The Official Michael Shannon IS General Zod - Part 1

[TX85]

I was looking back at the final Neo vs Smith fight scene from Matrix Revolutions,I really feel they should use that as a template for a final Superman vs Zod fight in this movie!

I thought that fight scene was awesome/cool/fun/underrated and"Epic"!,Perhaps they could top it even beyond that with this cause I sure think there's tons of potential for it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy5QeBRu3JI&feature=related

 

[Grim Goblin]

It's a year one story from the sounds of it.

 

[Project862006]

Plus, hasn't everyone made an appearance on Smallville?

not superman

 

[DorkyFresh]

i don't think they're deliberately trying to save villains for sequels. logically, if you're going to give Superman a villain to fight for his first big adventure (that isn't just Lex Luthor) Metallo and Parasite are just underwhelming and Brainiac is too much for a rookie Superman to handle. General Zod seems just the right amount of a challenge for noob Supes to handle.

You'll most likely see the suit a couple weeks before they actually start shooting with Cavill actually in the suit in order to prevent the first shot being a leaked photo. See "The Amazing Spider-Man".

ooo...that would be nice

 

[Grim Goblin]

Plus, hasn't everyone made an appearance on Smallville?

only the ones who can't sell movie tickets by themselves.

 

[KRIM]

Superman is not Batman, and it didn't work out well for the last Superman film that was only about 5 or so years ago. I don't necessarily think that Zod is a misstep, but saving villains isn't the right mentality, you might never get to use them.

I don't know what else to add that wouldn't be repeating what I've just written. I'm not talking about studio-driven, money grubbing tactics like DVD/BD double-dips. I'm not advocating the mentality of: "ok guys, we've got something really great here, but let's stretch it out so we have less work to do and more profits to take in!"

It's about the story being told and whether a villain is best utilized for it. I don't think we can get the best out of either Darkseid or Braniac in an origin movie. I do think Zod fits the mold far better because of what he provides to the table from the onset. He's a middle-ground antagonist in the same way that Ra's Al Ghul was. You're neither hatching your eggs too quickly, nor holding out on all the goods.

 

[DieSmiling]

How many of those could really stand on their own and carry a film?

Darkseid and Braniac, absolutely. But I'd rather save them for a sequel, especially if the first film is going to spend a significant amount of time developing the building blocks of Clark, Superman, and the supporting cast.

Metallo...maybe. Always thought he and Lex were a great pairing.

Everyone else? Honestly, it would have to be some sort of team-up case ala Batman Begins. And I've never found them to be as interesting.

Zod has that Kryptonian relation and his physical prowess makes him one of the more ideal big-screen baddies. He can provide the depth of a fully developed character, as well as the visual glory an epic movie needs. All by himself.

Irrespective of anyone's desire to strictly see someone new, how many of Superman's villains have that?

My all-time dream Superman film is some type of Apokolips invasion with Darkseid at the helm. Total fanboy moment.

But I think that Brainiac or Metallo could easily carry a film (most likely partnered with Lex). Doomsday or Parasite would probably work best as side villains under someone else, but they'd still be fresh.

The thing is, I'm sure they have a good script and I'm sure Zod works will with launching a movie and tying it into Supes Kryptonian past. I'm just annoyed because I really wanted Brainiac and am confident they could have accomplished the same thing with him as the villain.

 

[JMark]

This makes three of four castings that Snyder and company have nailed. Well done. I approve of Shannon's casting and think he is appropriate in both ability and looks to play a convincing General Zod. He'll do a superb job setting up the Kryptonian mythology and setting the stage for more villains to come. However, Zod being in the film is pretty much says that you can't believe anything out of Snyder's mouth until the casting/plot details are announced by the WB. I now believe Ursa is the female lead of the story, or at least will share the lead role with Martha Kent.

Couldn't disagree more with the sentiment that a Superman film needs to be "grounded in reality". Yes... if this were a Marvel film. But it is not, nor is it Batman. Superman should be larger than life and so should his villains. Kryptonian mythology has been a major stable of the comic, and an utopian Krypton and a desolute Phantom Zone are apart of that. Besides, there is nothing power-wise that Zod possesses which Superman doesn't. It's still Kryptonian powers, only with malicious intent. I also think a part of why Zod was chosen was because he's a foe that Kal doesn't have to hold back while battling. Snyder gets to do his big actions scenes now.

