Tom Welling as Superman

[AgentPat]

I absolutely LOVE this shot. It was such an amazing scene, and his expression really sells the moment...

I wonder when (if?) they will start to sneak in the spit curl during scenes like these?

 

[The Caped Knight]

I absolutely LOVE this shot. It was such an amazing scene, and his expression really sells the moment...

I wonder when (if?) they will start to sneak in the spit curl during scenes like these?

The scene was Amazing .

I think The S curl will take form in Season 6 . At Least I hope So,

 

[avidreader]

I absolutely LOVE this shot. It was such an amazing scene, and his expression really sells the moment...

I wonder when (if?) they will start to sneak in the spit curl during scenes like these?

I think it would be really interesting if Lana was sent this still.

 

[TKodami]

I'm with you AgentPat--that is an amazing shot! Definitely one of the most Supermanly pics of TW from the show. In fact, I think I'll go watch Cyborg again right now.

 

[Kaboom]

just looking at the picture i hear "your secret is safe with me kal-el"

someone in another thread brought up the possibility that lionel is already dead, and this lionel is J'Onn J'Onzz.....i think that would totaly rock and would be a great move for the show, but i dont think its true bc i doubt their going to get rid of another regular that fast. but if they want to clear up Special effects budget i think it would be super cool if in the finale as Zod, the kryptonians, and braniac are beating the tar out of clark, Lionel shows up, and basically hands them all their collective butts.

"How did you do that," Clark asks.
"I've been blessed with te ability to appear to be who i have to be," Lionel says.
"What does that mean," Clark asks.
"I've been protecting you for a while now. But it i stime for you to take take the next step in your journey. There is no one on this planet who can do the things you do clark. nobody except me."
"Are you kryptonian," Clark asks before it goes to complete silence, as the frame cuts to clarks reaction. he is in complete shock.
"What are you," clarks asks in utter disbelief.


*300th post......i hope this was a good one.....do i get an avater now?*

 

[PeteVenkman]

Kaboom, that would be sweet on levels i can't even fathom. lol. I can even picture Lionel morphing into something similar to J'on's natural martian look on JLU. If they wanted to make it look good, an episode like that would certainly blow the financial budget. It would still be something amazing to see. It would be a great side story to season 6, with clark ever so often conversing with... well they'd probably make John a Metropolis detective.

I'm really hoping that at some point during the middle of the last season Clark actually decides what that he's going to be Superman, and they show Martha creating the suit, and coaching clark on how to make himself seem not so super-y, over the course of the rest of the season. We may not see him in action in costume till the last episode, but it would be cool to see the suit in various stages of construction in the final few episodes.

 

[Zorex]

That'd be great, Pete. I'd absolutely love to see Martha giving Clark some pointers about changing the way he appears to carry himself. Not necessarily see him suddenly go into full on invisible, dorky Clark, but see Martha start that going and see Clark working with it over time, beginning to use it at various times and beginning to see the benefits of it.

And, of course, at least A scene involving Martha and some certain red, blue and yellow clothes . . .

 

[user123456789]

I think it would be really interesting if Lana was sent this still.

my thoughts exactly.

and IMO, the S-curl is exclusive to superman, not clark kent

 

[PeteVenkman]

Yeah, i don't think going right into blumbling dork Clark is the way to go. As much as some people dislike Birthright I loved the issue where Martha helps Clark seem more normal and able to blend in, just by addressing things like his hair, posture, clothing choices, and voice. The whole thing happened on two pages and it was almost a step by step thing, you saw Clark, and the last panel of the next page was Clark in full Daily Planet journalist mode.

Now, the way Clark has been portrayed and the people he has been close to (Lex, Lois) basically know Superman at this point, so i don't see how having Clark try to blend in with the "normies" would help when the most important people would be able to see that superman acts more like Clark than Clark does. Lex can have a pass just because of the old standby "Lex can not and will not believe that his most powerful and hated foe is some smalltown farmboy"

Now Smallville has definitely taken liberties with characters and the mythos itself, and I consider smallville its own interpretation of Clarks beginning. This has been mentioned in another thread and I think it could be an interesting way to go. Since they already have Lois in Smallville and living with the Kents at this point in Clarks life, I think it would be interesting to have Lois know that Clark is superman. She's been to involved in his life to not catch on to something when superman does show up.

