The Official Michael Shannon IS General Zod - Part 1

[Spider-Fan]

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.

That doesn't mean Snyder is not in control of the story or overall production. That just means WB wants in on the casting. Marvel did the same thing in their casting processes. Doesn't mean that Snyder is a gun for hire. Nolan has said many times this is Snyder's show, and he is the producer of the film.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

That doesn't mean Snyder is not in control of the story or overall production. That just means WB wants in on the casting. Marvel did the same thing in their casting processes. Doesn't mean that Snyder is a gun for hire. Nolan has said many times this is Snyder's show, and he is the producer of the film.

Yeah, just like WB's will have the 'over all' say if Williams theme is used or not used. It won't be soley ZS's decision. Maybe if SP had done 200-250 domestically he'd have a lot more say, but his last two films have pretty much flopped. That might make the suits running big movie studios like WB's very nervous or at least cautious.

 

[DorkyFresh]

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.

i have no doubt that WB's got ZS on a leash, but i wouldn't say they're TOTALLY controlling the movie. there is a process you must go through in order to get a job. just because you've been nominated for an Oscar and/or the director likes you as a person doesn't mean you're automatically going to get the job. even Amy Adams, who was nominated 3 times, had to do a reading with Cavill.

 

[BigA]

Playing around a bit to see how Shannon would look with a goatee.

 

[Sebastos]

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.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Yeah, just like WB's will have the 'over all' say if Williams theme is used or not used. It won't be soley ZS's decision. Maybe if SP had done 200-250 domestically he'd have a lot more say, but his last two films have pretty much flopped. That might make the suits running big movie studios like WB's very nervous or at least cautious.

That is probably true. But, how can WB think they're better deciders when THEY gave him the money for Sucker Punch? I am not a huge Snyder fan, but WB obviously is not much smarter than the filmmakers when THEY give them the money.

 

[Motown Marvel]

the studios and the moneybags always have complete control of the movie at the end of the day. how much control they give up to the director is up to them. its a give-take relationship that requires compromises from everyone involved.

 

[DorkyFresh]

appropriate image poster strikes again! hehe

Playing around a bit to see how Shannon would look with a goatee.

most of us have already expressed that we'd rather see him without one. some people look good with facial hair....he's not one of them, hehe. not only that but if covers up his uber-Kryptonian chin!

 

[DorkyFresh]

the studios and the moneybags always have complete control of the movie at the end of the day. how much control they give up to the director is up to them.

COMPLETE control, to me, is if they're specifically telling Snyder that he has to cast a certain actor even if he doesn't agree. Snyder wanted Shannon, but WB said he has to audition first (just like everyone else). so i wouldn't say WB has COMPLETE control, but they certainly have the FINAL WORD.

 

[moviedoors]

That is probably true. But, how can WB think they're better deciders when THEY gave him the money for Sucker Punch? I am not a huge Snyder fan, but WB obviously is not much smarter than the filmmakers when THEY give them the money.

Well, it's not like WB knew it was gonna tank. No studio spends that kind of money on a project they think is going to fail. Despite what that everyone on the internet seems to think, there is no magic formula to box office magic. Personally, I like that WB is willing to gamble. There's enough playing-it-safe to go around in Hollywood.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Well, it's not like WB knew it was gonna tank. No studio spends that kind of money on a project they think is going to fail. Despite what that everyone on the internet seems to think, there is no magic formula to box office magic. Personally, I like that WB is willing to gamble. There's enough playing-it-safe to go around in Hollywood.

I agree, but if WB does in fact take the puppet director route, how is that not playing it safe?

Once again, I don't like Snyder much as a director. But, he is the director and I'd rather he make the film he wants than get cookie cutter studio crap.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

That is probably true. But, how can WB think they're better deciders when THEY gave him the money for Sucker Punch? I am not a huge Snyder fan, but WB obviously is not much smarter than the filmmakers when THEY give them the money.

I'm not saying that they are 'better deciders' but for better or worse they are in the position of being able to call the shots.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

COMPLETE control, to me, is if they're specifically telling Snyder that he has to cast a certain actor even if he doesn't agree. Snyder wanted Shannon, but WB said he has to audition first (just like everyone else). so i wouldn't say WB has COMPLETE control, but they certainly have the FINAL WORD.

I see what you are saying, and I agree. The Final Word is probably a better way to describe WB's relationship with ZS rather than Total control.

 

[Motown Marvel]

COMPLETE control, to me, is if they're specifically telling Snyder that he has to cast a certain actor even if he doesn't agree. Snyder wanted Shannon, but WB said he has to audition first (just like everyone else). so i wouldn't say WB has COMPLETE control, but they certainly have the FINAL WORD.

the studio always has the final word no matter the director. this isnt anything unique.

I agree, but if WB does in fact take the puppet director route, how is that not playing it safe?

