The Official Michael Shannon IS General Zod - Part 1

[Batspider77]

I was hoping for Viggo but Shannon is also a very good choise.

 

[ElDuderino]

I'll be honest, thats the first i've seen his his work. Very intense.
I love his voice as well. It's very deep, commanding.

Oh, man. You should watch that series just for him. He has this one creepy scene where he's whipping himself with a belt. This guy is through the roof.

He can give off an intense hatred like no other. He's absolutely perfect for Zod.

 

[Weadazoid]

Oh, man. You should watch that series just for him. He has this one creepy scene where he's whipping himself with a belt. This guy is through the roof.

He can give off an intense hatred like no other. He's absolutely perfect for Zod.

He reminds me alot of Clancy Brown....same guy who played the preacher in the HBO Carnivalle sereis.

Clancy has a bit of a deeper vocie though....always thought he would have been a perfect Darksiede.... if Darksiede was to be all GCI.


Same general odd face- strong jaw line - natural portrayal of evil - If anything Clancy is the more estabilshed older version of Shannon

 

[Nemeres]

Maybe I'm repeting other people's opnions here. Still...

Announcing Zod is the villain doesn't mean the story is going by the old formula. Batman Begins was a very nuanced story that combined characters from the lore into a cohesive narrative and perpetrated several twists in the way they were used.

Then again, I don't think this film will be like Batman Begins. After TDK, I think Nolan and Goyer have stepped into another level, and are more naturally inclined to let complexity into their stories. I think there will be surprises here. It won't be like "Zod is the villain, we'll get a couple of twists and turns and then he fights Superman, who defeats him. END."

I think they're planning a larger story here. It's the only reason they would go for Zod when they know EVERYONE wanted Brainiac. Zod is a sacrifice they're doing because (maybe) it's the one that made sense with the first part of the story they want to tell. When you plan ahead, you don't use the best part right away. Maybe we WILL have Brainiac in the film, except he won't be the guy Superman will be punching. He may be a disembodied head ...

Couldn't find the pic, sorry. I meant like that organic version in JLA Earth 2 by Morrison and Quietly.

... and will be somehow involved with Zod's liberation from the Phantom Zone, or his imprisionment therein. When Zod dies in the first film, he steps into the plate as the villain in part 2.

And Luthor would actually help Superman defeat Zod, because it's his world and if it's not his it will be nobody's. And he would be played by Mortensen, heh. Because I think it would be interesting as hell to have Luthor actually be a good guy with a good guy face until Superman arrives, which would trigger all his envy and grudge. Have the character develop throughout the trilogy and have him descend into madness.

So yeah, I hope that's what it is. I think it may be something like that.

 

[Puckenstein]

I'm on acid!

 

[Zionite]

Again Batman has had 6 movies in 20 years and they used 10 cannon villians.
Superman has had 5 movies in 30 years and they've used 2. So you can see why zod is upsetting.
Braniac and Zod,this two are closly tied to Supermans origins,WB had their Pick.Why Zod?And dont give me the crap that Branaic is too big-Hes not Darkseid.The Tas version would work on film.The Coluan version might work-heck it might not have to be the coluan version just a braniac probe acting as one.It was done in comics.Bottomline Braniac could be used in an origin film
So why Zod?The only reasons I can think of are
1. lack of faith-WB simply doesnt have enough faith to believe that a Superman movie could be populr with a lesser known villain as Braniac.Zod and luthor have been the only villains to prove their worth in the market though (that is largely because they were the only villains shown in the market).This is very sad as they had more faith in Batman allowing unknown villains to take the sportlight in BB.

2.Budget reasons.Braniac is more expensive than Zod.Wb simply doesnt have that much in Superman to throw in the budget it deserves.

After hearing shanons interview its clear to me that its not a Zod cameo.He is flat out in the movie.Sincerely hope its the Russian Zod version though thats as distinct from the Donner version you can get.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Personally, I think Shannon will do an awesome job. He fits greatly, IMO.

 

[ElDuderino]

"I think this guy (Henry Cavill) will be alright. I met him."

LOL. Ringing endorsement.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

After hearing shanons interview its clear to me that its not a Zod cameo.He is flat out in the movie.Sincerely hope its the Russian Zod version though thats as distinct from the Donner version you can get.

Not just Donner, but Zod in general. ZINO, if you will.

 

[SuperDaniel]

That was ****ed up. The video posted, I mean! Holy ****!! Shannon is going to be unbelievable in the role.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Again Batman has had 6 movies in 20 years and they used 10 cannon villians.
Superman has had 5 movies in 30 years and they've used 2. So you can see why zod is upsetting.

Batman's rogues gallery is decidedly better than Superman's. Superman really only has 4 or 5 great villains while Batman has a plethora. even Batman's 3rd tier villains are still pretty good.