While it would certainly change the whole dynamic of their relationship in the future, we won't get to see that, and it would give us something to ponder. Her knowing would be an interesting change in the mythos but be only contained to smallville.

While I do wish it could be a faithfull interpretation of all the characters journey's, i realize thats not what smallville is. So I would be willing to accept a major change just to satisfy my curiosity... lol.

 

[RakuMon]

Didn't know where else to post this, so I figured I'd resurrect a dead thread!

Anyway, AdAge has a nice bit on the Superman franchise as a whole. Seems that the Big Blue Boy Scout is worth 1.7 Billion. And guess where a lot of that money is coming from? Also, a *ahem* "direct to video movie" coming some time before 2009?! Hmmm.....

http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=48340

SUPERCHARGED: WHY DICK PARSONS NEEDS SUPERMAN
How a $1.7 Billion Icon Can Lift Time Warner to New Heights
March 20, 2006
By T.L. Stanley

LOS ANGELES (AdAge.com) -- Superman can jump tall buildings in a single bound and stop speeding trains in their tracks, but Dick Parsons needs him to perform a trickier task -- mobilize every division of the world’s largest media company and prove, once and for all, that Time Warner can be more than the sum of its parts.

Photo: Warner Bros.
'Superman Returns' to save Time Warner. See the man of steel through 73 years. Pop up the timeline below.

DOWNLOAD Item:
Superman Timeline pdf

When Superman returns in “Superman Returns,” a $200 million movie that opens in late June, there’ll be a lot at stake for its parent company, the toy industry at large and even for those merger-and-acquisition advocates who have argued for the creation of media conglomerates.

$1.7 billion man of steel
Time Warner owns the 73-year-old man of steel. Among other appearances he’s been a four-time movie star, a pillar of its DC Comics publishing arm, a merchandising, licensing and animation godsend and, most recently, the center of WB’s hit show “Smallville.” Advertising Age analysis suggests that Superman properties have already earned more than $1.7 billion.

Rather than letting him shuffle off into retirement, the $43.7 billion media giant is counting on the new movie and a host of other upcoming Superman-centric efforts across almost all its units to boost coffers across its divisions in a way that would effectively prove that those synergies, so often quoted when AOL and Time Warner came together in 2000, are more fact than fiction.

“There’s a huge expectation that this will re-launch Superman as an ongoing property,” said Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products. “We want to draft off the movie, but we want the marketplace to feel that it’s not just dependent on the movie.”

“It’s an extraordinary asset,” said Ken Markman, CEO of KKM Global Brand Strategies and a former Mattel executive. “If you’re going to reinvent something so iconic, you can’t afford to have it fail.”

400 licensing partners worldwide
“Superman Returns” has been in development for a number of years with a revolving door of filmmakers, writers and talent. Along the rocky route, the studio kept seeing sparks of interest in the property -- a 1997 animated show drew a steady following, “Smallville” took off on the WB, and new lines of product based on the iconic “S” shield sold well when they hit the market a few years ago. Leading up to the June 30 release of the film, the studio has signed 400 licensing partners worldwide.

There’s a plan in place, Mr. Globe said, to keep “Superman” fresh long after this summer’s movie leaves the multiplex. The studio already has announced another feature film with “Superman Returns” director Bryan Singer, likely for 2009, and possibly a direct-to-video movie in between the upcoming release and the 2009 offering. There will also be a steady stream of entertainment and product, directed by the studio’s global brand management team, which shepherds its franchise properties through every part of their life cycle.

“There are people solely focused on our three-to-five event properties a year,” said Gaetano Mastropasqua, senior VP-promotions of the studio’s global brand management division. “We nurture the franchises.”

Sean McGowan, analyst at Harris Nesbitt Gerard, doesn’t compare Superman’s potential to a phenomenon like “Star Wars” with its six movies and billion-dollar licensing programs over 20-plus years, but said there are positive indicators the property can succeed. He said consumer interest moves quickly. “Properties don’t last as long as they once did.”

