of Lois (Note: My Clark Kent hides his feelings for Lois by antagonizing her but even so, for a time, they did wind up in a romantic relationship. Let's just say that five years ago there was a series of events, as well as a certain oppertuinity being taken by a certain jock, that led to their break-up). Finding that he isn't making any progress with mending his relationship with Lois, Clark decides it's time for extreme measures to be taken: Superman must return.

When Rick and Lois are sent on assignment to cover the grand reopening of the Metropolis Sports Dome, Lex Luthor, billionaire owner of the dome (as well as much of Metropolis) and self-proclaimed former criminal (Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Superman had brought his dirty laundry into the public eye after some unexplored event that I'm too lazy to think up) is hosting the reopening, but secretly he is using the event to test a new model battle armor he plans to sell to the Russians. Luthor has secretly paid off a criminal (we'll call him Bob) to 'steal the unit and use it to cause mayham' at the party, and because the event is being televised, the Russian envoy sent to Metropolis, will be able to see the 'test run' on TV from his hotel.

When Kent (trying to turn all of the past five years worth of notes into a coherent story) catches the televised chaos on one of the DP's monitors he dashes for the nearest phonebooth.

Back at the party, just as Lois is about to crushed by the giant battle armors leg (she, of course, had fallen down) she is saved...by RICK! Bob is disgruntled and uses one of the armors arms to swipe at Rick, sending him crashing into some tables (with lots of expensive china and silverware on them)! Lois rushes to his side and just as they are about to be crushed a blue streak comes flying in, and with one hand, stops the giant armors leg from crushing the two reporters and then sends the suit stumbling backwards.

As this is happening, Luthor, looking on from a safe distance, grinds his teeth in anger as the Man of Steel appears before his eyes for the first time in six years...


***


Well, I'll do the other two acts later on.

I'm honestly not sure if you are serious or not. I pray to god for all of our sakes that you aren't.

 

[X Knight]

Matt, I finally read your entire Superman story. All I can say is......FANTASTIC!!

I loved every bit of it, and I think a story such as that would have made a fantastic origin/restart/reboot to the Superman franchise.

I also liked the fact that you had Clark study journalism from University of Kansas. I always found it kind of neat that the KU Jayhawk colors ( Red, Blue, and Yellow ) matched Superman's colors! ( I'm not a KU alumni, but I'm from Kansas btw ).

My only disappointment is that WB went with Singer's route and not the direction you took in your story. We might have to wait another 10-20 years before we get a proper reboot of Superman.........

Again, GREAT JOB MATT!!!

 

[merced]

Matt, I finally read your entire Superman story. All I can say is......FANTASTIC!!

I loved every bit of it, and I think a story such as that would have made a fantastic origin/restart/reboot to the Superman franchise.

I also liked the fact that you had Clark study journalism from University of Kansas. I always found it kind of neat that the KU Jayhawk colors ( Red, Blue, and Yellow ) matched Superman's colors! ( I'm not a KU alumni, but I'm from Kansas btw ).

My only disappointment is that WB went with Singer's route and not the direction you took in your story. We might have to wait another 10-20 years before we get a proper reboot of Superman.........

Again, GREAT JOB MATT!!!

WB considered different approaches. Abrhams was a reboot/reimaging. Kevin Smith's stuff something else. They tried to find the right approach IMO. In hindsight another choice probably was needed.

An origin story is not be all end all IMO. Retelling the same thing again is not a guarantee of success. I think audiences want something new. Not done before. That is partly why TF was so huge. If another Superman film is ever made I think a shakeup is called for.

 

[fabman]

Matt, it's incredible, your version is exaclty like mine. Except that I would've "spent" less time in Smallville and that I didn't have the genius idea to let Clark have the job only after he had the exclusive. Anyway, in my version, Corben would've died in a car accident, in a car chase with the cops, while Superman would've been distracted with other things.

From my take: Why not have Lex Luthor kidnapping Corben's girlfriend, forcing him to kill Superman?

 

[Matt]

Matt, I finally read your entire Superman story. All I can say is......FANTASTIC!!

I loved every bit of it, and I think a story such as that would have made a fantastic origin/restart/reboot to the Superman franchise.

I also liked the fact that you had Clark study journalism from University of Kansas. I always found it kind of neat that the KU Jayhawk colors ( Red, Blue, and Yellow ) matched Superman's colors! ( I'm not a KU alumni, but I'm from Kansas btw ).

My only disappointment is that WB went with Singer's route and not the direction you took in your story. We might have to wait another 10-20 years before we get a proper reboot of Superman.........

Again, GREAT JOB MATT!!!

Thanks very much, I'm glad you like it! I'm also glad someone picked up on what I was doing with Jayhawk colors

 

[Matt]

WB considered different approaches. Abrhams was a reboot/reimaging. Kevin Smith's stuff something else. They tried to find the right approach IMO. In hindsight another choice probably was needed.

An origin story is not be all end all IMO. Retelling the same thing again is not a guarantee of success. I think audiences want something new. Not done before. That is partly why TF was so huge. If another Superman film is ever made I think a shakeup is called for.

Was my outline anything close to Donner's telling? Hell, even Krypton, Jor-El, and Smallville were all different. POST-CRISIS Superman IS something new. Especially with modern day technology. Superman vs Metallo could literally be a clash of two gods. Something audiences have never seen before. It is all about how a director handles it.

