NOLAN MEETING DIRECTORS FOR SUPES, WRITINGS WORDS FOR BATS - Page 2

Interesting that you say that, as "verisimilitude" was Donner's oft-repeated keyword when making the original Superman film. Donner used the term to instill in his crew a belief in the world in which they were creating, so you can have verisimilitude and have "Supes punching Darkseid so hard you can see the shockwave from outer space" and have people believe in it.

Donner's film was Donner's film. Everyone should let it rest. And as for verisimilitude even he didn't have a problem cheating and breaking his world's rules if it made for a better story.

I have let it go. I don't want this film to be Donner's film, Singer already tried that, and hobbled his own film in the process, just using it as an example that a Superman film doesn't have to completely toss aside reality (or a reality) to work.

Yeah, but there's cheating and then there's just setting things visually to where they're surreal to the point where you just can't invest in it.

This is how Snyder's films leave me, usually, and I don't think I'm alone there.

The good thing is Nolan is obviously quite opposed to that kind of approach, and as producer, I have to imagine he's going to steer it away from that.

Snyder's work on Watchmen was a pretty good step towards a more realistic world, for the most part. Hopefully he can take that about twenty steps further for this if he gets the job.

Matt Reeves will likely get it, but it's exciting that Zack Snyder is in the mix. Hopefully, the seeds are being laid for Snyder to become DC's Favreau post-Batman 3. I'd really love to see Snyder's THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

Jones is too green for Superman, but how fucking cool is it that he's even been considered? If he were to get it, we'd probably see a repeat of the Gavin Hood-as-studio-muppet X-Men Origins: Wolverine fiasco.

He built sets for Watchmen. Lots of sets. There isn't a wholly CG backdrop in that entire movie besides Mars and the shot of Ozy in front of the "squid".

Plus, if there's anyone on the planet who is a fucking master at getting very precisely perfect CG elements from the FX studios he works with, it's him.

Snyder and Reeves and Scott are the three people I see on that list and go "I know they can do unbelievably large scale stuff". Jones has made a one-man show and just finished what is a very small scale action flick with a mindfuck bend to it - I can only imagine him being horribly overwhelmed by what will very much be a huge production. Liebesman's the lowest on the totem pole because of Clash 2. Scott just doesn't seem like the type to say yes.

I'd honestly go with Snyder. This news came out right before I watched Guardians last night, and, well - let's just say Snyder gets the joy of flying the way Cameron and Sanders do, which is a key component to Supes, of course. Plus, everything about Superman is so oversized and operatic in nature that Snyder's penchant for speed ramping big moments would actually be a boon to things.

Plus, I can only imagine Warner Bros. salivating over putting "PRODUCED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DARK KNIGHT AND INCEPTION" above "DIRECTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF 300 AND WATCHMEN".

And we're gonna get a CG heavy film. It's Superman. Even the Donner one is filled with optical effects that were pretty much the CG of it's time. Batman can be done with 95% in-camera effects because the sci-fi element to him is very slight. Superman is pretty much the complete opposite. His origin, his existence, his rogue's gallery outside of Luthor, is all high concept outrageous science fiction stuff, really.

Whether the film ends up any good, no one knows, but considering Nolan and his relationship with the WB, I say with full confidence that this particular scenario is nigh impossible.

You're absolutely right. I somehow forgot that Nolan's the overseer of this project.

For what it's worth, here are a couple of tweets from Harry:

So maybe we're getting excited over nothing...

20 steps further for a more realistic Supes world? Why? WATCHMEN is flawed, but the world still had a great balance of real and comic book. Great attention to details, style, and period. I don't know how Snyder's testosterone approach would mix with The Boyscout's persona, but I'm curious about it.

Is he my number one pick? No. But I don't think you can fault him in the world-building dpt.

Duncan Jones made a remark on Twitter (quickly pulled) confirming his candidacy as did Matt Reeves to Jo Blo. Both were coy/vague about it.

Also Harry initially said that Goyer wasn't writing Superman because "Thomas Tull told me so!"

It's really more personal preference. And like I said, Watchmen is actually a good example of him working with real sets and environments. The whole "twenty steps" thing is an exaggeration, obviously and really just highlights my taste (as opposed to some concrete shortcoming of his).