Braniac and Zod,this two are closly tied to Supermans origins,WB had their Pick.Why Zod?And dont give me the crap that Branaic is too big-Hes not Darkseid.

we don't know Brainiac isn't in this movie...but i stand by my opinion that a villain like Brainiac is too big for something like Superman to handle for his first big test. it's like studying to be a dental hygienist and being handed a test meant for a dentist.

Bottomline Braniac could be used in an origin film
So why Zod?

again, we don't know that Brainiac isn't in this movie so really you're just assuming he's not. he might be, he might not be...but it's better to keep an open mind than to assume.

The only reasons I can think of are

1. lack of faith

2.Budget reasons

or...Goyer and Nolan just felt that utilizing Zod would be a great way to reintroduce Superman's origins to an audience who hasn't seen a great Superman film in over 20 years.

btw, it's spelled 'BRAINiac' not 'BRANiac'...

 

[Doctor Jones]

I hear ya, and I'd hate if we never got to see Brainiac on the big screen either, but honestly, I think this being "Superman's last shot" justifies the use of Zod. Of course WE want to see villains from the comics that haven't been used, but frankly, we don't know what the general audience wants to see in a Superman movie now. That's been a mystery to the WB in regards to Supes for the last decade or so, and they still haven't figured it out. Which WOULD make it the ideal time to gamble on an "unknown" villain...IF this weren't their one and only shot.

WB knows two things: People loved the Donner movies, but they want to see something new. So making a completely new, edgier, modern vision of Superman with a villain that still has name recognition with the general audience (and is infinitely more exciting than Lex Luthor from a visual/action standpoint) actually seems like a smart move to me. As long as it looks and sounds (this includes music!) nothing like it did before, no one will feel like they've seen it before. SR didn't get butts in seats because it didn't look or sound like anything new (because it wasn't), but rather an attempt to recreate the past. And because they didn't use the enormous technological resources Hollywood's disposal to show off what Supes can really do in this day in age (Superman fighting ~physics~ and lifting a big rock was the best they could do?). So the whole venture felt kind of pointless. Zod addresses the latter of those problems (People will remember him fighting Supes 30 years ago, and then see how insane such a superbrawl can look now). This will not be a "chick flick" like SR, but an action flick. Nolan/Snyder/Goyer's new approach to the story/character should address the former problem.

This way, their new approach isn't SO foreign that it alienates the fans whose only exposure to Supes is the Donner movies, but shows them a new vision. Basically, it lures them in things they think they know: Superman, Lois Lane, Zod, hopefully Luthor... and proceeds to blow their expectations out of the water.

THEN, if the movie's successful and people become attached to this version of Superman's world, it's safer to take chances on villains the general audience is less familiar with, because they'll just want to see a continuation of this universe, whatever it may be.

I realize this is a different strategy than Batman Begins, but it's worth noting that BB was focused on Batman's origin, which had never truly been showcased on the big screen before, so the lesser-known villains played second-fiddle to that. This movie doesn't have that advantage, so it's gonna need a better-known villain to pull more weight. And sadly, for general moviegoing audiences, that basically means either Zod or Luthor (and possibly Bizarro, but you never start a series with the hero's evil doppelganger, that's totally a 3rd-movie move, lol).

All that said, if we STILL don't get Brainiac in the sequel, I'm gonna blow s*** up.

"I could kiss your ****!"

And that video of Shannon talking about it is pretty funny. That Boardwalk Empire clip was great. We're in for something good. Like Ledger, we're getting another talented actor to play a villain who was previously played by talented actors themselves.

 

[Zack Snyder]

Like I said, much more excited for him as Zod than I would have been for Lex. I always thought when people said Viggo for Zod and Shannon for Lex it seemed reversed. Maybe in the end it will be. I'm all for Viggo as Lex, even though we have no idea what's going to happen.

 

[Zionite]

we don't know Brainiac isn't in this movie...but i stand by my opinion that a villain like Brainiac is too big for something like Superman to handle for his first big test. it's like studying to be a dental hygienist and being handed a test meant for a dentist.

Why is Braniac too big?Hes not mythology wrapped like Darkseid after all.Brainiac is only too big if not hanlded properly.

Ill explain-The TAS Braniac would fit perfectly in an origin story.I fail to why this version is too tough for superman on his first test.I after all could say the same for Zod he is a trained soldier with experience while Supeman is not.
The Coluan-scientist version of Braniac admittedly cant be in the origin film-but his robotic probes can.In fact according to the comics the each one of the probes masquerade across the galaxy as the real Braniac.They could set up the real Braniac to show up in a later sequel as he is substantially mre powerful than the probes

again, we don't know that Brainiac isn't in this movie so really you're just assuming he's not. he might be, he might not be...but it's better to keep an open mind than to assume.

Braniac could be in the movie yes.But as a physical villain alongside Zod is overdoing it thats just too much.If Braniac is in the movie,It would either be
1.as an unseen boss behind the shadows controllin zod. shows up in a sequel
2.a supercomputer used by zod.becomes main villain in sequel.

