Why can't Jor-El be seen on screen?

[Kane]

I dont know how legit this is, so I'm checking here. I heard from someone that G+M werent given permission to show Jor-El, Lara, Krypton etc on screen at all despite the writers wanting to?

Is this true? And if so, whos the one who makes the decisions of what is acceptable to use and what isnt?

 

[The Question]

Well, maybe because Jor-El's dead. Although, I guess not showing Krypton in flashbacks comes from budget restraints.

 

[Prognosticator]

Nevermind that question, "why can't they write more than 4 different story synopsis in five years?"

 

[Kane]

Nevermind. I found it. It was some article from 2005 saying how they wanted to use Jorel onscreen played by an actor but the studio has strict guidelines about that stuff. They said they want to use him next season too so we'll see.

Then again, new rumors are saying that 'Jor-el' and 'Zod' wont appear in their correct bodies in the season finale/premiere.... so maybe theyre working around the studio's restraints.

 

[JackMercy]

I dont know how legit this is, so I'm checking here. I heard from someone that G+M werent given permission to show Jor-El, Lara, Krypton etc on screen at all despite the writers wanting to?

Is this true? And if so, whos the one who makes the decisions of what is acceptable to use and what isnt?

...Sticky question...

I would read the story about the construction of the FOS in the Smallville mag from earlier this year/last year (can someone give the specific issue number? --don't have it in front of me). That should give you a pretty good indication of the relationship between features and television... however blurry it may be...

[not that it always operates that way for every element of the show, but just think logically about events past and forthcoming...]

 

[Kane]

I dont think it even has anything to do with the feature films. Im guessing its tied with DC, because ultimately they have the say on usage of their comic book properties. Thats how it was for JLU.

 

[AgentPat]

...Sticky question...

I would read the story about the construction of the FOS in the Smallville mag from earlier this year/last year (can someone give the specific issue number? --don't have it in front of me). That should give you a pretty good indication of the relationship between features and television... however blurry it may be...

[not that it always operates that way for every element of the show, but just think logically about events past and forthcoming...]

Gosh, I LOVE "sticky" questions.

I don't know the SV issue number off the top of my head, but my memory of the article went something like this...

The only reason SV wasn't allowed to show Krypton or other Kryptonians like Jor-El or Lara, was because Features didn't want the potential for any "egregious mythology clashes." So the easiest thing to do was just limit what SV could show. Some restrictions were dropped once Singer laid out his story synopsis, and now that SR is basically "done," SV has a little more freedom.

As a result, this season we've already been given the FOS, Alien Ken & Barbie, Clark's visions of Krypton direct from S:TM, and of course Brainiac, all of which would NEVER have been approved during the McG era. G&M have been talking with Stamp about making an appearance (as Jor-El), Zod will probably show up in the near future, and F&T in some form probably won't be too far behind. The only major story fork is what they'll be allowed to do with Lois. Her story arc is still up in the air, no pun intended.

 

[Bruce_Wayne29]

What is F&T Pat ?

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Maybe they don't want you to see Jor-el as he's more mysterious when we don't see him. I want to see Terrance Stamp appearing on the show in physcial form.

 

[Kane]

Clark's visions of Krypton direct from S:TM

when did this happen

 

[AgentPat]

What is F&T Pat ?

Oopz! Sowee.

F&T: Flights and tights. LOL

In context with my post up there, flights a LOT sooner than tights.

 

[Kane]

Except he already flew.

 

[giggs11uk]

the only reason jor-el hasnt been on film is because the voice actor (terrance stamp i think) hasnt found time to do any filming

 

[smsvmos]

There is no restriction on Jor-El being in SV since we alredy got to see him and hear him. The problem is casting The old version of Jor-El.

 

[Kane]

We got to see him? Not really.

 

[Serene]

We got to see him? Not really.

Sure we did...

Just find someone who looks like that ^ plus 25 or so years, and you have Jor-El.

 

[Kane]

I thought that was Clark living through Jor-El's memory, Jor-El's shoes... it wasnt actually the face of Jor-El.

I mean if thats was really Jor-El, wouldnt that mean the most plausible option is to use age makeup on TW and make him Jor-El. Problem with that is I doubt he could ever get Stamp's voice down perfectly, or even close.

If they use Terrence Stamp as the face, the aging gap over the years between TW's Jor-El and Stamp wouldnt add up with the regular Kryptonian aging process. It would be more akin to normal human aging after about 40 years.

 

[Serene]

I thought that was Clark living through Jor-El's memory, Jor-El's shoes... it wasnt actually the face of Jor-El.

I never thought of it that way, interesting, but I have to disagree. Remember the drawing/picture in the newspaper of Jor-El? That wasn't Clark's projection of his own image, it was the actual face of Jor-El, and it confirms that he looked almost exactly like Clark.

credit DTS gallery.

 

[Morg]

Because Jor-el camera shy so that's why we can't see him

 

[Kane]

I never thought of it that way, interesting, but I have to disagree. Remember the drawing/picture in the newspaper of Jor-El? That wasn't Clark's projection of his own image, it was the actual face of Jor-El, and it confirms that he looked almost exactly like Clark.

To be honest. I dont think I even sat through the whole episode, so Ill trust you on that.

If thats the case, Terrence Stamp wouldnt play a very convincing Jor-El. He looks nothing like what TW would have looked like in a few years (given the Kryptonian aging process). Remember theres only like a 20 year gap actually. The image of Jor-El is reflective of the last time he existed and Krypton was destroyed in SV in the 1980s.

The major problem is Stamp's voice is very distinctive. Where are they going to find an actor who resembles a slightly older TW but with a voice like Stamp?

Tough situation...

 

[KalKai]

It won't be a problem for them, they always find the right people.. and if not, Stamp will do it doesn't matter.

 

[Kane]

With Stamp, it will be weird. Unless Jor-El went through some rapid aging phase between the 60s and 80s..

 

[KalKai]

He could still play Zod if they wanted to.. maybe he will.

 

[Kane]

Zod having the same voice as Jor-El? Unless Zod is Jor-el... This is all too convoluted.

 

[JackMercy]

Nice picture of Stamp, KalKai. Still lookin' good.

As Pat already noted above, AG has actually revealed in recent interviews what they are "planning," or what he wants, to do with the "actual casting" of Jor-El, if all the ducks are in line. Search for it, it's all out in the public domain.

Now if that will actually happen, remains another matter...
(as a lot of you know, many recipes have changed along the way..)

But it sure makes sense based on previous casting choices...