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Monday, August 31
Director Matthew Vaughn is a huge comic book fan, as his upcoming Kick-Ass adaptation hopes to prove. However, Vaughn has left more superhero movies than he's made, having abandoned both Thor and X-Men: The Last Stand.
But that doesn't mean that Vaughn isn't ready for more. Vaughn told MTV about two projects he's hoping to direct:
I grew up watching superhero films, so I want to make superhero films. I was desperate to do Iron Man about 8 years ago, and everyone was like, "Iron Man, no one will go watch that." Cut to now, and it's a huge hit. [I'd] love to do The Avengers. And Superman ... I think it would be great to reinvent Superman.
Of course, Jon Favreau directed Iron Man, and he's also been discussed as the potential director for The Avengers. In fact, Favreau feels that The Avengers might keep the Iron Man series from falling into predictability:
...The Avengers might be the thing that helps rescue us from the inevitable sequel slump that you get into, because you're throwing everything on its ear. It might be a failed experiment or it might be something wonderful, but it allows you to add complexity in an organic way where you're culminating with something bigger, as opposed to trying to play out and not repeat the same story over and over again.
Vaughn might have a better chance at the next Superman, though James McTeigue has been strongly rumored to be directing the project.
Posted 8/31/2009 by Ryan
Related: Jon Favreau | X-Men: The Last Stand | Superman Returns | Iron Man | Superman: The Man of Steel | Thor | Iron Man 2 | The Avengers | Matthew Vaughn | Kick-Ass
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Wednesday, August 26
Director James McTeigue won't say whether he'll direct the next Superman movie, but that hasn't stopped him from telling how he thinks the franchise should continue post-Superman Returns:
I think that the culture has sort of changed a little bit around Superman now as well. If you're going to do something with Superman, I think people would probably like something a little darker. I know that sounds like a bit of a cliche. You just to need to take it and...retool it, I guess. Like make it something that appeals to audiences now a little more.
Does McTeigue mean a Superman movie should be made that doesn't turn off fans? He may be onto something.
McTeigue certainly talks like he would like to direct Superman. He's not even put off by the recent court ruling that gave the family of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel exclusive rights to Superman's origin story.
I think it's good that they just had a court case where, basically, if you make another Superman movie, you can't touch Superman growing up — that's part of the story that you can't touch any more. That wouldn't be a bad thing. I think everybody's a bit sick of seeing the origin story.
Of course, some could argue that the death of Superman's parents and his exile to earth is one of the darker aspects of the straight-laced hero's life. Perhaps McTeigue could elaborate on what darker aspects he would explore. That is, if he would just admit he's directing the next Superman.
Posted 8/26/2009 by Ryan
Related: James McTeigue | Superman Returns | Jerry Siegel | Superman: The Man of Steel
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Friday, August 7
Last week, IESB reported that Warner Bros. had closed the door on Bryan Singer's involvement with Superman and were looking to reboot the franchise, possibly with James McTeigue as director and Andy and Larry Wachowski producing.
Warner was supposedly hoping for a more action-oriented director, which McTeigue may prove to be with his upcoming Ninja Assassin. However, when SlashFilm asked McTeigue about the possibility of directing Superman, his answer was decidely vague:
You know ... I ... I would say. .. I'll keep you guessing, actually. It's good not to dispel every rumor, right?
McTeigue's answer was surprising considering he was the one to announce Warner's interest in having the Wachowskis take over the Superman franchise in February. At the time, McTeigue thought the Wachowskis may be too busy should their pet project Plastic Man get off the ground, though McTeigue says the movie, at this point, is dead:
Obviously, Larry and Andy, did a script for Plastic Man back in the day. I'll be very surprised if that movie gets made. We haven't ever really talked about it. But I know it's still a Joel [Silver] property or a Warner property...
After directing V For Vendetta, McTeigue has been no stranger to comic book adaptation speculation. At one point he was in talks to direct X-Men Origins: Magneto, though he dismissed those rumors:
[Magneto] was just one of those rumors that started out and I don't know where it came from or how it came up. I think that David Goyer would be surprised about that actually.
I mean, you know, it's not a bad idea.
So no Plastic Man, Magneto's "not a bad idea," and maybe to Superman? McTeigue could potentially have a full slate is any of these rumors become substantiated. Until then, fanboys will have to wait on Ninja Assassin's November 25 release to see if McTeigue's got the goods.
Posted 8/7/2009 by Ryan
Related: Andy Wachowski | James McTeigue | Joel Silver | Larry Wachowski | Superman Returns | Plastic Man | Superman: The Man of Steel | Ninja Assassin | X-Men Origins: Magneto | David Goyer
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Saturday, February 21
A SlashFilm spy somehow got into the password protected portion of Warner Bros web assets and saw something that he wasn't supposed to -- the name of the next Superman sequel!
The sneaky spoiler immediately leaked the title Superman Unleashed to the Internet, but it has not ended a long time debate about the movie -- namely, whether it will it be a reboot or not. If this is indeed the true description of the next offering, it's definitely a sequel, but it is unclear whether a new director is attached -- since Bryan Singer already leaked his sequel's chosen title as The Man of Steel early on, and this obiously ain't it.
