What the Dark Knight has done...

It was kind of expected... Since The Dark Knight has become the second highest grossing film in US history (not taking inflation into account), it was only a matter of time before those rusty little cogs began turning away in the heads of Warner Brothers executives.

Just how could they capitalise on the success of The Dark Knight? Of course, make sure all their films based on DC Comics characters are similarly dark, complex and intense!

And first up, it seems Superman is due for a reboot.

Here are 2 extracts from an interesting Wall Street Journal article on what Warners plans to do with its superhero properties in the coming few years.

Like the recent Batman sequel -- which has become the highest-grossing film of the year thus far -- Mr. Robinov wants his next pack of superhero movies to be bathed in the same brooding tone as "The Dark Knight." Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.' DC properties. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it," he says. That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well.

And:

Warner Bros. also put on hold plans for another movie starring multiple superheroes -- known as "Batman vs. Superman" -- after the $215 million "Superman Returns," which had disappointing box-office returns, didn't please executives. "'Superman' didn't quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to," says Mr. Robinov. "It didn't position the character the way he needed to be positioned." "Had 'Superman' worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009," he adds. "But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all."


Hmmm...

Look, I can understand the desire to "update" Superman for the 21st Century. As much as we actually need and want them in real life, people generally don't like goodie two-shoes heroes in their entertainment diet. They want badasses who dangle thugs off buildings, beat the crap out of them and just generally help us feel less impotent when it comes to fighting back against crime and corruption.

So, yeah, it doesn't surprise me that Wanted and The Ultimates Mark Millar, and others, have been pushing for a on-screen Superman who is loosely defined as an "angry god." You can read about Millar's plans here and here.

And honestly, if you did want to reboot the franchise, the series is now at a logical break point. Let's not deny that Superman Returns didn't so much revamp anything as it carried on with the tone and storyline established in the first 2 Superman films back in 1978 and 1980. And Returns concluded with Superman's own "happy ending" - he is no longer isolated as the last of his kind.

So yes, I suppose I am game for an intense Superman - not so much in terms of Clark losing his innate goodness, and going all dark and vengeful (Superman after all has always been the ying to Batman's yang), but rather in terms of giving him a sinister challenge that allows him to fully exert his powers. I think we're all tired of real estate-obsessed Lex Luthor now.

It has to be noted though that this change in direction is exactly what Superman Returns director Bryan Singer has been promising for some time now. And considering how X-Men 2 was a massive step-up from the character establishment of X-Men, I expect his Superman sequel would be similarly awesome... if he ever gets the chance to make it.

Anyway, Harry Knowles of Aint It Cool News seems to share many of my opinions on the matter, so it's probably worthwhile checking out his article. I don't have much else to say currently... except that Superman isn't and should never be treated like Batman.

Out of interest, according to the Wall Street Journal article, other DC comic adaptations we can look forward to in the next 2-5 years are a third Batman film, and 2 movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. It's unclear who these 2 films will pick as their title star, but Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman films are all currently in development.

Comments

MJenks said…
I'm with you (and Harry, apparently) that Superman can't be treated as the dark and brooding character that Batman is.

Yes, he can become a little more badass, but it would be untrue to his origins to suddenly up and make him a dark, mopey character.

Superman Returns sucked. The only bright spot was Kevin Spacey. You're absolutely right in that we need to move away from Lex Luthor and more toward someone--anyone--else in the DC-universe.
Pfangirl said…
I completely agree, although I seemed to be happier with Superman Returns than a lot of people... although Kate Bosworth was such a dull Lois Lane in comparison to Margot Kidder.

Anyway, I think it would be very interesting to see Supes losing his temper, and getting sulky about always being taken for granted as a hero - but that's as dark as I would take it.

I think it's about time Superman took on a villain who allowed him to actually exert all his powers. Let him throw a punch with his full strength, for God's sake... instead of rolling around on the floor paralysed by Kryptonite.

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