Those that wanted a new villain because Zod's been done before - I understand. I personally was caught off guard with Zod being one of the villains only because he was just used by "Smallville" last year. Didn't think the film franchise would go with Zod right out of the gate like this. It's a risk if it's too similar.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

They are killing this movie before it even starts!

Zod??? Again??? Enuff already!! He's been done to death! We've had him in Smallville on TV, even!!

Mongul??? Parasite??? Brainiac??? Darkseid??

This stinks!!

Look at it this way. You have quantity, but you don't necessarily have quality. Why even think about what Smallville has done already? The show's a mess and a movie can do so much more.

 

[DieSmiling]

I was looking back at the final Neo vs Smith fight scene from Matrix Revolutions,I really feel they should use that as a template for a final Superman vs Zod fight in this movie!

I thought that fight scene was awesome/cool/fun/underrated and"Epic"!,Perhaps they could top it even beyond that with this cause I sure think there's tons of potential for it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy5QeBRu3JI&feature=related

Ugh. The final fight between Neo and Smith in Revolutions is one of the lamest, most underwhelming fights in the history of movies. I don't want anything like that.

 

[roach]

not superman

oh snap...t:


ok so if they used Darkseid as the villain in MOS how do they top that? You got to ramp up to him. Even Brainiac is a bit much. So they start with Zod then got to Brainiac and then Darkseid

 

[Doc Ock]

I love Zod, so it doesn't bother me at all he will be the villain. I think it is great. I am a little upset it isn't Viggo. But I have great hope Zod is going to be fantastic, and different from the Stamp version we have seen before.

Why are people complaining that Zod has already made appearances on Smallville? I mean it's not like people are still watching that are they?

 

[DieSmiling]

oh snap...t:


ok so if they used Darkseid as the villain in MOS how do they top that? You got to ramp up to him. Even Brainiac is a bit much. So they start with Zod then got to Brainiac and then Darkseid

I don't think anybody is actually advocating Darkseid in the first movie, just pointing out the large number of rouges Supes has that have never made it to film... Which makes Zod feel... Uninspired.

 

[Mace Dolex]

I was looking back at the final Neo vs Smith fight scene from Matrix Revolutions,I really feel they should use that as a template for a final Superman vs Zod fight in this movie!

I thought that fight scene was awesome/cool/fun/underrated and"Epic"!,Perhaps they could top it even beyond that with this cause I sure think there's tons of potential for it!

Which in a way sort of was an homage to the Metropolis battle in Superman II but the fight between Neo and Smith was amped up 1000 times and with todays even more advanced CGI can work miracles.

 

[KRIM]

My all-time dream Superman film is some type of Apokolips invasion with Darkseid at the helm. Total fanboy moment.

I'm right there with you. However, due to the sheer scale of that story, it's still better placed at the tail-end of the series. Or perhaps even as an introduction to a JL movie which is on an even bigger scale.

The thing is, I'm sure they have a good script and I'm sure Zod works will with launching a movie and tying it into Supes Kryptonian past. I'm just annoyed because I really wanted Brainiac and am confident they could have accomplished the same thing with him as the villain.

Oh, I have no doubt Braniac could have been used. But I do think he's neck and neck with Lex as the perfect opposing force for Supes. So in that way, I can't help but rather have him face off a more mature and developed Supes. It's weird, but it's almost too uneven of a match-up if Supes is at the beginning of his career.

I find it exponentially more interesting to see a Kal-El that's completely one with himself, has learned from past mistakes, and experienced with worldwide threats -- to face his biggest opponent yet. One who possibly has ties to destroying his homeworld. There's simply more dramatic weight when everything has been built up to that moment.

 

[NotFadeAway]

I stand by my theory Brainiac is in this movie.

Zod will become Brainiac.

It's like the Ducard/Ras deal with Neeson in Goyer's BB script.