I just don't want a Superman film filled with shit like that shot in the trailer for Sucker Punch where the car is approaching the hospital. Just totally fake looking. That's what I wouldn't want here.

But visually, I pretty much trust the guy. I mean if there's one thing he's proven he can handle it's the visuals. It's all the other stuff that I'd be apprehensive about.

Yeah I agree. I'd much rather see Mute than another Superman, but I guess that will depend on how well Source Code does.
I'd honestly like this more than anything, and then they could squeeze Micheal Bay and the Wachowskis in there.

Joey is saying what I haven't been able to get back to my computer and say.

Snyder is fine, I just don't want 300 meets Superman. Sets and stuff are great, but I want the guy on location to give me a better sense that Superman is inhabiting the real world. And yes I realize Superman's Metropolis isn't "real".

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning didn't totally sell you on his ability to do Superman? Weirdo.

Matt Reeves will probably be a good choice, although I haven't see Cloverfield yet. Nolan will hire a director whom he can work with and won't dictate too much of his own vision, so directors like Michael Bay won't be feasible. I think Matthew Vaughn is another good director for this Superman reboot, but he's too busy with the X-Men: First Class right now.

It would be interesting if Marvel/Fox moved to keep Vaughn from doing a DC/WB project.

I'd be OK with Snyder if Nolan forced him not to use speed ramping. The occasional dramatic slow-mo shot is OK, but constant, sudden slow-mo never serves to heighten the action-- it's nothing special when it's happening all the time. And it's boring. It's what ruined the action in 300.

Given their past (profitable) work for WB, I'm surprised that Francis Lawrence and David Yates aren't on that list.

Ah but I think this is Nolan's list. Not necessarily WB's list.

I have to agree that Tony Scott is a terrible choice, but even though I'm kind of ticked at Mr Reeves for taking the LTROI gig, I quite liked his approach to action in CLOVERFIELD and a Superman movie filtered through those sensibilities might be neat (no clue if he has a good head for story, but Nolan could help with that I guess).

I do hope that Mr Routh retains the cape though

Also cool, which I forgot to mention before: The new Bale/Batman movie comes out the day after my B-Day in 2012. Not since Free Willy 2 came out ON my B-Day has there been so much excitement!

PS Also against Snyder, perhaps even more than Scott

Some wise person in another thread raised the oh-so-perfect notion of a Frank Darabont Superman movie.

I WANT THAT.

Seconded. Snyder's a great choice for bringing TDKR to the screen.

I would think so, and even more so with Batman releasing that same summer. Either a 2012 winter release or summer 2013 otherwise there is WAY too much superhero over load going on that summer.


and sign me up on the Ducan Jones directing bandwagon

OooOooOooo.... I like this idea.

After Source Code, Duncan Jones could be in a similar position to Nolan pre-Batman Begins (ignoring Following). One modestly budgeted excellently constructed movie financed on the back of a great actor (Rockwell and Pearce) followed by a bigger, but still relatively quiet and introspective movie with a more bankable lead (Gyllenhall and Pacino).

I think a lot of the decision will be based on who Nolan has chemistry with, but Jones would be the very interesting and somewhat appropriate choice.

I would also love Jones to be given $150 million to be able to fully create his own world Inception style, and a successful Superman gig would be the fast track to that.

Doyle, I am ready for what should be...THE, year for superhero films...2012!
The Avengers
Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance
Dredd
Spider-Man
Batman 3
Possible 2012
Wolverine 2
Superman: The Man Of Steel
TMNT

For the person who didn't think Jones would be good for the project because he wasn't into superheros...

I believe a certain Ridley Scott wasn't into monster/slasher movies... and then he made Alien.

Sometimes the best films are made from people who put their unique spin on things they don't necessarily care for.

I would like to see Edgar Wright get chance on a Superman movie.

Zack Snyder is my pick. I don't read comic(s) and I didn't know jack-shit about THE WATCHMEN - but I was invested and I enjoyed the movie. I re-visit it from time to time. Tony Scott is an obvious NO!

My Director Dream Pick(s) for the new SUPERMAN:

John Woo - Fucking think about it. Off-da-chain!

