Superman Reboot Writers Workshop

[Matt]

Yo Matt, the idea of Jor-El being just a father who loves his son is actually better and more realistic than the prophetic one.

Glad you like it. What did you think of the rest of my plot outline?

 

[KalMart]

I maintain Superman does not have to be physically huge. His powers are a chemical reaction to the yellow sun. He doesn't have to have large muscle mass to get his power. Plus don't you think a Clark who is 6'6 and muscular as hell would attract attention? If Law could get ripped, the camera could handle height. And his acting would blow Routh or anyone to ever hold the role, really, out of the water.

He'd have to...to make up for the fact that he's rather effemenite and prissy, muscles or no muscles. And to be fair....the role of Superman isn't exactly Shakespearean...I see it more about presence and an understated strength when not in action, with a bit of innocence and modesty thrown in for good measure. Law seems better for complex characters with more inner conflicts...not that Supes can't have that, but they should be at odds with his normal solitude, rather than be at the forefront with him struggling to maintain a facade of strength and fortitude. I dunno...I think there are better choices than Law.

 

[Matt]

I would like to see a Captain America movie, but I think I would prefer to see it as a period piece as well. Something about him doesn't seem to fit in the 21st century.

I'd like to see a Captain America trilogy with the first movie taking place in the 40s with a WWII setting. At the end, have Cap "die" (in reality he is frozen). Have the second movie involve him waking up in modern times. Very fish out of water-ish. Have the third one involve a Chitauri invasion and serve as the launching point for an Avengers/Ultimates movie.

 

[Matt]

He'd have to...to make up for the fact that he's rather effemenite and prissy, muscles or no muscles. And to be fair....the role of Superman isn't exactly Shakespearean...I see it more about presence and an understated strength when not in action, with a bit of innocence and modesty thrown in for good measure. Law seems better for complex characters with more inner conflicts...not that Supes can't have that, but they should be at odds with his normal solitude, rather than be at the forefront with him struggling to maintain a facade of strength and fortitude. I dunno...I think there are better choices than Law.

But Superman should also have a regal, alien in nature look. Law has that. And Superman SHOULD have innerconflicts. Go read my Superman plot outline. Law would work perfectly in that type of movie.

 

[bunk]

I would like to see a Captain America movie, but I think I would prefer to see it as a period piece as well. Something about him doesn't seem to fit in the 21st century.

See I have to disagree with that one. It's his "man out of time" aspect that would be very interesting. He's basically the epitome of what makes America great in a time when so much of the world would beg to differ. Add the complexities of modern day terrorism and you'd have something much more than a mere superhero movie.

 

[KalMart]

But Superman should also have a regal, alien in nature look. Law has that. And Superman SHOULD have innerconflicts. Go read my Superman plot outline. Law would work perfectly in that type of movie.

You could still find that otherworldy nature in another actor that's physically/vibe-wise more along the lines of a traditional Superman. Law is too much of a stretch that would represent a pretty substantial reinterpretation of Supes. The narrative and circumstances should be enough to provide Supes with inner and concrete conflicts, I don't think you'd have to push it further by depowering or over-humanizing Superman. Just like you wouldn't want Christina Ricci or such as Wonder Woman. Although that's intriguing on a whole nother level.

 

[rijuco]

Have the second movie involve him waking up in modern times. Very fish out of water-ish.

Sounds like Demolition man.

 

[NotFadeAway]

The problem is that the world has changed so much that there isn't actually a need for a superman character in this day and age.

he served himself better during the desperate times of war back in the day...

Lois lane is ultimately right.

if superman existed in today's world, he'd be batman.

THAT is a movie in itself. How does the black and white hero fit into our grey world? Has he started to doubt himself and his ability to make a difference? Has the world started to look to morality benders like Lex Luthor for answers?

 

[KenK]

PUNISHER is just a huge wtf, for me. A lot of people liked the first one and there was plenty there to build on.