Once again, I don't like Snyder much as a director. But, he is the director and I'd rather he make the film he wants than get cookie cutter studio crap.

why do you discredit WB just because they did sucker punch? why not credit them due to all the good movies they've done?

with a major studio involved (or even an indie studio) you are never going to get a movie without studio intervention. but thats not necessarily a bad thing. just because a studio has a demand doesnt make the demands bad.

if im giving a director 200 million dollars for a major blockbuster movie that NEEDS to be a success, damn right im gonna want a screentest of everyone involved. i dont care if its daniel day lewis or robert deniro or who ever.

 

[Spider-Fan]

with a major studio involved (or even an indie studio) you are never going to get a movie without studio intervention. but thats not necessarily a bad thing. just because a studio has a demand doesnt make the demands bad.

I'm not discrediting them for Sucker Punch. I'm just saying you get what you pay for, and Sucker Punch was EXACTLY what they paid for. Yes, many times what they do works, but Sucker Punch's failure at the BO is not any 1 person's fault. That's my point.

 

[Sam]

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.

Didn't you say that lost complete interest about Superman movie, after the news of Zod?

So, if you are not interest and wont go to see it, why keep being an a$$?

Just to play a supreme troll role?

 

[moviedoors]

Yeah, it's business as usual for WB to be hands-on with Superman. For godsake's, it's Superman! It's one of their most valuable properties. There not just gonna hand it over to somebody, put 200 million + dollars into, and go "well, I hope it comes back good!" Their stake is not in pleasing a niche audience of fanboys, it's to hit a wide audience and make their money back.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Yeah, it's business as usual for WB to be hands-on with Superman. For godsake's, it's Superman! It's one of their most valuable properties. There not just gonna hand it over to somebody, put 200 million + dollars into, and go "well, I hope it comes back good!" Their stake is not in pleasing a niche audience of fanboys, it's to hit a wide audience and make their money back.

And this is always a dangerous game, especially with comic films. You can see when a comic film gives someone more or less control, and when studios don't give the director a lot of control with these films, it usually leads to mediocre or bad films. Some turn out good, but none really ever great. If Man of Steel is going to be anything worthy of a DC comics film brand they want to build like Nolan's Batman films, Man of Steel needs less of their hands in the cookie jar. History shows us what happens.

 

[flickchick85]

"I could kiss your ****!"

Haha, thanks Doc. Right back at ya!

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.

Oh yeah, Shannon's really brilliant. Here's another good clip from Boardwalk Empire:



EDIT: I just realized that's the same clip ScreenRant used in their article that was posted here, but in case anyone missed it, I'll leave it here.

I was also about to post my favorite scene from Revolutionary Road, but then I remembered all the cursing that goes on in it. Still, if anyone hasn't seen it, I highly recommend doing a YouTube search for "Michael Shannon Revolutionary Road" and clicking the first scene that comes up. It's a doozy.

 

[DorkyFresh]

i honestly don't think the studio heads are interfering too much with the creative process. they just want to make sure things are going well and according to planned, hence why they made ZS audition Michael Shannon before they gave him the 'OK'.

regardless, let's move on from this topic before it takes over the thread that's meant for Zod and Michael Shannon.

 

[moviedoors]

And this is always a dangerous game, especially with comic films. You can see when a comic film gives someone more or less control, and when studios don't give the director a lot of control with these films, it usually leads to mediocre or bad films. Some turn out good, but none really ever great. If Man of Steel is going to be anything worthy of a DC comics film brand they want to build like Nolan's Batman films, Man of Steel needs less of their hands in the cookie jar. History shows us what happens.

I doubt there's ever been a superhero movie made that didn't have some hands involved from the studio, including The Dark Knight. When you're talking about huge properties and budgets above 100 million dollars, there's no so thing as no-studio-hands-in-the-cookie-jar. It just doesn't happen that way.

In terms of the massive Hollywood players, WB has one of the best track records for being less hands on and for taking risks.

 

[Motown Marvel]

I'm not discrediting them for Sucker Punch. I'm just saying you get what you pay for, and Sucker Punch was EXACTLY what they paid for. Yes, many times what they do works, but Sucker Punch's failure at the BO is not any 1 person's fault. That's my point.

they paid for what they thought would be a successful movie. didnt work out. it happens.

either way, what does any of this have to do with snyder being a puppet director?

 

[Doctor Jones]

Haha, thanks Doc. Right back at ya!

Oh yeah, Shannon's really brilliant. Here's another good clip from Boardwalk Empire:



EDIT: I just realized that's the same clip ScreenRant used in their article that was posted here, but in case anyone missed it, I'll leave it here.

I was also about to post my favorite scene from Revolutionary Road, but then I remembered all the cursing that goes on in it. Still, if anyone hasn't seen it, I highly recommend doing a YouTube search for "Michael Shannon Revolutionary Road" and clicking the first scene that comes up. It's a doozy.

Arrested Development quotes never fail.

But damn, that ***** slap! That is how you slap. He made it look terrifying.

He's going to make a great Zod. If he acts like this and applies that to whatever is one the page (and hopefully it's quality) then he can be one of the best villains in a comic book film. He definitely has that in him.

 

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