The Wachowski Bros. - THE MATRIX movies was essentially an audition for SUPERMAN w/ Neo flying and shit.

Also, my new SUPERMAN would be Ryan Reynolds.

I think the perfect director would be Pixar star director Brad Bird.

I also still live in a fantasy world where Brad Bird is the top choice.

Of the choices I'm of course most interested in Ducan (who's career would then follow a similar tragectory to Nolans), but there would be some irony in Reeves getting the job, since he'd likely be assistant director had JJ Abrahms had his way with the previous reboot). I like Snyder, but not at all for Superman.

Edit: fuck that took forever to load and is totally moot.

Yep. a billion times yes. Give Brad Bird a Superman film set in the 40's with giant robots.

I want to live in this world.

So do I, but this world ain't it.

Nicholas Meyer and Star Trek agree with this.

I'd rather set it in the style of TAS, where Metropolis was still recognizably set in the present, but had futuristic touches to show that it's a really advanced city in America.

I must add my voice to those calling for Brad Bird or Frank Darabont. I think as long as Nolan was there to keep the tone and story dark, Bird could do good work and I believe Darabont would rise to the occasion as well

PS I am pleased to see that ForsakenNoMore seconds my suggestion of the Wachowskis (though I guess I don't realistically see that happening)

No one wants a dark Superman. Terrible idea.

Well, not Dark as in brooding, but the film needs a real world edge to it. He's still a boy scout, but one who has to wrestle with the moral dilemma of trying to do good in a world that's not so black and white. I assume WB wants Nolan for his real world sensibilities when it comes to the Super Hero genre.

Oooooh yeeaaaah.

Since we are in fantasy land casting this movie I will throw in Micheal Bay. I'm 100% series.

Of course this is pre-Pearl Harbor Michael Bay I'm talking about.

Far, far too many otherwise sensible people seem to think Zack Snyder is capable of directing anything besides traffic. Even if all you want out of a Superman movie is a brainless actionfest, there are still tons of directors who can do that shit better than Snyder. He's the very definition of "all flash, no substance". The guy couldn't even adapt Frank Miller's 300 properly for fuck's sake.

Fortunately, Nolan's way too smart to hire him. I strongly suspect he's there because WB wants him, not Nolan.

I've come to realize in recent years that Superman is one of my favorite superheroes, and he really does deserve his place as one of the most enduring icons of pop culture. He's also one of the most intellectually engaging superhero characters, as people like Alan Moore and Grant Morrison have proven. In fact, I'd argue that he's far more suited for Nolan's directorial style than Batman ever was. And since I see some strong similarities between Jones's style and Nolan's, I'm not surprised the two of them might want to work together. I do agree about franchisitis and the fact that Jones hasn't been proven as an action director, but still, I think he's a promising candidate. I can easily see him doing something along the lines of All-Star Superman, which is basically my ideal Superman movie.

I'd be cool with Reeves, though, assuming he was there mostly as a proxy for Nolan.

An R-rated Tony Scott Superman gets my vote (as long as Walken plays Luthor).

I'm not a Michael Bay fan but I always felt he could make a great Superman movie.

Why in the world should Superman be R-rated?

And why Walken?

What did he miss?

I thought Miller was super-happy with the movie.

Snyder can't write for shit, but I have little doubt that with Nolan's help and someone else writing the script that he would knock a Superman movie out of the fucking park. The dude can flat out shoot, and shoot action better than almost anyone working today. His visual flair with Superman's powers would result in something truly exciting and epic.

There really aren't any bad names on that list, Reeves and Liebesman seem to be the wild cards. But I'd like to see Tony Scott's Superman, if only because I can't imagine what that would be. Has he ever done anything even remotely like this (family-friendly action/adventure)? On the other hand, the man who made Top Gun should know something about filming flying things.

Instead he opts to direct MI: 4. One would assume the Superman gig is open and running hot in Hollywood for those in the know. Had Brad Bird have a savvy agent and whatnot, he'd tell Brad Bird to chill and nab the Superman gig. No instead, Brad Bird is going to debut his live feature w/ a sequel/reboot that nobody cares for w/ Tom Cruise. Talk about a waste of time.

And I'm going to watch it.

It was said earlier as a joke, but Denzel Washington could be an awesome Lex.