I just find it funny that it's been so hard to get a solid representation of the Punisher on film, that they're essentially re-imagining him again; as I'm to understand it, Punisher: War Zone isn't really being treated as a sequel to the Tom Jane film. But yeah, he's probably the biggest no-brainer when it comes to translating from comic to film, but we're on our third creative time and cast with the third film!! It's just so odd to me.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Law is a fantastic actor who just picks really bad roles from time to time. Trust me, he would kill as Big Blue.

VERY, VERY True! Great actor, bad movie choices here and there. Yet, even in his bad films, he still does an amazng job.

I've always wondered how Jude Law would be as Lex Luthor. I think it could work. But then again, there are so many actors I want for Lex Luthor it isn't funny. Jude Law, Jaquin Phoenix, Jason Isaacs, Ralph Fiennes, there's more, those were just off the top of my head.

And I always wanted Liam Neeson for Jor-El, until Begins came out.

 

[KalMart]

Y'know......



Maybe this just isn't Superman's time. Maybe in this age of numbing, fast-paced and frivolous entertainment, brash but shallow anti-heros, short attention-spans, video-games and MTV, questionable morals, plastic and manufactured entertainers, etc....folks just generally don't have the patience for a Superman. Maybe they need to run things into the ground, suffocating in their own gluttony before they can realize they've stuffed themselves silly with nonsense. Maybe then they'll realize what's missing, and what's really worth believing in. And maybe it will be then that Superman can truly return and show people what's right....not with intense violence or flashy showmanship...but by example, like he's always done, and like it should be done....and it won't matter if he's 'old'.

Oh wait...that was Kingdom Come, wasn't it?

Never mind.

 

[Matt]

You could still find that otherworldy nature in another actor that's physically/vibe-wise more along the lines of a traditional Superman. Law is too much of a stretch that would represent a pretty substantial reinterpretation of Supes. The narrative and circumstances should be enough to provide Supes with inner and concrete conflicts, I don't think you'd have to push it further by depowering or over-humanizing Superman. Just like you wouldn't want Christina Ricci or such as Wonder Woman. Although that's intriguing on a whole nother level.

I personally feel like Superman SHOULD be humanized. I don't like the messiah-esque, pre-crisis Superman, who is more alien than human. Superman was raised by humans. He is human, granted not biologically...but, well, nature vs. nurture. In many ways Superman is more human than Batman. That is one of the many little ironies/contrasts of the two characters that I love.

 

[NotFadeAway]

- Clark as the real person/Superman as the disguise. It's time to do this version of the character right. Get a damn good actor, watch the Animated Series, adapt it for live action, and we got something.

- Corporate/Politician Lex. He can be both, a politician born out of the success of LexCorp. LexCorp would be there. As a fan of the President Luthor storyline, I would put it in my movie. The plot of the film would involve shady Lex involved in a terrorist plot against the United States, while at the same time playing the terrorist cell so he can go to war to "cleanse" the world. After I read Mein Kempf for my History class a few years back, I really drew on it for my version of Lex.

- Superman questioning if he can make a difference in the world. Like I said, the black and white hero in the grey world. Superman would really start to get disgusted, and question if his life purpose even matters anymore. Of course, are hero would get his act together and continue to pledge his life, willingly, to help people. " If nothing we do matters in the grand scheme of things, if there is no glorious end to all of this, then the smallest act of kindness, the smallest good dead, thats all that matters.

- A full on Superman/Clark/Lois love story in the backdrop.

- Martha Kent dying instead of Jonathan, and the impact it has on Clark. We always get Jonathan's death and that impact, but I want to explore what happens when Clark's heart dies. It interests me more.

- Metallo as the muscle villian. It fits right in with my story. LexCorp has developed the "Metallo Project" to fight terrorism and opression. His cleanser, I should say.

- Morgan Edge, Maggie Sawyer, Dr. Hamiliton. All fit with the story. John Shea as Edge and Brent Spiner as Hamiliton. Haven't decided on an actress for Sawyer. And Mercy Graves.