The weight of franchise films
Stu Seltzer, partner in Marketing on Demand, a licensing, marketing and valuation company, said studios are increasingly developing franchise films as a way to maximize profit. “The value spreads across the entire company,” he said. “If the movie’s a huge hit, it will affect their stock price. The performance of these kinds of projects ripples throughout the company, either positively or negatively.”

“Superman” has been a hit on the big screen before. Starting in the late '70s, the late Christopher Reeve starred in four films that pulled in more than $300 million domestically and double that worldwide. DVDs, merchandise, live action and animated TV series followed, and continue to the current day. There have been original “Superman” films or TV shows created in 22 of the past 25 years, according to DC Comics, and new media offerings -- books, comics, animated shows and so on -- created around the property in 52 of the past 66 years. There are 35 “Superman” titles on DVD, counting the classic TV show from the '50s, “Lois & Clark” and various animated shows.

“The property has worked in the widest range of media, from radio to newspaper comic strips to cartoons, TV and film,” said Paul Levitz, president and publisher of DC Comics. “That’s the most powerful indicator of how deeply he’s woven into the popular culture.”

Superman has shown his financial might in a number of ways. “Smallville,” which is produced by Warner Bros. TV and airs on the WB network, is having a renaissance in its fifth season, attracting an average of 5.5 million viewers, up 8% from a year ago. Its recent 100th episode pulled in more than 6 million viewers. It ranks first in its time period, season to date, with men 18-to-34. Warner Bros. reaps about $850,000 an episode by selling reruns of “Smallville” to cable channels. It also sells the show internationally.

Crowded summer schedule
“Superman Returns” launches into perhaps one of the most competitive years in film history, with big-budget, effects-laden, star-studded event movies stacked one on top of the other from May through July. Industry watchers say they’ve never seen as many tent poles staked in the ground in such a short period, with “X-Men III,” “Mission: Impossible III” and “Da Vinci Code” just a few.

Warner Bros.’ movies, TV shows and home entertainment, which includes New Line Cinema, pulled in $11.9 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2004 and the full year 2005, making up 27.3% of Time Warner’s bottom line.

To whip up interest in “Superman Returns,” Warner has gathered Pepsi-Cola Co., Burger King, PerfectMatch.com, Duracell and Quaker State as marketing partners. Toymakers are also counting on the man of steel to give the industry a lift.

According to the NPD Group, the U.S. toy industry was down 4% in 2005; retail sales declined to $21.3 billion from $22.1 billion the year before. There will be a raft of Superman products at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R’ Us and Target. Mattel, which is producing much of the Superman line, will put a heavy ad push behind its products from summer through fall.

Entertainment-licensed product, which has been flat in some spots and declining in others, could use a boost. “We need success stories,” said Gary Caplan, president of Gary Caplan, a licensing consultancy that has several clients involved in “Superman Returns.” “We know retailers are buying into this property, but we don’t know yet if consumers will.”

They had better. Time Warner is counting on it.

~ ~ ~
Bradley Johnson contributed to this report.

 

[AgentPat]

...There’s a plan in place, Mr. Globe said, to keep “Superman” fresh long after this summer’s movie leaves the multiplex. The studio already has announced another feature film with “Superman Returns” director Bryan Singer, likely for 2009, and possibly a direct-to-video movie in between the upcoming release and the 2009 offering...

Hmmm. Interesting.

Oh Jack?

 

[RakuMon]

Hmmm. Interesting.

Oh Jack?

Pat! I was wondering if you'd read my post yet. So whaddya think?
Isn't this further confirmation of things we've been speculating for nearly two years? The article also makes a point to emphasise just how much of a cash cow Smallville is in the over all big picture of the franchise.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Hmmm. Interesting.

Oh Jack?

Reading to much into it remember Pat there is still S:TAS(which already is having one DTV coming out) as well as a new Superman Cartoon in the works but hey everyone should have a dream shouldn't they.

 

[AgentPat]

Pat! I was wondering if you'd read my post yet.

