The Official Michael Shannon IS General Zod - Part 2

[manofsteel4life]

September 27, 2011: Michael Shannon Talks Zod and "Man of Steel" Script
BlackBookMag.com has published an interview with actor Michael Shannon, where he talks about the "Man of Steel" script and compares his character in "Boardwalk Empire" to how he's approaching Zod.
For something like Man of Steel, if that script was mediocre, would you have still done it just because it's Superman?
I would still want the script to be ready to go. One of the main things on that is that Chris Nolan and David Goyer were in there writing the script, and those guys know what they're doing. It can't just be because it's Superman. There's no promises anybody's going to automatically love the movie just because it's Superman. There still has to be quality in all aspects of it. And yeah, I felt very confident making the decision to be involved because of the script, and because of Zach's work as well.

How do you go from playing someone like Donnie who's so grounded in reality to someone like General Zod who's obviously a complete fabrication? Is it the same kind of approach as an actor?

Yeah, because it ultimately comes down to the imagination. Even if you're playing a real person or someone from a walk of life you may be able to identify with, there's always an aspect that's left up to the imagination. Like I was saying earlier with a lot of things that Donnie's done that I've never done. I've never robbed a crack house, I've never even picked up a hitchhiker, and I've also never had a conversion experience, or shot up heroin. But even though those things are grounded in Earth reality, it doesn't mean that I necessarily have all the information without using my imagination.

The more Shannon talks about this movie the more I get excited...

 

[terry78]

Shannon is very method. I'm waiting to see how his Zod acts.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

I don't think there's anything to worry about with the script. I think one major thing is how NONE of the actors involved have ever done a superhero movie (unless i'm mistaken). That seems pretty significant to me. I guess the closest you could get is Fishburne with the Matrix.

 

[manofsteel4life]

I don't think there's anything to worry about with the script. I think one major thing is how NONE of the actors involved have ever done a superhero movie (unless i'm mistaken). That seems pretty significant to me. I guess the closest you could get is Fishburne with the Matrix.

Could be a good thing

 

[HighFivingMF]

I don't think there's anything to worry about with the script. I think one major thing is how NONE of the actors involved have ever done a superhero movie (unless i'm mistaken). That seems pretty significant to me. I guess the closest you could get is Fishburne with the Matrix.

Laurence Fishburne voiced Silver Surfer in FF2.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

Laurence Fishburne voiced Silver Surfer in FF2.

Oh yeah, forgot all about that.

 

[Superman_200]

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/09/30/man-of-steel-michael-shannon-amazed-by-alien-world-sets/

Michael Shannon is known for playing intense characters, including a dogged but unstable federal agent on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and a mentally ill mathematician in the 2008 film “Revolutionary Road.” But those could pale in comparison to his upcoming role as General Zod in the Zack Snyder-directed Superman adventure “Man of Steel.” During a recent interview with Hero Complex contributor Oliver Gettell to promote his new film “Take Shelter,” opening Friday, the actor hinted that “Man of Steel” will be a truly cosmic adventure.
OG: What can you tell us about the scale of “Man of Steel”?

MS: It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done. It’s massive sets. It’s literally another world. It’s the first time I’ve acted on another planet.
OG: What is it like acting on a set like that?
MS: As much green screen as there is and I’m sure will be, they’re actually building a lot of the sets as well. I had thought it was just going to be green screens everywhere and we would just be pretending everything. There’s quite a bit of detail they’re building and putting into it. It’s very helpful. The less green screen, the better — I don’t think you’d be able to find an actor on Earth who wouldn’t have that sentiment.



OG: What drew you to the film?
MS: This is one of the biggest stories of all time: the Superman story. Its prevalence is enormous. And I remember watching the original films — the [Richard] Donner films, and Terence Stamp in the role [of Zod], and the three Kryptonians — it scared the crap out of me. It really left an impression on me. Someone asking me to follow in those footsteps seemed like the highest kind of challenge you could have as an actor. And I always like to be challenged.
OG: What can you say about the character of General Zod?
MS: He’s not one of these archetypal villains with horns coming out of his head and breathing fire or something. He’s a man, a Kryptonian man. He’s a general, that’s his main attribute. That’s the way I approach it: playing a general. I’ve done military parts before, but I’ve only been up to sergeant, so this is a big promotion.

 

[Unclebelvis]

I think Cavill will do a great job. Along with Adams and the rest of the cast. But I am by far most looking forward to Shannon's Zod. I didn't even want Zod as the main bad guy, but I am so excited to see what he does with it.

He is an absolutely incredible actor and I think his Zod will end up being on par with Ledger's Joker.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

I definitely think half of the film will be on Shannon... after how lackluster GL was, I've come to believe the truth of "A hero is only as good as his villain." No matter how great Cavill is as Superman, we NEED an awesome villain. I'm confident in the entire cast, I love hearing what Shannon thinks of his role.

 

[KingKane88]

Actor Michael Shannon Discusses Fanboys and His Prep For General Zod In Zack Snyder's Man Of Steel


Michael Shannon is all thumbs-up for fans camping out in bushes and snapping set photos. Plus what he's reading to prepare for his role.




The 37-year old Oscar nominated actor recently sat down with the Toronto Sun to discuss a bevy of items; chief amongst them being his role as General Zod in Man of Steel:

On director Zack Snyder:

Shannon says director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) "makes it a lot of fun. He runs a real loose set no matter how much pressure he might be feeling because of the budget and the expectations ... It's a lot of pressure. People have a lot of expectations."
​

On fanboys and set photo leaks:

"The thing I've learned about the fanboys is that they don't wait for you to be prepared for anything. They're already in the bushes, snapping photos of us and putting them online and dissecting the whole thing. But I think that kind of enthusiasm is great. It's better than nobody caring. You put all that work into something and everybody yawns or nobody bothers to come to the theatre -- that would be a lot more difficult to deal with."
​

On what he's reading to prepare for the role of General Zod:

"I'm reading Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs. I'm reading those, trying to see what it's like to wake up everyday in those shoes," he says of the Civil War general and 18th U.S. president.

