Superman Returns Will they make sequel?

[D-Bone]

Well said Harvey. I can understand being a Superman fan, but you also need to look reality in the face: movie studios are not charities and are NOT run by fanboys. Most of the executives working at places like WB have Ivy League school MBAs. Along with that, them keeping their jobs is based solely on how much money their releases generate. If the first film of a hoped for franchise films fails to perform, then guess what, sayonara franchise.
Before anyone spouts off on the inevitability of Superman sequels, with the guarantee that Singer and gang will again be directing, please run, don't walk to your public library and take out a book on Business and Economics 101.

 

[Lestat74]

Sure it is b/c the movie is still in theaters. Right now WB is doing damage control and not bringning Singer out would be an admission that the movie is mediocre. If anything, having Singer out there will draw some spotlight on SR and bring in more people to see it. I can't figure out why people refuse to accept a simple concept - if a movie doesn't make a predetermined profit, it will not warrant a sequel. Film studios are corporations headed by directors and officers that need to answer to shareholders. Shareholders want a business that will grow and generate profits. Projects that fail to produce profits get terminated, its that simple. This is why we have movies that are complete crap fests generating sequels - why? b/c they made money! (seriously, did we need another fast and furious sequel? we got one b/c the second one made $50 million in profit domestic). Its hard to say right now if SR will get a sequel. But, if current trends continue, and SR falls short (IMO, WB wanted at least $300 million domestic in BO) you can bet your a** there won't be a sequel.

You make a very good point, however I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Superman and Batman are unique in that they are giant liscensing machines and corporate trademarks for Warners, very much like Mickey Mouse is for Disney. I'd say Harry Potter is too, except that Warners doesn't own him, JK Rowling does. They make ALL the profits off Superman and Batman merchandise, and they need a movie now and again to remind people of the character and to generate more swag. Because of that I'd say Superman and Batman may have different rules apply to them.

 

[Saint]

It is indeed true that Warner has merchandising to fall back on if the film doe not perform as they expected, which should affect chances for a sequel in the positive.

 

[Mr. Socko]

No sequels to Singer's trash. Do a complete restart with a better director.

 

[jensmith]

They make ALL the profits off Superman and Batman merchandise, and they need a movie now and again to remind people of the character and to generate more swag. Because of that I'd say Superman and Batman may have different rules apply to them.

But they haven't had a Superman movie in decades and still had Superman merchandise on the shelves. Superman The Animated Series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited , Smallville and Lois&Clark all kept Superman in the public eye.

I'm hoping for another movie but as I watch the disappointing BO, my hopes dwindle. This is one time I'll be absolutely thrilled to be proven wrong!

As for keeping Superman in the public eye, maybe they could wait until Smallville ends and try to leverage off of that?

Maybe try their luck with another live action TV show, make it less campy than Lois and Clark and better written than Smallville. Get Routh as Kent/Superman and Durance as Lois Lane? Try to make it more x-fileish than L&C (disclaimer: I'm biased, I really really didn't like L&C....)

 

[D-Bone]

But they haven't had a Superman movie in decades and still had Superman merchandise on the shelves. Superman The Animated Series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited , Smallville and Lois&Clark all kept Superman in the public eye.

Exactly. WB doesn't need another $200+ Milliion movie in order to sell Superman merchandise. They can just produce a cheap animated series featuring Superman for Saturday mornings or weekdays that will appeal to little kids. Bingo, merchandise sales!

At this point, a direct sequel to SR is looking highly unlikely. Next week a broad, goofy Owen Wilson comedy is being released. It may be this year's 40 Year Old Virgin or Wedding Crashers. That audience is also Superman's audience, i.e. young adults and teenagers. If that also proves to be a hit, theatre owners will take screens away from underperforming movies like SR and screen a hit comedy or just add another screen to POTC2 or Devil Wears Prada.

 

[Mr. Thing]

No sequels to Singer's trash. Do a complete restart with a better director.

If they were gonna do a restart, I'd want it in a good few years time. It's be a bit mental for them to have a Returns film, then a restart in the next three years.

 

[el brujo138]

If they were gonna do a restart, I'd want it in a good few years time. It's be a bit mental for them to have a Returns film, then a restart in the next three years.

I agree. But the thought of that that makes me a bit sad becuase you know I waited so long for a new Superman movie and then SR came out and it wasn´t anything new at all. And now waiting even longer for someone to make a modern Superman with him facing other villains besides Lex. Hell I would have been happy with him facing Lex but not "realestate scam Lex".

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

20 years is a long time.

Plus, IF a re-start happens......which I doubt,........you'll have to wait ATLEAST 8 years.

 

[Lestat74]

Yeah, even if they do a "creative restart" ( in other words, fire Singer and Co. ) I doubt they'll do a continuity restart anytime soon. If they do a re-boot, it'll be a looooooonngggggg time from now I think. I'm expecting more of a Batman Forever type re-start, not a Batman Begins type one. Although I'm hoping of course that they don't fire Singer.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I dunno. The movie will still be freash in people's minds.....and all you'll do is confuse people if you release a RESTART in less than 5 years.

Batman Begins had to happen 8 years after BATMAN AND ROBIN.....and that film sucked ass chunks beyond words can describe.