- The opening scene of Kal-El's ship, flying through space on it's journey to Earth, with Jor-El narrarting the events. We would never see Krypton as it was, or Jor-El, atleast until the sequel. Only the holographic images of Jor-El and Lara, similiar to the Animated Series. By not seeing these things, the audience only see's them through Clark. And when his mother dies, this adds to the depressing feeling that he will, one day, be alone, and with the way the world is turning he may not have a place even as Superman. The uplifting reveal of course, would be for narrator Jor-El to return at the end of the movie, letting the audience know that he is infact watching over Clark, that he is never alone. As for the "Origin story", I'd show the ship landing near the Kent's red truck, them debating over taking the child as there own, keeping him, and then shooting ahead to an established Superman, which is the story. It would be an established Superman story, obviously. When Clark returns home to help care for Martha, I would show flashbacks of his childhood as a small boy, which we haven't seen before. Actually, I would borrow a scene from Smallville, where Pete Ross is about to get beat up, and young comes to his rescue, accidently shoving the bully through a door. I would keep continuity with Smallville, with Pete being black, and that being the reason he was bullied. Of course, young Clark knows that is wrong, and stands up for his actions, making Jonathan and Martha very proud and showing his true hero colors, even as a boy. And yes, I know Pete is white in the comics, this just help my story.



I have an idea for a pure origin story, but I'll talk about it later. I'm not as happy with it.

 

[KalMart]

I personally feel like Superman SHOULD be humanized. I don't like the messiah-esque, pre-crisis Superman, who is more alien than human. Superman was raised by humans. He is human, granted not biologically...but, well, nature vs. nurture. In many ways Superman is more human than Batman. That is one of the many little ironies/contrasts of the two characters that I love.

He was humanized as all get-out in SR....love triangle, illegitimate kid, sullen and depressed, etc. How's that workin' these days?

 

[Matt]

Not fade away's long post.

Ugh, no. I like some of your ideas, but there is no need for racial/political messages in a Superman movie.

 

[KalMart]

Ugh, no. I like some of your ideas, but there is no need for racial/political messages in a Superman movie.

That's all pretty human, though, isn't it?

 

[Matt]

That's all pretty human, though, isn't it?

Its a different kind. A Superman movie shouldn't be preachy or political.

 

[Matt]

He was humanized as all get-out in SR....love triangle, illegitimate kid, sullen and depressed, etc. How's that workin' these days?

He wasn't humanized though. The situations around him were. He was more alien and isolated than any other version of the character.

 

[KalMart]

I don't think you have to go that far. And even if you did, he should at least still look like Superman, not some effeiminitely-handsome 5'9" guy who went nuts in the gym to put on 30lbs of unnatural mass. But anything's possible. I will give you this....major star-power in the lead role would be quite a marketing chip, if money was the issue.

 

[NotFadeAway]

I personally feel like Superman SHOULD be humanized. I don't like the messiah-esque, pre-crisis Superman, who is more alien than human. Superman was raised by humans. He is human, granted not biologically...but, well, nature vs. nurture. In many ways Superman is more human than Batman. That is one of the many little ironies/contrasts of the two characters that I love.

Matt my man, we agree again. Superman needs to be humanized, it fits with the world of today and the movie goers of today. The audience wants to feel along with the character. I CARE about the humanized Superman more than the messiah, and I like the nature vs. nurture arguement. I think nurture wins. This is why it's so important for post-crisis Superman to be in the film. I don't think anyone wants to see the Alien Jesus anymore. It's more comforitng to think about a normal guy with alien abilities who would rather help out and make a difference than be a tyrant. In the pre-crisis, it's more like Jor-El tells Clark to be Superman, and I never liked that. It should be all Clark's choice. The audience should believe Clark would help others, with or without powers. He just wants to make a difference.

I like the irony of Superman being more human than Batman in many regards. Batman would rather be the Kryptonian savior.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Ugh, no. I like some of your ideas, but there is no need for racial/political messages in a Superman movie.

It fits with today's world climate though. Yeah, maybe I would tone it down, but it fits with the world.