I just read it. I bounce around a lot, and have been busy at work, so I may not get a chance to respond when I want to. But THIS? Oy! Well, now THAT was an interesting read, yes yes.

So whaddya think? Isn't this further confirmation of things we've been speculating for nearly two years? The article also makes a point to emphasize just how much of a cash cow Smallville is in the over all big picture of the franchise.

It's definitely reality confirmation, ahuh. The fact that SV is a cash cow should come as no surprise to anybody. I'm re-heeely curious about this DTV tid-bit though. We could hypothesize all day as to what Superman-related production that could be in reference to, but we'd be wasting time and precious brain cells. Hello? Heh.

[Waiting patiently for Jack's words of wisdom on THIS un LOL]

 

[AgentPat]

Reading to much into it remember Pat there is still S:TAS(which already is having one DTV coming out) as well as a new Superman Cartoon in the works but hey everyone should have a dream shouldn't they.

Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

And I don't think I'm reading too much into it, but we'll see.

 

[NHawk19]

Hmmm. Interesting.

Oh Jack?

Time for a new slice of pizza?

 

[AgentPat]

Time for a new slice of pizza?

No no! It's ALL pizza. There's just different toppings and crust styles, that's all.

...oh, and sometimes, maybe the sauce isn't as red as some think it should be.

 

[Bruce_Wayne29]

It's an interesting piece of information but I don't want to get my hopes up, it's probably an animation film. It would be great if Gough and Millar would team up with HBO Films to do a real high quality Superman tv movie. Also some HBO films get released in theaters worldwide which would be a plus.
At this time I would take it any way I can but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it would break my heart to see Welling forced to be Superman in a direct to video movie while the "other guy" is on the big screen because he resembles Christopher Reeve.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

It's an interesting piece of information but I don't want to get my hopes up, it's probably an animation film. It would be great if Gough and Millar would team up with HBO Films to do a real high quality Superman tv movie. Also some HBO films get released in theaters worldwide which would be a plus.
At this time I would take it any way I can but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it would break my heart to see Welling forced to be Superman in a direct to video movie while the "other guy" is on the big screen because he resembles Christopher Reeve.

Well isnt that part of the reason why Welling got the role as well because God knows it wasn't his acting at the time.

 

[RakuMon]

Reading to much into it remember Pat there is still S:TAS(which already is having one DTV coming out) as well as a new Superman Cartoon in the works but hey everyone should have a dream shouldn't they.

It's all about context. The article mentions the DTV Superman movie in context to the bit about Superman Returns and its sequel. An animated Superman movie is not something that will "keep 'Superman' fresh long after this summer’s movie leaves the multiplex." I think the studio's eyeing something bigger than that. I'm not saying it'll necesarily be a Smallville movie, but the hints are there.

 

[NHawk19]

It's an interesting piece of information but I don't want to get my hopes up, it's probably an animation film. It would be great if Gough and Millar would team up with HBO Films to do a real high quality Superman tv movie. Also some HBO films get released in theaters worldwide which would be a plus.
At this time I would take it any way I can but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it would break my heart to see Welling forced to be Superman in a direct to video movie while the "other guy" is on the big screen because he resembles Christopher Reeve.

OK you're making me relive the last headache Jack gave me

Out of Jack's last riddle Pat came up with these points which Jack added to in bold. Give it a read and relate it to what we've just learned *This one took some finding Pat*

