Man of Steel Update: Evans Not Playing Superman in JLA, Millar Not Writing Superman Sequel
Filed under: Action, Casting, Deals, RumorMonger, Fandom, Scripts, DIY/Filmmaking, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
He's faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and yet the folks in charge are moving slower than a snail when it comes to casting the Man of Steel in Justice League of America. Additionally, it may take years before we get another solo Supes flick after Superman Returns writers Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty were tossed aside while the studio sought out some new blood. Here are two updates on both fronts:
The other day we told you how someone wrote in to Dark Horizons claiming to have information on the casting of Superman in the Justice League movie. According to the scooper, Brit actor Rupert Evans had landed the part. Not so fast says IESB, who spent hours upon hours trying to get a hold of someone who represents Evans. Eventually they did, and were told the rumor is indeed false. Exact quote: "We don't know where that rumor started, there's no truth to the rumor at all." When asked if Evans had even auditioned, they replied, "No, not at all." Yay, another ridiculous rumor spreads like wildfire and then gets squashed -- how fun! No other casting tidbits to report at this time, sorry.
About that long-delayed follow-up to Superman Returns. I suggested a long time ago that this project was being delayed and delayed for a reason, and all you readers did was yell at me -- bow down to Bryan Singer -- and call me all sorts of devilish names. Well, look where we are now: the original writers were yanked off the film, and Warners is looking for some new writers to most likely reboot the franchise, a la The Incredible Hulk. I like to call these "movie do-overs." The first candidate to pop up was writer Mark Millar (Wanted), who went after this project with full force. Unfortunately, because he had done some work for Marvel (and is still under contract with them), he cannot cross over to work on a DC property. So there goes that. Will Warners seduce Kurtzman and Orci into taking on Superman? They'll probably try, but as it stands right now, we've got nada ... and I'd expect Singer to be off the project too. Back to the drawing board ... and how about this time we scratch Brandon Routh and bring in Channing Tatum. He'd make a much better Superman; whaddya think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-25-2007 @ 3:03PM
Joshua said...
Evans may not be playing Supes But you know there is the rumor that the director may also be Casting Mad Max 4 at the same time and when i look at evan i do get a young mel gibson vibe from him, A british mad max would be more acceptable than a british superman in my book.
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10-25-2007 @ 3:03PM
cb said...
blecch to channing tatum. brandon routh and his film were far superior to most superhero films that have come out in recent years. do we really need to reimagine superman? how much different can it get? we've got smallville and the bryan singer version simply tried to stay true to the pre-existing superman movies. and in my opinion it far exceeded the christopher reeves versions.
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10-25-2007 @ 3:29PM
Moot said...
Channing Tatum for superman would be horrible...if Tatum could pull off a Cajun accent then he would have been a good Gambit. Also, Routh is a good Superman, but the Superman Returns film (was well done) but lacking in major action sequences. All we saw was Superman do some heavy lifting, no intense fighting at all which is what the franchise needs...it's time for Doomsday!
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10-25-2007 @ 4:26PM
Eric said...
A better Superman film could be made my taking a dump in a DVD case.
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10-25-2007 @ 4:55PM
Jonathan said...
I'm pushing for an older, more gritty Superman.
And that would be Jon Hamm from MadMen. He's got the rugged looks, stern demeanor for Superman and can do a more realistic, less cartoony Clark Kent than Reeves and Routh did.
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10-25-2007 @ 7:24PM
Jay Hash said...
The only good things about Superman Returns were Brandon Routh and Kevin Spacey! We don't need older and grittier. This isn't "The Dark Knight Returns", this is Superman.
I agree that there wasn't much action in this last film, so there were points where it dragged. Look at the good version of Superman II, and you'll see that there were some great action sequences that made the film flow very well.
But Returns decided to focus itself in the wrong places at the wrong times (i.e. NEARLY EVERY DAMN SCENE WITH LOIS LANE...it was like LOIS LANE BORING DEPRESSO MOVIE-Featuring Superman). They need to turn Lois back into a supporting character, or make her into a strong but less emotionally conflicted woman, and get rid of the stupid Husband/Fiancee/Boyfirend (whatever the hell James Marsden was in that film, besides useless) and go back to the roots.
Seriously, if you amp up the action a bit, lay off of Lois' dilemma of if she should smoke or not, and eliminate Richard White with a single line of dialogue 5 minutes into the film, a Superman Returns Sequel would be excellent, especially with Routh as the Man of Steel.
~JYH
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10-25-2007 @ 10:18PM
Bryan said...
Actually, following your links to the Variety story you will find that WB denies the "industry chatter" that it will be a "reboot" and say they expect it to be a sequel with Singer and Routh.
Reading is fundamental.
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10-25-2007 @ 9:21PM
Philip said...
Ahhh I feel so vindicated. Even the studio thinks the Superman movie stank. What's up with introducing Supe's son? I totally didn't like where that was going. I remember sitting in the theater and thinking "What the f**k?". Emo Superman forgot to pay his child-support. On the other hand, I thought Routh did a fine job of portraying Superman. Between Kevin Spacey and Routh, it was the only thing Singer got right. Plus, and maybe this is an unfair criticism, people don't seem to connect to heroes who are only weak to bits of a planet that is millions of light years away. Superman has every answer at his fingertips. It just takes all the fun out of rooting for a hero. Batman/Spiderman have the flaws, and my interest. They're beatable in strength but not in heart.
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10-25-2007 @ 11:45PM
Bren said...
I say yes to Channing Tatum in tights. And, maybe he could do a little hip hop dance as well. He certainly has the looks and build. And, he has proven that he can act in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints! But, would he would to be cast in such a roll???
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10-26-2007 @ 12:36AM
Scott K said...
I'm not a Brandon Routh addict, but Channing Tatum looks like a giant douchebag any time I've ever seen him.
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10-26-2007 @ 10:35AM
Rick said...
Although I don't agree that Superman Returns "stank," I think PHILLIP has made some unique observations concerning: Superman/Spider-Man/Batman. It's very true that Spider-Man and Batman do alot in their respective worlds without being too super-powered or having no powers at all. It would also seem to be corrrect that:
"Maybe this is an unfair criticism, people don't seem to connect to heroes who are only weak to bits of a planet that is millions of light years away. Superman has every answer at his fingertips. It just takes all the fun out of rooting for a hero. Batman/Spiderman have the flaws, and my interest. They're beatable in strength but not in heart."
May I add. Superman can be hurt even killed by kryptonite and he can be devastated by the death of those close to him or not. But the thing that hurts Superman the most is the fact that the world doesn't see things the way he does. Batman uses fear, Spider-Man has youthful exuberance but Superman asks that that we TRUST him; a god almost; hand extended in the light of day to pick us up when we fall. Superman is the "ultimate" immigrant. He's not just from another country; he's from another planet! He was raised with the best of midwestern-hard work values and ethics and has achieved the highest in all the best human qualities; yet he is not human. In many folks opinion, Superman's heart is the greatest of all because he is a reflection of how great we can be, IF we only aspire higher. Look to the skies.........
Have a great weekend....
Peace,
Rick
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11-12-2007 @ 4:17PM
Huck said...
A big hell no on this Tatum guy. Totally not right. Look everyone seems pretty much in agreement, Brandon Routh was the best part of an otherwise low action superman pic. That film's real demise was not having Lex be the corporate Lex of Smallville. Let's face it, he's sooo much more interesting than the crazy "I want land" Lex of the movies...boring. Put that one in the next film, give Supes a great villian to fight (other than Lex for a change) and if he can't play the Man of Steel in the JLA film, then there is only one choice, Tom Welling, he's earned it!
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