I think WB will take another crack at it with Singer, the franchise can still make money, and they've invested so much now. Keep going, I say.

 

[J.Howlett]

They'll keep going. I don't know how much critical response weighs in decisions that are all about making profit but the major critics (most of them) fell in love with this film....some calling it the best of this genre.

They'll give Singer another shot (He deserves it)...but stipulations will be all over the place...depending on the relationship Singer has at WB.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I think they'll just look to add stuff. Fights and ****. My guess is, IF his story doesn't have the action they're looking for.....they'll have him add more with keeping to the story. Try and please everyone.

 

[J.Howlett]

Trust me, the first advice they'll throw Singer's way will be more action and lightening it up a bit.

The action suggestion won't be a problem. Singer got the reintroduction out of the way. But, he still will not sacrifice story and characterization for more action. It will have balance. But because he'll add a supervillian, it'll feel as if there's more action.

More than likely it will have those things but the anchor to the story will always be the emotional throughline of Lois and Superman. That'll never change.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Of course, the Lois thing is a must.

 

[Captain Kirk]

It is quite laughable to listen to some of the comments here. There will be a sequel and if anyone else says SR is crap again they should give VALID reasons to back them up. And its not the stupid box office numbers which are actually better now than the first POTC, LOTR, and King Kong just to name a few. NO, NO, NO, to a restart we already have a perfect origin in STM. As for the DVD it'll do great added with the Donner cut of Superman II it be a great holiday season. For those that read these threads and see the slant to pessimism; you all know better. Singer will NOT be replaced. That is just an idiotic assumption. All the economists that are out of work, and some of you want to be one. Again, that is laughable.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Yeah. All things seem to point to a sequel with Singer. I think if the numbers build up like this, and the DVD has a great sale number....it'll just be solidified.

 

[Captain Kirk]

The movie is steady. That is all that it needs. To just keep on going. It's not a race it's a marathon! SR is doing fine. The sequel will happen!

 

[D-Bone]

They'll keep going. I don't know how much critical response weighs in decisions that are all about making profit but the major critics (most of them) fell in love with this film....some calling it the best of this genre.

They'll give Singer another shot (He deserves it)...but stipulations will be all over the place...depending on the relationship Singer has at WB.

WB won't have to fire Singer. They're going to make hit quit. They will invite him back for a sequel, but will have so many demands and requests for changes, that Singer will balk and leave.

 

[EverLovinThing]

I hope there will be a sequel, because there deserves to be. I loved the movie, and have talked to several people who felt the same. I've read reviews in multiple respected publications that have also given positive feedback. Point being, this is far from some sort of dismal failure, despite what many of the naysayers in here think. The box office is still solid, and with DVD revenue it will be fine (granted, probably not what WB would have liked). The thing that I keep thinking is how well the film would have done in the year after the events of 9/11. With patriotism at record levels, the return of an American icon like Superman would have likely been very well received. Of course, they would have wanted to keep that "American Way" line in there, but that's a whole other thread.

 

[Superman4ever]

OK, just to be clear: YES there will be a sequel!

Here's an interesting tidbit from Supermanhomepage.com

...While "Superman Returns" is now in second place behind "Dead Man's Chest", it's still ahead of "Batman Begins", the original "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie, and "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring", the latter two of which went on to do over $300 million domestically at the box office.

http://supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=2370

Now how much did POTC 2 make recently?

 

[FCEEVIPER]

MISS CLEO SAYS: Nattin' is set an stone. T'anks fo' colling.​

Oh, and yes there will be a sequel.

 

[BatFitz]

I don't see how WB could even consider not letting him make a sequel...I mean...Batman Begins didn't do too well and Nolan and Goyer are set to start in 2007 for their sequel...

 

[saint sinner x]

I don't see how WB could even consider not letting him make a sequel...I mean...Batman Begins didn't do too well and Nolan and Goyer are set to start in 2007 for their sequel...

I highly doubt there will be a sequel to superman returns. You do the math the production budget for Batman Begins was $150million dollars within the first month Batman Begins already profited domesticaly now do the math for superman returns the movie had a production budget of $260million dollars because WB assumed that superman returns would do spiderman numbers just because it's superman. As for pirates of the caribean 2 dead man's chest it's ELIMINATING superman returns out of the top of the food chain. Superman returns did not lived up to the hype hell even x-men 3 made more money then superman returns and X-men 3 wasn't a good film compare to superman returns. The studio is dissapointed big time because of how much LOVE superman returns recieved from the general movie audience. I guess superman isn't as SUPER as everybody thinks.

Oh and the reason batman begins is getting a sequel is because well just look at how mature and dark the movie is not to mentioned it was nominated for an oscar for best cinematography it won best hero of 2005 by the mtv movie awards and well it's just a danm praised well good movie and yes I dare to say that batman begins is better then superman returns and I believe the general film critics agrees with me as well just take a look at batman begins and superman returns in www.rottentomatoes.com and compare it with each other now have a nice day and I'll keep you posted.

 

[OzzMosiz]

If WB can contain the budget to around 150 million then should be fine. All of the research on the new genesis camera has been done, they know how to make the effects work, some of the props have been designed and built, so they don't need to tread new ground in those ways.
Storywise, it will need a supervillian definitely!