A friend of mine from Live Journal (Hey, DJ!) posted this on her journal and as the title of this post suggests I was afraid of something like this.
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.
The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.
Yeah, because a dark and brooding Superman is exactly what we need.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved Dark Knight. I thought it was a fantastic movie and just what the Batman franchise needed. My hope was that the execs at Warner Bros. would see that the movie worked because it fit that particular character and and that Iron Man worked because it was right for that character and that the same would go for Watchmen and that they would say, “Maybe we should do the same for Superman, but make it fit that character.” My fear was that they would look at the money pouring in from Dark Knight and go, “Hey, it was dark and made money. Let’s make them all dark and brooding because that must be why it was successful.”
Sigh.
Now it’s all up in the air and I don’t know what is going to happen. Maybe this approach will end up working. I was against a full reboot because I liked Routh in the role. I have multiple issues with Superman Returnsand most of those involved a kid that was about so tall and was chucking pianos about three quarters into the flick. So I liked Routh and I liked Spacey, but the story left me with problems and I was torn about the reboot.
This reminds me of that period between 1998 and 2004 when all kinds of messed up announcements were coming down the pike and everything looked freaking horrible. Anyone besides me remember that? When John Peters was talking about a Superman that would be “bad to know” and Krypton wasn’t going to blow up? What Warners produces could be great or it could be terrible. I really have no idea.
At the end of the day all I want is a Superman film that ends and I not only want to immediately see again but also one that has me going, “That was so freaking cool!”
Only time will tell I guess.
More to follow…
Meh, that “dark” thing sounded like Robinov talking out his you-know-what. It can only be a matter of time until someone pulls him aside and explains the darkness/moodiness/emo’ness of Superman Returns is why that movie sucks in the first place.
WB has heard several reboot pitches with more along the way. Many of them revolve around veterans like Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Mark Waid and others. There is a LOT of potential here and WB has learned much since last time.
I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to hope that they’ve learned the RIGHT things.
How predictable. It might be possible, but I just can’t see them casting anyone better than Routh to play Superman.
Hey Mike, how about a big screen adaption of the current Brainiac story in Action Comics?
Based on the story so far I would love to see that.
Really, really, really love to see that.
How can a guy who gets his powers from the sun be dark?
i think you’ve nailed it here, mr. bailey. the only way comic book movies are succesful are by taking the strengths of the character and world and playing to them, designing the whole story and production design around them, rather than making all heroes fit into one paradigm.
Four movies in three years, eh? *looks at watch* Maybe not.