 

[Matt]

Matt, it's incredible, your version is exaclty like mine. Except that I would've "spent" less time in Smallville and that I didn't have the genius idea to let Clark have the job only after he had the exclusive. Anyway, in my version, Corben would've died in a car accident, in a car chase with the cops, while Superman would've been distracted with other things.

Great minds think alike I guess

I spent a lot of time in Smallville, for several reasons.

1) A Tornado sequence where Clark flies for the first time could be an absolutely mind blowing visual.
2) It really establishes that CLARK KENT, not Kal-El, not Superman is who the character is.
3) I believe Lana, Pa Kent, and Ma Kent are very important aspects of Clark's life. Something no Superman film has ever truly established. I love after his first defeat, he retreats back to his security blanket that is Smallville, and they give him the courage to return. Like any son, he goes back to his parent's arms when he is scared. It shows his human side. And for that to work, a lot of time in Smallville at the beginning is necessary.

As for Corben dying in a car accident...I didn't really delve into it in my outline, but I love the bullet richocetting off Superman and him being unable to stop it in his temporarily weakened state, because it gives him some personal accountability. It makes him feel responsible for Metallo. I would go more indepth into that in a full on screen play.

From my take: Why not have Lex Luthor kidnapping Corben's girlfriend, forcing him to kill Superman?

If thats the case though, why do they even fight? Doesn't that simply make Corben a good guy who is being blackmailed? Hell, it wouldn't even make him legally responsible for his actions as they were done under coercion. I like the idea of Metallo being a full on villain.

 

[merced]

Was my outline anything close to Donner's telling? Hell, even Krypton, Jor-El, and Smallville were all different. POST-CRISIS Superman IS something new. Especially with modern day technology. Superman vs Metallo could literally be a clash of two gods. Something audiences have never seen before. It is all about how a director handles it.

No Matt, I wasn't knocking your concept. Quite good. Except for using K. I think K shouldn't be featured in any Superman reboot. Refernced yes, but featured no.

I love the updating. I think Lex should be sexy and physically as virile as Superman. Like Lois looks at Lex twice. Like she does with Supes.

Spacey and hackman are "old men". The youth infatuaited culture today maybe does not want to see that. It maybe is why Tom and Michael connected so well with audiences.

Its about the director, but its also about something not before seen IMO.

 

[Matt]

No Matt, I wasn't knocking your concept. Quite good. Except for using K. I think K shouldn't be featured in any Superman reboot. Refernced yes, but featured no.

I love the updating. I think Lex should be sexy and physically as virile as Superman. Like Lois looks at Lex twice. Like she does with Supes.

Spacey and hackman are "old men". The youth infatuaited culture today maybe does not want to see that. It maybe is why Tom and Michael connected so well with audiences.

Its about the director, but its also about something not before seen IMO.

Oh, I know you weren't. I'm just saying. There can be something new in a reboot.

 

[Super Kal]

I thought your reboot was bad ass, Matt... very nicely done

 

[merced]

Oh, I know you weren't. I'm just saying. There can be something new in a reboot.

There has to be. There can be. The triangle has always ben Lois and Clark and Supes. Throw a curve and make it Lois and Supes and Lex. If WB does another Superman film I think they will shake things up a lot.

 

[OobeDoobBenubi]

If the sequel happens & if they use Zod again which I absolutely hate the idea of then they should cast this guy as Zod

 

[CaptainClown]

^ I approve of that guy for Zod...

One thing also I would change is Lex Luthor and replace him with a younger much more physically fit looking Luthor.

 

[YÅ«gi's BM]

I'll admit, my little idea came off of the top of my head, but I will say this: I want to do something nobody has done yet.

If anything, the way I'd do a Superman film is just start it at the begining of Clark's first day at the DP. I'm a wee-bit tired of everything before it.

 

[CaptainClown]

I agree, I am extremely tired of the pre superman

 

[merced]

^ I approve of that guy for Zod...

One thing also I would change is Lex Luthor and replace him with a younger much more physically fit looking Luthor.

A radically changed Lex. Absolutely! Young, tough and virile. Lex IMO should be as hunky as Supes to women. That makes for a great dynamic I think.

 

[CaptainClown]

Ya, especially when he tries to become like superman. Then uses a suit to try and defeat superman and replicate his power. I don't know why people like Spacey's lex and his grand scheme to sell real estate.

 

[merced]

Ya, especially when he tries to become like superman. Then uses a suit to try and defeat superman and replicate his power. I don't know why people like Spacey's lex and his grand scheme to sell real estate.

Singer went in with best intentions. I think he made a big mistake in casting Spacey though. Way too old IMO. It'd been done before with hackman. He should have tried something different with lex IMO.

 

[CaptainClown]

well to me it seemed he wasn't trying to do anything different just recreate one of the older supermans. He didn't even try and cast someone that looked different then Christopher Reeves.

I do think he went in with the best intentions, but ultimately made it very lame and a kind of bore.

 

[merced]

well to me it seemed he wasn't trying to do anything different just recreate one of the older supermans. He didn't even try and cast someone that looked different then Christopher Reeves.

I do think he went in with the best intentions, but ultimately made it very lame and a kind of bore.

I think a new imaging was needed. In hindsight. Back then I did not see it. I don't think hardly anyone did.

 

[CaptainClown]

ya a new imaging was needed, not basically redoing the same series. Another thing I think should have been added was more action sequences. Also tone down the romance, I don't really go to a comic book movie to see how his love life is going.