Home Posts filed under >Brandon Routh
Speaking to the French press while promoting "Legend of the Guardians," new "Superman" director Zack Snyder may have spilled the beans on what the plot may entail. If a shaky French translation is to be trusted, we're going to be blessed with yet another origin story.
According to Snyder, "As I have already explained, the film will focus on the early days of Superman, so there will be no links with other films. This is not a remake then. Similarly, although I still cannot talk about the script—I can assure you that this new Superman will not be based on a comic book in particular.” This does defeat the theories that the new film would be based on pre-existing storylines like "Birthright," "All-Star Superman" or "That Peanut Butter Jar From Krypton Shan't Open."
So what does this tell us about the upcoming film? The most significant information has to be the suggestion of "early days," meaning yet another younger Superman, so those Jon Hamm rumors can be put to rest. We can count Brandon Routh out as well, since his version of the character was meant to be the well-traveled version of the first two films in the series. Beyond that? We dread the possibility of an origin story, one of the most tiring tropes this genre has inexplicably embraced. Do we need to know where Indiana Jones found that fedora? Where Charles Foster Kane bought that sled? How Stella originally obtained her groove before losing it, then subsequently retrieving it through the love of Taye Diggs? We do hope it's just iffy translation, and that Snyder's "vision" is able to accommodate a Superman that we haven't seen yet before, and not yet another version of a story everyone knows by heart now.
Get ready because until both "Batman 3" and "Superman" get in front of cameras, the rumors are gonna be flying fast and furious around both films.
The latest in the ongoing saga of "Superman" finds Zack Snyder responding to reports that General Zod -- played by Terrence Stamp in "Superman II" -- would be returning to antagonize Superman in the latest reboot of the franchise. Apparently, not so fast. AICN caught up with Synder who said that any talk of General Zod was "just a rumor." Okay, then.
But perhaps more interesting, AICN reveals that in chatting with Brandon Routh prior to a screening of "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" in Austin a couple of months ago, the actor revealed that Legendary Pictures head Thomas Tull had hooked him up with a trainer to start getting into Superman shape. Obviously, this was well before Zack Snyder took the director's chair and as AICN rightly notes, he may want to break completely from past films, but at the very least, its an indication that Routh was at one point -- and recently -- favored to don the tights again. No word if he is still in the mix, but curiously, there has been nothing concerning any casting rumors around this which we figured would pretty much happen right after Snyder was announced. That said, he did say Routh was "unlikely" to return; read into that what you will. But if Warner Bros. needs some help with casting, we've got a few suggestions right here.
At any rate, some intriguing tidbits in what is sure to be an eventual torrent of casting rumors and updates for the film that is legally obligated to start filming next year or will face lawsuits from the estate of the copyright holders
Ok, for better or worse, Zack Snyder is your new "Superman" director and the trades have emerged with their own details that shed a bit more light on the project.
The biggest piece of news comes from Variety, who spoke to Snyder and their report says the new director said it's "unlikely" that "Superman Returns" actor Brandon Routh will return for the lead role of Superman and Clark Kent. Suffice to say that's likely truth and diplomatic talk for "we're looking in another direction."
This will be a big disappointment for "Routh as Superman" fans who are a small, but vocal group (we'll admit, we liked the guy, but we're also not opposed to someone new as long as the choice doesn't make us cringe).
As we mentioned briefly, it appears that a villain has been found. Though early reports pegged Brainiac (and Luthor) in an "action-packed" Superman film, THR says that apparently General Zod from Richard Donner's "Superman II" (as played by the venerable Terence Stamp) is rumored to be part of the David S. Goyer-penned screenplay.
As for Christopher Nolan's godfathering role in all this? Snyder tells Variety. "He provides that extra bit of wisdom to a process that sometimes lacks it. It's the best situation we could be in for this character. It's still early in the process but I will say that the story that Chris and David have laid out is pretty awesome," he said.
Many have noted, including us, that Superman is traditionally a well-adjusted character so he's difficult to portray on the screen with a lot of psychological flaws; the perfect Christopher Reeves-type Superman being pretty dull these days and Snyder acknowledged this. "Chris and David have given this the shape with a great story. It's a hard character to crack,” he told Hero Complex.
Speaking to the French press while promoting "Legend of the Guardians," new "Superman" director Zack Snyder may have spilled the beans on what the plot may entail. If a shaky French translation is to be trusted, we're going to be blessed with yet another origin story.