Or Eradicator

 

[LostSon88]

Why are people complaining that Zod has already made appearances on Smallville? I mean it's not like people are still watching that are they?

Considering its in its 10th season...i'd say yes.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Yes, and I still love Smallville. I would've prefered if they've gone with a new villian, but I don't mind Zod. He was in one movie, whereaas Lex has been in most of them and is so overused at this point.

 

[SpitCurl]

......?!

You'll most likely see the suit a couple weeks before they actually start shooting with Cavill actually in the suit in order to prevent the first shot being a leaked photo. See "The Amazing Spider-Man".

No I just meant because they keep releasing news on Sundays (Cavill, Adams, Shannon, etc...), so, it will likely be on a Sunday that we first see the suit, if the trend continues Which Sunday, I don't know.

 

[roach]

Considering its in its 10th season...i'd say yes.

yeah but we'd get a better fight scene instead of a 2 minute fight scene on a rooftop intercut with teen angst

 

[DieSmiling]

I'm right there with you. However, due to the sheer scale of that story, it's still better placed at the tail-end of the series. Or perhaps even as an introduction to a JL movie which is on an even bigger scale.

Yeah, I agree. I never wanted Darkseid for the first film, he was just one of many I mentioned to demonstrate how many of Supes rouges haven't been used yet.

Oh, I have no doubt Braniac could have been used. But I do think he's neck and neck with Lex as the perfect opposing force for Supes. So in that way, I can't help but rather have him face off a more mature and developed Supes. It's weird, but it's almost too uneven of a match-up if Supes is at the beginning of his career.

I find it exponentially more interesting to see a Kal-El that's completely one with himself, has learned from past mistakes, and experienced with worldwide threats -- to face his biggest opponent yet. One who possibly has ties to destroying his homeworld. There's simply more dramatic weight when everything has been built up to that moment.

Yeah, that's a good way to look at it.

I still think people are underestimating how badass characters like Metallo or Parasite could be, particularly against a "n00b" Supes. These characters don't have to be underwhelming -- any comic character can be as much of a lame, goofy non-challenge as they can be an epic badass with incredible sequences.

 

[The Squirrel]

What an underwhelming choice for the villain.

 

[GregComicFan]

I'm interested to see how all these reboots of superhero franchises are going to confuse general audiences. First, Spiderman is getting a reboot with a brand new cast, a rehash of the origin, and Gwen Stacy filling in for Mary Jane.... and now Superman got Superman Returns, which was basically a homage to the first Donner Superman movie... and now Man of Steel is using the same villain (General Zod) from the second original Superman movie with Christopher Reeves (Superman II) except the kid-of-superman, introduced in Superman Returns, is going to be totally (and thankfully) forgotten about.

and then we have X-Men First Class...

geeze...

None of this is bad, but I can imagine general audiences getting confused.

I like the casting of Michael Shannon. He's great!

I might be in the minority here, but I hope Lex Luthor is still in this film and they finally give him the best interpretation, which to me, is the billionaire entrepreneur....and President hopeful.

 

[kalelkilla]

I find it hard to believe they are going with Zod, but I'm still excited for the movie, it's possible that Zod is not the main villain. We shall see.

What comics do you think Nolan and Goyer are drawing from? I used to think Birthright, but now with the casting of Zod, I'm not so sure, although Zod could easily replace the villain in Birthright and/or Earth One.

I understand that it is a new story but they must be using a few good comics as a backbone.

 

[DorkyFresh]

I still think people are underestimating how badass characters like Metallo or Parasite could be, particularly against a "n00b" Supes. These characters don't have to be underwhelming -- any comic character can be as much of a lame, goofy non-challenge as they can be an epic badass with incredible sequences.

Parasite and Metallo COULD be amped to be badass, but they STILL wouldn't be a huge threat to Superman. these 2 villains are powerful, yes but they aren't as emotionally vested as Zod is. you can't delve into Kryptonian mythos or get a real emotional response from Superman if they use Parasite or Metallo the way you possibly can if they use Zod.


besides, who's to say that Metallo or Parasite WON'T make an appearance in this film as a lower tier villain similar to how they were in Secret Origin?