DC Universe

[droosan]

Zack Snyder is directing the next one:

http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/zack-sn ... -superman/

Not sure how the rest of the world is going to feel about this, but I'm at least very happy.

Word is that General Zod may be the villain for this film.

It's like nothing was learned from 'going back to the well' of Donner's films in Superman Returns -- that movie recycled the first film's 'Lex Luthor making real-estate schemes' plot (complete with a Miss Teschmacher-clone companion) .. and now, Superman battles Zod again..?!

Personally, I'd much rather see Brainiac, Metallo, Darkseid -- or even Mister Mxyzptlk.

Oh, well.

[Randall]

Brainiac should be the villain. So much potential there.

Snyder, eh? I guess we should've seen it coming, given his past films and association with Warner and Legendary Films. I'm okay with it, actually, but a little disappointed that Warner's not going a little more outside-the-box here.

[EricJ]

[Word is that General Zod may be the villain for this film.

It's like nothing was learned from 'going back to the well' of Donner's films in Superman Returns
Personally, I'd much rather see Brainiac, Metallo, Darkseid -- or even Mister Mxyzptlk.

So would I, but
A) any use of "real" non-Luthor Superman villains involves embracing actual DC comic-book canon, which Warner swore off doing after that Kevin Smith script,
and
B) If they don't use the "new" version of Zod, Warner will have wasted two entire seasons of Smallville trying to bring him back into comic-canon.

...Which could be said about Brainiac, too (at least he had Superfriends and Smallville), but with Supes, they're forced to go with villains the mainstream has heard of--Not as easy as with Batman.

(And I tend to agree with Hackman's Luthor in Superman II: "You need a new act!--I mean, 'Bow', 'Yield', 'Kneel', that stuff closes in Pittsburgh!" )

[estefan]

Funnily enough, I also thought of the Kevin Smith script when Braniac was mentioned. But, yes, I agree that they should make Braniac - in fact, have Corey Burton do his voice.

Just as long as there are no giant spiders, okay?

[droosan]

So, lemme guess -- in the next film following this one, Superman must deal with his dark inner self .. which is unleashed when a goofy computer programmer inserts nicotine into a formula for artificial kryptonite..?

[Ben]

They're already talking to Chris Rock, droo...

[EricJ]

I'm betting Smallville is already working on the "new" version of Nuclear Man...

[Ben]

Is it me or is this new Snyderman going to be the real deal?

Instead of months/years of stupid casting rumors, they've picked their Man Of Steel, and I'm impressed. They're simply not messing around with this one, and the vision/plan seems very clear and focused.

Hoping they get the suit right next, and interested to hear follow-up casting news!

http://animatedviews.com/2011/superman-gets-cast/

[Randall]

I don't mind this guy at all. Seems like a step in the right direction!

I really need something decent to help erase the memory of Superman Returns.

[GeorgeC]

"Kneel before ZOD, once more!"

http://screenrant.com/viggo-mortensen-g ... ie+News%29

Viggo" Strider/Aragon" Mortensen as General Zod.

Interesting. Hopefully, he'll have enough humor when the fans start kneeling before him and reciting Stamp's lines from Superman I and II..

**************

On another note, I found out something interesting after years of Superman: TAS' existence.

The voice of Mala, one of the Phantom Zone villains in the series, was Sarah Douglas, Ursa from the first two Reeve movies!

I thought she sounded familiar but I never associated Mala with the Superman I/II actress.

Playing evil definitely has its benefits years later when your fans are casting parts for new series!

********

[Ben]

A little disappointed that they're playing the Zod card (c'mon and give us new Superman movie villains already!), but the casting is again on the money. This also lends a bit more to the feeling that this will finally be the definitive "Superman II", as in being a film that picks up after the first film, before and wrangling send the series off on its numerous tangents.

BTW, in my Superman: TAS review, I did mention the Sarah Douglass connection, which I thought was cool. I know you don't like Smallville, George, but they continue to pull off some nice Superman casting in that show too, which is always a bit of fun for long-time fans to geek out on.

[GeorgeC]

Couple more tidbits related to the Superman films Christopher Reeve was in...

These stories have been passed on from people who worked with him on production of those and a few have told at cons...

1) Reeve was very distressed with Marlon Brando at one point during the making of Superman I. Brando apparently wasn't taking the filming that seriously even though it was at that point probably the biggest paycheck he'd ever received. Supposedly, Reeve talked to Brando in private and said words to the effect, "Look, this film is a big deal to me! It's my breakout role. Can you please take this seriously?"

2) Both Kidder and Douglas have supposedly said that Reeve was a pain in the @!$# to work with at times...


Of course, Saturday Night Live has also done its share of Superman parodies. Reeve was involved with at least two of them when he hosted the series some time in 1982 or 1983.

