The Daily Planet Vol. 2: Superman News and Speculation Thread (🚨TAG SPOILERS🚨)

[donuts]

Same. I liked, but didn't love MoS.
I think a new director should have ran with the sequel. The editing was quite jarring.
From baby kals ship coming in to crash in SV, to a instantly grown Clark on a fishing trawler.
I remember thinking, did I miss something.

I actually like that particular edit, but I remember thinking the same: now get a new director (and writers) for the sequel, and make sure it improves upon the first movie.

 

[Deck Rickard]

MOS seemed to think it was a character study on Clark but simultaneously didn’t have any interest in exploring his character beyond “being different is isolating.” Why was Clark heeding north to begin with? At least in Superman ‘78, young Clark tells his mother that he feels the need to go there. MOS Clark just kinda drifts there, even though it WOULD have made sense for him to somehow feel “called” there since the scout ship was buried under the ice. But the movie never even gives any reasoning for it. It all might as well have been coincidence. And then at the end, he inexplicably gets a job at the top newspaper in the busiest city in America, despite no apparent writing experience or even an interest in journalism. Again, the explanation in Superman ‘78 isn’t all that in-depth but at least Perry provides some insight on why he hired him. And don’t even get me started on Superman’s indifference to the destruction in Metropolis and Smallville (much of which HE caused). That movie was such a missed opportunity.

 

[Gu3ree]

SR had potential. It had some really good scenes, the plane and yacht saves were great, as was the Lois and superman flying scene.
Unfortunately singer that it was cool for superman to have a son, a son he didn't know he had.
And he portrayed superman as a stalking peeping Tom, whether intentional or not that's the way it came off.

Also using a sinister, but goofy, lex again was a miss.
Throw in no supervillain for superman to fight, and it was doomed.

I still believe Routh as superman with a different director would have gotten a sequel(s)

But that's something we can never know for sure on.

Agreed. Regardless of Singer's reputation, as Brandon Routh put it in an interview on Michael Rosenbaum's Inside of You podcast, Routh said Singer is a "genius filmmaker". I can agree. I always liked Singer's visuals, his way of introducing the characters, and other elements, and I generally liked his X-Men movies, except for "Apocalypse". Superman Returns however was a massive disappointment. The problem with Singer is his gd arrogance. He is so incompetent. Singer refused to use or read comic books for Superman, not even knowing or being familiar with the canon in modern comics at the time. He really wasn't caught up in a world where Superman had become largely unpopular with modern audiences, and that, to me, was critical in bringing Superman back to the big screen, but Singer only decided to use the Donner movies as his original source material, and use...a kryptonite mountain as the main villain...

Coming from a guy who directed X-Men with fighting and action sequences, I expected to see Superman fight a super-powered villain. I mean given that it was a sequel to Superman II, why didn't he? I just could not get over how he really thought going from Luthor to Zod...to a kryptonite mountain!??!?!-was a good idea. I never felt more embarrassed as a Superman fan in my life. Singer's film just proved kids of the 1990's and 2000's their point, that Superman is lame. Tragically I would say, those kids all looked forward to Spider-Man 3. Spider-Man 3 may be a messy film, yet it was still way more interesting than Superman Returns. Superman Returns was boring and the plot was embarrassingly simple.

I will say that I did love the first act of the movie, and have to admit, Singer really does deliver with visuals, as well as character intros. I loved that Singer used the traditional-but updated opening credits in space and paying homages to the Donner films-I loved all of that. I loved how Lex Luthor was introduced. I loved Singer's transitions showing the God-like angel touching what looked like the sun...or it was Zeus if I remember--then showing the camera traveling journey all the way to the Fortress of Solitude with Marlon Brando with a great score by John Ottman-all visually impressive and an exciting start to the film. Then enter Martha Kent, Kal-El comes back to Earth. Nice flashback scene. Everything transitioning back from the Daily Planet office to Lex Luthor's train set to Superman's airplane rescue-great sequence was a great build-up...and for me, the film was all living up to the hype up until...that scene where Clark and Lois are on the crowded elevator at the Daily Planet. Gradually, it started to become clear that this wasn't the film I thought that most of us thought it was going to be. We wouldn't see any super-powered villain, and Lex Luthor was just a crook, and not the CEO version. They didn't have scenes until near the end of the movie and Routh has just two lines. The rest of it was dark as well as depressing, and you already mentioned all the stalker moments.