1. Production on SR was rumored to start in Vancouver and move to Oz after its first month or so of principle, which IIRC started in March of '05. Coincidentally, SV wrapped production of its 4th season near the end of April. After the main casting announcement for SR was made in October of '04, Vancouver was dropped as a start location and everything was moved to Oz.
2. Three days ago, Variety published an article about Warners' plans for sequels to BB and SR. While Batman makes "sense" at this time (they have a B.O. history and profits from home video to allay any fears of overt financial risk), planning a sequel to SR seems a bit premature right now to me. But the article also points out that director's contracts are not sealed, actor's contracts are still just options, and Singer is doing Logan's Run next in Vancouver. If shooting a sequel to SR in Vancouver is just a matter of convenience coming out of Logan's Run, then why not shoot Logan's Run in Australia too? It's all rather strange, and oddly deja vu.
3. SV is finishing up one of its most successful seasons yet and has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity without the help of the film. The SV writers have outlined a cliffhanger finale with plans to go full tilt into a 6th season on CW come September. This will require Warners to pick up the cast's contract options for another two years (if they haven't already done so) and will have the bonus effect of keeping the cast on a leash for that period of time. Warners will still produce the show and own the rights, regardless of the network that airs it.
4. Superman is w/o a doubt, one of Warner's most important and lucrative franchises. If SR were to substantially under perform, Warners would not give up on it. Many people have suggested Warners would shelve the project for years before trying again. Pah! Guess again.
5. A studio the size of Warner Bros. *always* has a Plan B. And C. And D. And... well, you get the picture. There's more than two ways to skin a bat... errr... cat, so if making a few changes with actors for a sequel, or restarting the franchise completely is deemed necessary to get back on track, they'll do it in a cocaine heartbeat. And they'll have everything set in place to take that route should it be required. If such action is not required, moving forward with the first plan will still be possible. Basically, it's a matter of forecasting and logistics, and knowing what should be in place if the proverbial poop were to hit the fan. They want things to always be a win-win situation no matter what.

1. 
   
   Odds are that by (Why is this italicised? I cant get it to turn off but I digress) 2007, Logan's run will have completed shooting and be released. If Singer is still in Canada and he's the one slated to work on this direct to video . . . .hmmm it's open for speculation . . . .
   
   Would they really turn this over to Singer though? I would've thought that since he did the blockbuster that a direct to video \S/ with someone else would be considered beneath him . . . . eh work's work.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

It's all about context. The article mentions the DTV Superman movie in context to the bit about Superman Returns and its sequel. An animated Superman movie is not something that will "keep 'Superman' fresh long after this summer’s movie leaves the multiplex." I think the studio's eyeing something bigger than that. I'm not saying it'll necesarily be a Smallville movie, but the hints are there.

Not really but as I said before we all can dream. But once again look at Batman to keep it fresh what do we have? JLU, The Batman, The Batman DTV movies and other stuff like that. I am just saying the same could be done with Superman. Remember Returns comes out this summer SV ends (if going into seven seasons) in 2008 there is no reason for a DTV then. Thats what you got to look at now if it ends in 2007 then maybe I see a SV DTV in 2008 but not when the season is still going. Thats why I say it may more then likely be another S:TAS which has a huge fan base or remember they do have Superboy and The Legion of Super-Heroes coming out to.

 

[triplet]

Well isnt that part of the reason why Welling got the role as well because God knows it wasn't his acting at the time.

I disagree.... Tom has always been a good actor.

You probably haven't seen what he did in Judging Amy before he did Smallville. He was terrific in that...

If you go back and watch the Pilot again, you'll see some wonderfully subtle acting from Tom... He had flashes of brilliance even back then.

It's just that now Tom's just gotten so much better and performs well so much more consistantly.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

I disagree.... Tom has always been a good actor.

You probably haven't seen what he did in Judging Amy before he did Smallville. He was terrific in that...

If you go back and watch the Pilot again, you'll see some wonderfully subtle acting from Tom... He had flashes of brilliance even back then.

It's just that now Tom's just gotten so much better and performs well so much more consistantly.

Okay Triplet he was an okay actor when the show started not great. Once again I didn't see brilliance in him to much I saw an actor who was trying his best to do this and worked hard and made himself a good actor over the seasons. But the main reason why he was cast was because he looked like Reeve not because of his acting.

 

[triplet]

Okay Triplet he was an okay actor when the show started not great. Once again I didn't see brilliance in him to much I saw an actor who was trying his best to do this and worked hard and made himself a good actor over the seasons. But the main reason why he was cast was because he looked like Reeve not because of his acting.

I will have to agree to disagree with you since I think he has an incredible natural talent that has only gotten stronger over the years. Tom's been able to hone his craft because he's smart and willing to learn from the more experienced people around him.