"For me, (Zod) is a very complex character. He doesn't have horns coming out of his head; he's not breathing fire. He's a citizen of a different civilization. He's from another planet. That's a lot to wrap my head around. And he's a general too. I've done a lot of military-themed work, but I've never been higher than a sergeant, so it's quite a promotion."







​

 

[Lobo]

Those responses just make me like Shannon even more.

 

[The Morningstar]

Great interviews. Particularly happy that they are constructing real sets for Krpyton. That's one of the things I hated about Green Lantern. Oa was just all green screen. There was no sense of depth. You can't beat real constructed environments.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

Shannon sounds awesome.

 

[manofsteel4life]

He does, doesnt he?

 

[That person]

Oh yeah, forgot all about that.

As well you should.

 

[elgaz]

I walked in earlier and my brother was watching Boardwalk Empire, which I've never seen. Sat and watched it for a half hour, with many scenes featuring Michael Shannon. He's a little creepy in this, but definitely came across as very disciplined and dangerous in the scenes I saw, both of which will be very good qualities for Zod. I've never seen the guy on screen before, so I'm now really looking forward to seeing what he does with the role.

 

[Willi Berg]

Michael Shannon was interviewed for the Chicago Sun-Times and of course people are wondering if what he says may give something about the movie away (though it's very general, so to speak) :

“Man of Steel” is a dream — and gives him some pause. “Doing a Superman film is a lot of pressure,” he says. “People love this story. It’s already very obvious that there are a lot of people keeping an eye on us.

“People on the Internet are already discussing various aspects of the movie even though we’re not even finished filming it yet.”

On the set, he says, “It’s a fun film to work on. You get to use your imagination a lot. It’s like being a little kid playing around in outer space.”

He’s emphasizing the military side of General Zod. “I’m trying not to affect an attitude in him,” he says. “I see him as someone who is very goal-orientated. After all, he’s a general. He has strategies.”

Russell Crowe is Jor-El, the role played by Marlon Brando in 1978.

“Russell’s a very nice guy,” Shannon says. “We’ve hung out between takes in Vancouver and go out for dinner. We even go to the gym together, which is funny. It’s the guy trying to save his planet and the guy trying to destroy it.”

Speaking of destroying something . . . “Russell is putting me through his exercise routines,” moans Shannon. “Let’s just say he’s a great fitness coach.”

Chicago Sun-Time via Superman Homepage:

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=10404

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/8146845-421/michael-shannon-plays-prize-rolls-from-general-zod-to-reclusive-fed.html

 

[Willi Berg]

Michael Shannon's movie "Take Shelter" trailer:

[YT]I5U4TtYpKIc[/YT]

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

A lot of the talk is Shannon will get a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

 

[Superman2007]

On what he's reading to prepare for the role of General Zod:

"I'm reading Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs. I'm reading those, trying to see what it's like to wake up everyday in those shoes," he says of the Civil War general and 18th U.S. president.

"For me, (Zod) is a very complex character. He doesn't have horns coming out of his head; he's not breathing fire. He's a citizen of a different civilization. He's from another planet. That's a lot to wrap my head around. And he's a general too. I've done a lot of military-themed work, but I've never been higher than a sergeant, so it's quite a promotion."



​

Really impressed by Shannon's commitment and devotion to this role. What other actor would take this role so seriously that they would read historical texts to understand the character(besides Ledger)?

This is a farcry from the Spacey's approach to Lex.

 

[G-Maurice]

For anyone interested, Michael Shannon is currently on a UK tv show called Soccer AM.

Very little has been said about Man Of Steel. They've made a few jokes about Superman II, asking if he'll be wearing the Stamp constume etc.

All he's really said about it is that it'll be very different to Superman II (no glass phantom zone ) and that he found it a little intimidating stepping to to Stamp's shoes.

He seems really down to earth. Normally when American actors come on this show they have no clue what is happening, very strange humour, but he seems to get it.

He's discussed his latest movie, they showed the trailer and talked briefly about Broadwalk Empire. I can't see them talking about anything else worthwhile with him on this show, he'll just have to be prepared to have a laugh and not take it too seriously!

I'm guessing he'll be on a few more UK shows over the coming days so i'll keep my eyes open.

 

[Willi Berg]

Superman Homepage reported on the tv interview. Good to hear Shannon mention that there will be a Phantom Zone and that it will be different:

October 22, 2011: Michael Shannon Talks "Man of Steel"

Micheal Shannon appeared on the UK TV show "Soccer AM" on Saturday morning, and spoke about his role as Zod in the up-coming film "Man of Steel".

Shannon spoke about the difference between this version and the Christopher Reeve films and how the Phantom Zone would "will look very different this time round". He also mentioned certain super powers such as freeze breath, heat-vision and flight.

Thanks to Steven Morse and Marc Gibson for reporting this information.

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=10444

 

[Willi Berg]

Here is the interview:

http://www.socceram.com/media/video/0,21631,12612_7258259,00.html

 

[BH/HHH]

Here is the interview:

http://www.socceram.com/media/video/0,21631,12612_7258259,00.html

Good find

I'm gutted I missed it but I don't tend to watch Soccer AM anymore.

Thats the nost normal I've ever seen him, was a funny little interview.

 

[terry78]

Shannon strikes me as the way Nicholson was back in his younger days.