I'll admit that in between, I did enjoy the Luthor interrogation scene with Lois and Jason. Luthor was hilarious. Even though it's slightly creepy now because of Kevin Spacey but the scene was very well-written and clever. Clearly, Singer was a die hard fan of the original movies. But everything else about the movie was so disappointing. Superman didn't have much of an arc or plot for himself. Just with Lois. There was action in the movie, but I expected Superman to have a challenge and have dialogue. I really hated the E.T. hospital sequence. It wasn't a good enough movie to deserve that hospital sequence. I don't know if I could say it like that, but the whole sequence felt like a kid's movie. It was cringe.

I had no problem with the film paying homage to the Donner films which some people saw as the main problem. The problem for me wasn't that. It was that the film didn't stand out on its own or have a good plot or action sequences (not just Superman saving people and catching things).

I remember months after the film had been out and when a sequel was announced, Singer was interviewed and asked if there would be more action and fights in the sequel, and he said, "Same story! But visual effects as well." Really incompetent. I asked myself, "Did he not see all the critics and negative reviews by so many people?"

While I enjoyed Singer's X-Men movies significantly better, I heard Singer considered using Cable from the comics, but originally intended on killing him off-to which a crew member on set told him, "You can't do that" to which he said, "Yes, I can. I can do what I want." It took some time and effort apparently to persuade Singer not to and to realize how popular the character was, so he decided not to which was good. The Psylocke actress also stated how incompetent Singer was and how he didn't even know his characters to which many of the actors trained so hard for, and researched their character. And of course Singer had his infamous rule about no comic books on set.

 

[GreenKToo]

He tried to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah I remember reading an interview with Singer about 6 months before SR came out and he was clearly so smug and impressed with himself and his “brilliant” idea for a Superman movie. He was playing coy with his answers so as to not give away plot points but he clearly thought he’d made the best superhero movie ever and there was no way anyone would criticize any of his decisions. And look, I can’t fault him for having confidence in his project but I just got the impression that no one ever questioned anything he said or did during the production. And that’s how you end up casting a lead actor in a $200 million movie because you thought it was so adorable that he spilled coffee on himself and NOT because he had any ability to act at that point.

 

[dhandler01]

I am sorry but Superman Returns is twice the film as Spiderman 3. Spiderman 3 straight up sucks and outside of the "Dark Peter Parker" part being ironically funny...nothing about that film is appealing in the least bit.

Superman Returns is a mediocre film but Spiderman 3 is a flipping joke. At least it wasn't X-Men 3 though which we were treated to an unfinished cut when we saw it opening night because apparently Fox didn't even care.

 

[Nemeres]

SR had potential. It had some really good scenes, the plane and yacht saves were great, as was the Lois and superman flying scene.

I agree. The big criticism is that it revived the Donner era rather than do a new thing, but that was not a problem necessarily. The idea of Superman disappearing for 5 years for a noble reason, returning and finding out Lois/the world moved on was legit interesting. It could have been good, and it was not the nostagic Reeve take that prevented that.

As for the action bits, there's a quote in Roger Ebert's review that sums it up great: "even the special effects seem dutiful instead of exhilarating." The plane rescue is brilliant, but the island and yacht scenes feel a bit dead in comparison. You have the super detailed island with all the rock spikes and water cascading down beautifully, but I remember thinking: This looks huge and expensive, but none of it comes close to Spider-Man 2's train scene.

 

[Nemeres]

And look, I can’t fault him for having confidence in his project but I just got the impression that no one ever questioned anything he said or did during the production.

To be fair, Singer swooping in and saving Superman from Brett Ratner, McG and Jon Peters did feel like the 2nd coming of Baby Jesus at the time. He must've spent 2 years being told that repeatedly.

 

[Deck Rickard]

To be fair, Singer swooping in and saving Superman from Brett Ratner, McG and Jon Peters did feel like the 2nd coming of Baby Jesus at the time. He must've spent 2 years being told that repeatedly.

True. Weird how Ratner ended up directing X3 (which also sucked). Maybe the lesson is to keep sex pest directors away from these movies.

 

[Mysteryman]

Could you guys see Ritchson as Batman in the DCU. He seems to want the role and with his work with WB in the past I could see him on the short list. I just don’t see him as a Kevin Conroy type of Batman that I suspect Gunn would want. Age wise and size wise I think Ritchson would look great.

I bet the Batman candidates will have to do lines reads with David. Would love to be a fly on the wall for that.

NOPE!

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Mysteryman]

I won't be sugarcoating this Superman film. It will either be a hit or miss.
Everything points to a hit, but BvS looked great in the trailers also.

The first trailer to BVS looked good. Not so sure about the others.