Comic book movie fans will see the title as a good omen for the franchise. They widely panned Singer's reflective take in his Superman Returns. Plus, if the loss of the previous helmer wasn't reason enough for rejoicing, the title card description also suggests a much more action oriented effort...
Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to ‘Superman Returns’ promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve.
This is exactly what the fans have been hoping for. Now if they will just keep Lex Luthor out of it this time, all will be well in moviedom. With the number of Superman movies starring Lex as the antagonist, you'd think there weren't any other villains in all the DC Universe.
Posted 2/21/2009 by Jim
Related: Bryan Singer | Superman | Superman Returns | Superman: The Man of Steel
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Thursday, February 12
According to AICN the Wachowski Brothers are set to take over the Superman franchise from ousted Bryan Singer, and if they are in charge, they will want to reboot it into a Matrix-style trilogy.
The "dub-bros" were set to start work on another super-flick, Plastic Man, but Warner Bros. has put that project on hold, which would allow for the brothers to work on Superman.
AICN goes on to say...
The Wachowski's are currently reviewing their options as its like being asked to take the final play in a Superbowl final. [McTeigue] says if they do agree, he will likely either succumb to providing second unit support on the movie or will champion the directorship of 'Plastic Man.' The very thought of the brothers making a 'Superman' movie is unbelievable as they have grown up in the world of comic books and they would be ideal for the project.
No need to shed tears for Singer, however. He's taking the helm of a Logan's Run remake.
Posted 2/12/2009 by Jim
Related: Andy Wachowski | Bryan Singer | Larry Wachowski | The Matrix | Plastic Man | Superman: The Man of Steel | Logan's Run
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Tuesday, January 6
Tired of seeing Lex Luthor as the baddie in all but one of the previous 5 Superman movies? Yeah, so are we. And it seems, according to The Latino Review, so is Warner Bros. Reports say that they're on the lookout for a new nemesis in the sequel.
Since 1978, when Christopher Reeve first slipped on the blue tights, baldy bad-guy Lex Luthor has been his antagonist in all the major motion pictures. Now we agree that Lex is probably Supe's ultimate opponent, but come on Warner Bros, this is The Man of Steel we're talking about. He's had a history of fighting for truth, justice and the American way since the 1940s. He's trounced thousands of villains in his time. Even Batman in his 6 movies has only had to fight the Joker twice.
It is indeed time. But who will it be? Braniac? Doomsday? Metallo? And what actor will play the part of adversary to this iconic character? Check out Latino Review for their picks. What about yours?
Posted 1/6/2009 by Jim
Related: Brandon Routh | Superman | Christopher Reeve | Superman: The Man of Steel
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Tuesday, October 23
Toby Wilkins (Splinter) has signed on to direct The Grudge 3, taking over for Takashi Shimizu who directed the Grudge sequel. The Grudge 3 will be produced by Sam Raimi.
The writers for Superman Returns (i.e., Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris) will not be returning to to write the sequel, Superman: The Man of Steel. Director Bryan Singer is still expected to come back. The studio is now auditioning other writers to figure out where they are going to go with their Superman franchise.
And finally, 300 edged out the competition to win the People's Choice Award at the Hollywood Film Awards this weekend. Does this mean 300 is going to get an Oscar nomination? Probably not. But it does confirm its place as a fan favorite.
Sources: Variety, Awards Daily.
Posted 10/23/2007 by reelz
Related: 300 | Superman: The Man of Steel | The Grudge 3 | Toby Wilkins
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Wednesday, July 11
Footloose, Superman, and Dracula - Oh My!
In today's dealz...
...Paramount will be doing a musical remake of Footloose (a
la the musical remake of Hairspray that comes out next week). Movie musical crowned prince Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray) is in talks to star as Ren McCormack (i.e. Kevin Bacon's part) and Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) is in talks to direct...
...A film adaptation of journalist Toby Young's amusing memoir about his time at Vanity Fair, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, is being made by British film company Number 9 Films. It will star Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges as Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, and will be directed by Bob Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm)...
...Animated French feature Persepolis will be given a new cast to do an English language version. The cartoon, which is based on the bestselling graphic novel about Marjane Satrapi's experience growing up during the Iranian revolution of 1979 will include Sean Penn, Iggy Pop, Gena Rowlands, and Catherine Deneuve...
...There's a bevy of Dracula films swirling about town, including Dracula Year Zero, which will be about Vlad the Impaler--the Romanian royal who inspired the whole dracula myth to begin with. Alex Proyas (I, Robot) is set to direct...
...And finally Kevin Spacey has signed to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in Superman: The Man of Steel, director Bryan Singer's sequel to Superman Returns...
Source: Variety.com.
Posted 7/11/2007 by reelz
Related: Bryan Singer | Jeff Bridges | Kevin Spacey | Zac Efron | Superman Returns | Alex Proyas | Kenny Ortega | Footloose | Dracula Year Zero | Superman: The Man of Steel | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People