My story idea also fits my background. I double majored in Political Science and Creative Writing in College, so that stuff comes naturally to me. The beauty of Arts and Science majors, you can double, although when I first went to college I wanted to do Physical Therapy, but you can only go to Graduate School and get a Doctorate in Ohio, and I didn't really want to go to Graduate School, so I switched from Exercise Physiology Pre-Physical Thereapy to Political Science and Writing. I also have a mnor in History. I don't know about anyone else, but if there was a real life Superman, I would really want him to fight against terrorism, bigotry, and opression. And real life Lex Luthors thrive in the Corporate/Political world. It's sickening really. That should be portrayed on screen. I'm curious, which idea's did you like?

And speaking of Politics.....vote John McCain.

 

[Octoberist]

I just find it funny that it's been so hard to get a solid representation of the Punisher on film, that they're essentially re-imagining him again; as I'm to understand it, Punisher: War Zone isn't really being treated as a sequel to the Tom Jane film. But yeah, he's probably the biggest no-brainer when it comes to translating from comic to film, but we're on our third creative time and cast with the third film!! It's just so odd to me.

I agree, the Punisher writes itself.

I like Tom Jane as an actor. However, I don't like Tom Jane moving fire hydrants around.

But it's weird.

 

[Krug3r]

My dream cast:

Superman/Clark Kent - Henry Cavill...is now old enough..has the height..has potencial to bulk if needed..and has proven to be a very good actor..as seen in the tudors. Man...My choice for Returns..and I think I was right. :P

Lois Lane - Evangeline Lilly Watch Lost and this photo...

Lex Luthor - Bruce Willis....Made for the part..but as a powerful tycoon...bald in a great tailored suit...super cool super badass.

Metallo or Brainiac - William Fichtner - I think this guy would be great as any of them. He has almost like an almost alien look

Jimmy Olsen - Zac Efron - looks like just a teen guy trying to get in the working world. kind of silly and sometimes says the wrong thing at the wrong time..that kind of thing.

Perry White - Harrison Ford or Dustin Hoffman...Great actor, would be great in the role.

Jor-El - James Caviezel - Big Superman fan, has the look, would be open for sequels.

What would you guys think?....other characters to cast?

 

[Dr. Fate]

Singer messed up. He thought paying homage would lead to nostalgia and lead to the return of Superman. Instead, he did not bank on fans being a bit clever and realizing that he brought Superman back with no NEW ideas.
Look at Batman Begins. As soon as Batman flipped over the card, people were already talking about the sequel. Nolan COMPLETELY flipped the script on the franchise. He not only did that, but he did it well.
Superman needs a director who is not afraid of taking a big risk and re-imagining Superman for the millenium. Kids will follow Bale's Batman over Routh ANYDAY! The Routh Superman just ain't relevant for today.

Superman needs a change and needs it NOW!

I agree.

 

[Matt]

My dream cast:

Superman/Clark Kent - Henry Cavill...is now old enough..has the height..has potencial to bulk if needed..and has proven to be a very good actor..as seen in the tudors. Man...My choice for Returns..and I think I was right. :P

Lois Lane - Evangeline Lilly Watch Lost and this photo...

Lex Luthor - Bruce Willis....Made for the part..but as a powerful tycoon...bald in a great tailored suit...super cool super badass.

Metallo or Brainiac - William Fichtner - I think this guy would be great as any of them. He has almost like an almost alien look

Jimmy Olsen - Zac Efron - looks like just a teen guy trying to get in the working world. kind of silly and sometimes says the wrong thing at the wrong time..that kind of thing.

Perry White - Harrison Ford or Dustin Hoffman...Great actor, would be great in the role.

Jor-El - James Caviezel - Big Superman fan, has the look, would be open for sequels.

What would you guys think?....other characters to cast?

I don't like that cast at all. Ford would never take the role seriously. Zack Effron, please no. As much as I love Ficher, he is no Brainiac. Plus Bruce is a bit too grunt-ish for Lex. Lex needs to be cool and sophisticated.