 

[Primal Slayer]

​

He’s a married dad​

Corenswet and his partner, Primal Slayer — who first crossed paths when they were teens in the same Pennsylvania summer theater program — wed in 2023 after a “slow burn” romance, he says. They welcomed a child right around the time he began filming Superman in early 2024. He recalls the excitement and uncertainty of having “two big unknown things at the same time. And they were both great things.”

He shares similarities with late Superman star Christopher Reeve​

Corenswet and Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in four films beginning in 1978, both attended the prestigious Juilliard performing arts school and have roots in theater. (Corenswet got his start in local productions when he was a boy.) The actor remembers discussing Reeve (who was also the same height) with reverence when he was at Juilliard: “He was somebody who we talked about quite a lot as an alumni who was to be sort of admired and looked up to.”

He likes to fly, but he’s not a fan of travel​

Like Superman himself, Corenswet enjoys taking to the sky. “That’s sort of my most interesting hobby,” he says of aviation. His ideal day off includes either “real flying” or getting time time in the flight simulator he has at home. But airport travel? Not his thing. “I get stressed by just the logistics,” he says. “Once I’m on the plane I’m fine, but getting there on time and everything being on time — that stresses me out.”

Meet 'Superman' Star David Corenswet, a Humble Married Dad Who Tells ‘Terrible’ Jokes and Likes DIY Projects (Exclusive)

Meet the new Man of Steel! David Corenswet, who stars in this summer's 'Superman,' is a humble married dad from Philadelphia who tells 'terrible' jokes and likes taking care of DIY projects around the house.

people.com

 

[Superark]

I have a feeling David is going to be the next big thing in Hollywood.

Completely humble, relatable, and charisma for days.

 

[DarkKnight88]

She consented, but then he took it away by making her forget... Let's just say post-Donner Superman is problematic.

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

 

[dhandler01]

The first trailer to BVS looked good. Not so sure about the others.

Yeah as it got closer they got really wonky. The one with the Trinity in the fire looked awful.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

The one with our first big reveal of Eisenberg as Lex and the LOTR Troll looking Doomsday was the biggest red flag for me that BvS is probably not going to be very good.

 

[dhandler01]

View attachment 138965​

He’s a married dad​

Corenswet and his partner, Primal Slayer — who first crossed paths when they were teens in the same Pennsylvania summer theater program — wed in 2023 after a “slow burn” romance, he says. They welcomed a child right around the time he began filming Superman in early 2024. He recalls the excitement and uncertainty of having “two big unknown things at the same time. And they were both great things.”

He shares similarities with late Superman star Christopher Reeve​

Corenswet and Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in four films beginning in 1978, both attended the prestigious Juilliard performing arts school and have roots in theater. (Corenswet got his start in local productions when he was a boy.) The actor remembers discussing Reeve (who was also the same height) with reverence when he was at Juilliard: “He was somebody who we talked about quite a lot as an alumni who was to be sort of admired and looked up to.”

He likes to fly, but he’s not a fan of travel​

Like Superman himself, Corenswet enjoys taking to the sky. “That’s sort of my most interesting hobby,” he says of aviation. His ideal day off includes either “real flying” or getting time time in the flight simulator he has at home. But airport travel? Not his thing. “I get stressed by just the logistics,” he says. “Once I’m on the plane I’m fine, but getting there on time and everything being on time — that stresses me out.”

Meet 'Superman' Star David Corenswet, a Humble Married Dad Who Tells ‘Terrible’ Jokes and Likes DIY Projects (Exclusive)

Meet the new Man of Steel! David Corenswet, who stars in this summer's 'Superman,' is a humble married dad from Philadelphia who tells 'terrible' jokes and likes taking care of DIY projects around the house.

people.com

 

[DCDAVE]

I won't be sugarcoating this Superman film. It will either be a hit or miss.
Everything points to a hit, but BvS looked great in the trailers also.

I get the impression Superman will be a popcorn 4 quadrant movie for the summer family crowd. The positives will be Superman seems to enjoy being Superman, Clark and Lois chemistry, Luther will actually be a threat, and the action will be non stop. Krypto will be a big hit for most of the general audience but will put off some of the serious comic people. The criticism will be with the CGI and the films humor. I expect the movie will have the same reaction as the trailers had. I don’t see Gunn throwing any curveballs.

 

[Deck Rickard]

The one with our first big reveal of Eisenberg as Lex and the LOTR Troll looking Doomsday was the biggest red flag for me that BvS is probably not going to be very good.

Yep. The teaser wasn’t good either but that trailer was the moment we all knew we were in trouble. Still amazing that the Cave Troll in Fellowship looked so much better despite the movie coming out more than a decade earlier.