Here's what I remember of the sketches --
1) the first sketch was a recreation of Reeve's audition for the Superman role. He, Rich Hall, and Gary Kroeger read for the part of Clark Kent/Superman. Kroeger had the most melodramatic reading but didn't get the role... See, part of the audition involved the scene where Clark catches a bullet in his mouth. Kroeger was shot dead through the chest! LOL
Rich Hall managed to catch the bullet and was able to press a coal into a diamond. He won the Superman role but couldn't do the film because of a conflict with his dinner theater schedule (or something like that)!
Reeve won the role by default but had a heck of a time catching the bullet in his mouth... He just wasn't fast enough and bullets kept bouncing off his chest!

2) The second SNL parody sketch opens up with a white-haired, mustachioed Reeve in a nursing. He claims to be Superman but nobody believes him. For one thing, he's too old-looking! He exclaims he lost his youth and the bulk of his powers after flying through an acid rain storm! (Remember, Reeve was involved in many causes including environmental ones...) Anyhow, he proves who he is by blowing his birthday cake off the tray! He ends the sketch with, "Still got it!"

[GeorgeC]

New Superman home video news --


From The Digital Bits 14 March, Monday 2011 --

"Now then... we do have something interesting to report this morning, release-wise. Warner's European studio operations have announced The Superman Motion Picture Anthology: 1978-2006 for region-free Blu-ray release in the U.K. on 6/13. It's a 5-disc set, and word is that it will include the original Richard Donner Superman, Superman II (no word if it's the Donner cut or the original Lester version), Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Bryan Singer's Superman Returns. This COULD be cool. It's certainly nice that III and IV will finally be available on Blu-ray. BUT... unless there's new content, the rest of this set is likely to be simply re-issued discs that most fans already own on Blu-ray. Here's what we'd LIKE to see: How about the original theatrical cut of Superman II? Not that we don't LOVE the Donner cut, but still, the original would be nice to have in HD. It would also be great if Warner gave Bryan Singer the chance to create a director's cut of Superman Returns, or at least gave him the chance to finally include the shot-but-never-seen "Return to Krypton" sequence that was originally planned to open the film. Finally, here's what I personally want on Blu-ray more than: The original Fleischer brothers Superman animated shorts in HD. How cool would that be? Wishful thinking maybe, but still. Anyway... we've asked our sources at WHV if this set is planned for release here in the States this year. As always, we'll let you know if we're able to find out anything. Meanwhile, here's what the U.K. set will look like... "


Get that? ALL 5 theatrical Superman films are finally being released on Blu ray!

Doubt we're going to see the Fleischer shorts in HD any time soon unless the master films are in really good condition for HD (which I doubt)... Probably ports of the same extras from the Superman DVD movie collection years back.

Deleted footage would be nice... I'm thinking half the Blu rays will be reprints of what's already available on the market. Possibly both versions of Superman II on Blu ray for the first time. Doubt we'll see an alternate cut of Superman Returns (aka "Creepy Super-Stalker") but maybe the "Return to Krypton" footage will be included as a deleted scene extra.

I have to admit in light of re-viewing some bits of Superman III and IV recently that I'm tempted to get this set on Blu ray. Even Superman III is better than 98% of the superhero drek of the past 20 years. I'm a harsh critic on superhero films since I've grown up with stuff over the past 28 years and expect decent movies -- not strictly straight adaptations or kiddie fodder or "reimagined versions of the characters" -- to be put on the screen. So far, it's been mostly the animation this past twenty years that's led the way. Too bad the money on live-action has been wasted!

[Randall]

I find myself doubting there will be anything new on here, besides HD transfers of III and IV, and the original II. That wouldn't be incentive enough for me to buy a set that comes out a few years later than originally expected. At least the UK set does have the right "S" on it this time.

[GeorgeC]

UPDATE from The Digital Bits on the Superman Blu ray set streeting later this year --

"Also, we've heard back from WHV and have learned that the studio IS indeed planning a U.S. Blu-ray release of The Superman Motion Picture Anthology. There's no additional information from them yet, but I think you can safely assume that it will street here around the same time as the U.K. release in June. We'll post official details as we get them. Meanwhile, there are reports circulating (including here at the Spanish site ZonaDVD) that the set will include 8 discs total - 6 for the movies (including films I, III, IV, Superman Returns and BOTH versions of Superman II on individual discs) and 2 discs of bonus content. Keep in mind this isn't official yet. We expect that WHV will make their actual announcement here in the States in the next few weeks. Thanks to Bits reader Santiago R. for the link. "


So.... Ben, you'll be happy that BOTH versions of Superman II are in the set!

I'm intrigued by what new material could possibly be on those TWO discs of bonus content!

I think I'm getting this set regardless.

I already have half the films on DVD and Superman The Movie on BD (got it free for buying my PS3).