In each instance Braniac beomes the main villain of a sequel .What i wanted was for Braniac to be the villain in this movie

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Again Batman has had 6 movies in 20 years and they used 10 cannon villians.
Superman has had 5 movies in 30 years and they've used 2. So you can see why zod is upsetting.
Braniac and Zod,this two are closly tied to Supermans origins,WB had their Pick.Why Zod?And dont give me the crap that Branaic is too big-Hes not Darkseid.The Tas version would work on film.The Coluan version might work-heck it might not have to be the coluan version just a braniac probe acting as one.It was done in comics.Bottomline Braniac could be used in an origin film
So why Zod?The only reasons I can think of are
1. lack of faith-WB simply doesnt have enough faith to believe that a Superman movie could be populr with a lesser known villain as Braniac.Zod and luthor have been the only villains to prove their worth in the market though (that is largely because they were the only villains shown in the market).This is very sad as they had more faith in Batman allowing unknown villains to take the sportlight in BB.

2.Budget reasons.Braniac is more expensive than Zod.Wb simply doesnt have that much in Superman to throw in the budget it deserves.

After hearing shanons interview its clear to me that its not a Zod cameo.He is flat out in the movie.Sincerely hope its the Russian Zod version though thats as distinct from the Donner version you can get.

Basically what WB wants is a copy of the Donner Universe and the financial success of the Donner Universe without giving any credit or having any ties to the Donner universe.

Amazing people here rip SR for being unoriginal. MOS sounds like Superman I & II wrapped into 1 big film without Williams' score. LOL!!!!!

Luthor, Zod, Ursa and Non

 

[Dark Knight]

Plain and simply.

Anyone who believes Shannons version of Zod will be a carbon copy of Stamps version in a film that was released over 30 freakin years ago.....needs to have their head examined.

That's it.....end of story.

 

[Project862006]

yeah obi you are being quite delusional

i am sure nolan and goyer take on supes they brought to zack was a rehash of donner films lol

 

[Dark Knight]

Basically what WB wants is a copy of the Donner Universe and the financial success of the Donner Universe without giving any credit or having any ties to the Donner universe.

Amazing people here rip SR for being unoriginal. MOS sounds like Superman I & II wrapped into 1 big film without Williams' score. LOL!!!!!

Luthor, Zod, Ursa and Non

Nah!

Nice try though, but by just having characters that were in a freakin film over 30 years ago be in a new Superman film in 2012 in a story that was written by Chris Nolan and David Goyer....the two men who successfully rebooted the Batman franchise....does NOT equate to this new Supes film being a carbon copy replica of Superman 1 and 2.

Bad....Baaaaad take on your part.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Nah!

Nice try though, but by just having characters that were in a freakin film over 30 years ago be in a new Superman film in 2012 in a story that was written by Chris Nolan and David Goyer....the two men who successfully rebooted the Batman franchise....does NOT equate to this new Supes film being a carbon copy replica of Superman 1 and 2.

Bad....Baaaaad take on your part.

Same villians and nothing about this guy looks menacing like Terence Stamp.

The next important casting decision is who'll play Jor El & Lex. IMO Synder has struck out with Cavill and this dude playing the general. His choice for Lois was good but I'm not at all impressed with who he's cast or the villian he's using.

 

[bunk]

I would bet all of my internet points—of which there are many—that this movie will be far from a copy of STM or Superman II.

 

[Dark Knight]

Same villians and nothing about this guy looks menacing like Terence Stamp.

The next important casting decision is who'll play Jor El & Lex. IMO Synder has struck out with Cavill and this dude playing the general. His choice for Lois was good but I'm not at all impressed with who he's cast or the villian he's using.

You still didn't acknowledge your irrational view and baaaaad takes?

Bad....baaaaaaad Obi Won.

You need to be much wiser than that my young Padawan.

 

[Project862006]

cavill bad choice wow i am done with you lol

shannon not menacing lol wow i have heard everything lol

 

[DorkyFresh]

cavill bad choice wow i am done with you lol

shannon not menacing lol wow i have heard everything lol

that's what i was thinking. i thought Obi Wan was supposed to be a wise Jedi...

 

[Spider-Fan]

We'll see in time how Cavill and Shannon do. They have talent for sure, so I am not overtly worried about these aspects of the film. I echo other concerns some people have, but the acting will be fine. The cast is solid so far. This is one area Snyder is succeeding with this film, but that still doesn't mean it will be good.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

I know zippity doo da about Michael Shannon, but after watching the video of this guy talking about being cast in this movie I love him. He's so down to Earth and normal, but has an honesty and a shoot from the hip quality about him. If anyone leaks stuff about the script I wouldn't be surprised if it is him. I just see him blurting something out, and then grimacing as he realizes...'oh S*** I probably shouldn't have said that.

Interesting that he essentially confirmed that WB's is totally controlling this movie. ZS does not have carte blanche. He said ZS told them he wanted him,(Shannon) but was told by WB's that he still needed to audition.