As "The Dark Knight" glides past $500 million at the box office, his fellow DC hero, Superman, is finding his cape clipped. Warner Brothers, who holds the rights to the Man of Steel franchise, is reportedly looking to - once again - reboot it. Bryan Singer's 2006 "Superman Returns" was supposed to breathe new life into Superman, but his reception was apparently too lukewarm.
Warner Brothers Picture Group President Jeff Robinov recently stated the studio's desire to darken the next Superman movie the same way "Batman Begins" did to its titled superhero.
I think this approach is wrong on pretty much all possible levels. "Superman Return's" $200 million domestic box office was disappointing, but not quite a flop. Its overall gross was $391 million, so it at least made back its $270 million budget. While "Superman Returns" wasn't a blow-away hit like "The Dark Knight," it nonetheless netted a majority of positive reviews and good word of mouth.
Warner Brothers radically changing their game plan with the next Superman movie reeks of panic. They clearly want another Batman franchise, and their haste in abandoning Bryan Singer's vision for the hero almost suggests the studio is run by Superman fans hurt that he couldn't beat Batman at the box office.
Strangely enough, Robinov also said the rumored "Superman vs. Batman" film is likely off as a result of the Superman reboot. The presence of the mega-popular Batman would be sure to draw a molten crowd, but Warner Brothers seems too determined to prove Superman can draw the same audience on his own.
Attempting to do that by treating Superman like Batman is an absolute mistake. Superman simply isn't Batman and darkness doesn't suit him like it does the Dark Knight. I associate Superman with the fast-talking newsreels and the newsroom of the Daily Planet, not brooding and the battle within. Warner Brothers may be shooting itself in the foot by thinking fans are willing to associate those Batman hallmarks with the Man of Steel.
Read all about the latest happenings in the world of film at David Wilcox's movie blog, “The Citizen's Cinema,” at www.auburnpub.com.
I think this approach is wrong on pretty much all possible levels. "Superman Return's" $200 million domestic box office was disappointing, but not quite a flop. Its overall gross was $391 million, so it at least made back its $270 million budget. While "Superman Returns" wasn't a blow-away hit like "The Dark Knight," it nonetheless netted a majority of positive reviews and good word of mouth.
Warner Brothers radically changing their game plan with the next Superman movie reeks of panic. They clearly want another Batman franchise, and their haste in abandoning Bryan Singer's vision for the hero almost suggests the studio is run by Superman fans hurt that he couldn't beat Batman at the box office.
Strangely enough, Robinov also said the rumored "Superman vs. Batman" film is likely off as a result of the Superman reboot. The presence of the mega-popular Batman would be sure to draw a molten crowd, but Warner Brothers seems too determined to prove Superman can draw the same audience on his own.
Attempting to do that by treating Superman like Batman is an absolute mistake. Superman simply isn't Batman and darkness doesn't suit him like it does the Dark Knight. I associate Superman with the fast-talking newsreels and the newsroom of the Daily Planet, not brooding and the battle within. Warner Brothers may be shooting itself in the foot by thinking fans are willing to associate those Batman hallmarks with the Man of Steel.
Read all about the latest happenings in the world of film at David Wilcox's movie blog, “The Citizen's Cinema,” at www.auburnpub.com.
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