SAG & AFTRA Nix Non-Union 'The Hobbit': … 
JEFF ZUCKER FIRED BY STEVE BURKE: Comcast … 
Oscar Contenders, Part 2: Now For The … 
Chris Nolan Looks For 'Superman' Director 
Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet To Star In … 
'Goodfellas' TV Series Has Town Jumping; But … 
SHAKEUP: Warner Bros Unveils Succession 
Rob Zombie Bewitched by 'Lords of Salem' 
NBC Lands J.J. Abrams' Project With Michael … 
Mike Darnell Explains 'Idol' Format Changes 
IT'S OFFICIAL: Fox Announces Steven Tyler … 
Could Mel Gibson Become A Late Player In … 
ANALYSIS: The Demise Of 'Lone Star' And The … 
USA Picks Up 'Law & Order: CI' For … 
The Importance Of Academy Screenings: Oscar … 
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Brothers film execs are telling Deadline there will be major announcements involving DC characters coming in 4 weeks. But I can tell you now that Superman producers Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas are getting closer to resuscitating the Man of Steel. I'm told they have begun meeting with a short list of directors for the job of directing Superman, the picture which will be financed by Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. On the list: Unstoppable's Tony Scott, Let Me In director Matt Reeves, Battle: Los Angeles helmer Jonathan Liebesman (who just got the Warner Bros/Legendary job of directing Clash of the Titans 2), Duncan Jones, who just directed Source Code, and Sucker Punch helmer Zack Snyder. 
As Deadline first revealed back in February (Chris Nolan Will Mentor Superman 3.0), Nolan came up with an idea that put the Batman director in a godfather position on Superman, which besides from the Batfranchise is the linchpin of DC Comics franchise characters. David Goyer wrote a script. Several of these directors have movie commitments like Liebesman, which make then unlikely. Nolan has already started meeting with candidates and will submit his choice to the studio within the next few weeks. Warner Bros and Legendary have to get the picture made by 2012, because the studio stands to lose certain rights to the iconic character in 2013 after a judge ruled favorably on behalf of the heirs of Superman creator Jerry Siegel. As I've reported previously, the studio at one point wanted Guillermo del Toro to resurrect Superman... Will tell you more when I hear it.
Chris Nolan Looks For 'Superman' Director
COMMENTS (129)
POST A COMMENT
Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, don't get your facts wrong, and don't bore me.
-
News/Opinion Poll
Loading ...Box Office Poll
Loading ...
Movieline
Matt Reeves
Next.
NOT Scott!
K-thnx
I agree not Tony Scott.
UNSTOPPABLE looks terrible!!
As far as M.Night Shyamalan, Michael Bay and Nora Ephron stay away from this,it won’t be a monstruosity.
Agree, Reeves would be the fresh choice. I’ve heard Duncan Jones’ movie is having problems and is not good.
The amazing script “Source Code” has been made into a bad movie? Where did you HEAR this?
I would like to know how do you know “Source code” is going bad
Mr. snyder all the way!!!!
Spike Lee…duh.
Spike Lee come one if thats not a joke if i havent heard one spike lee is overrated and he sucks
It would be awesome if Nolan did it himself
Just imagine that in 70 years a studio is rushing to remake Inception so they can keep some of the rights away from Nolan’s children and grandchildren. Nice.
Wow, so many interesting names. My own picks are Duncan Jones and Matt Reeves because they are the closest to Nolan’s style. Scott, as we all know, is his own wild self, while Snyder may not understand the spirit of The Man of Tomorrow just like he missed-out with Watchmen: substance with no heart.
Thanks for the scoop!
Watchmen had no heart?
Watchmen had no heart and no substance.
Watchmen, in its ultimate or directors cut, was an amazing movie.
Zack certainly succeeded at producing one of the most faithful superhero film adaptations ever made. And no one can claim Zack didn’t “get” the comic or that his heart wasn’t 100% in the right place. I think Superman would be in good hands with Zack, especially in a team-up with Nolan. We haven’t really seen a classic superhero film in recent years that was beautiful to look at and filled with visual wonderment and frames that were ready-made for posters, pictures and magazine covers. That alone would be worth something. But the combination of Zack’s visual sense with Nolan’s storytelling depth could really amount to something. They could make a potent mix like Lucas and Spielberg did in the 1980s. Or maybe even like Lucas and Irvin Kershner, with one man’s great visual imagination married to the other man’s intense focus on plot and character.
You are a delusional fool… If Watchmen had anything, it was heart… It might not be a fast paced entertainer you’d like it to be… but so what.. It was a good movie with something most movies lack.. Heart… It stayed with you after you left the theatre…
Agree I liked watchmen, not perfect, but I have watched twice with increasing enjoyment.
Wait– Watchmen had SUBSTANCE?!
I’m assuming you meant to write “style.”
Snyder is the obvious choice but i’m going to go with Matt Reeves. Let Me In looks really well done.
I thought Jonathan Nolan wrote the script and was potentially up for directing with his older brother mentoring him? These other directors seem pretty uninspired for such an important franchise.
I agree, give it to Jonathan
Making us wait to hear more about del Toro. You, sir, are evil.
Duncan Jones would be ideal.
Matt Reeves is kind of an interesting choice. I’d be interested to see what Paul Greengrass or Alfonso Cuaron would do with a Superman movie. Or Fincher! Could you imagine? Someone needs to give him a big action tentpole…
It’s happening. He’s doing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for Disney. Weird quotes have surfaced describing this as Fincher’s “Empire Strikes Back”, which make me strangely giddy.
Paul Greengrass? – Oh great we’d get a Superman movie where instead of a giant S on his suit he has a giant Obama O on it, his catchphrase would be ‘Yes, we can!’ as he flies around the country bitch slapping all who disagree with the redistribution of wealth.. all the while it looks like Greengrass gave all of his cameras to a class of recovering alcoholics
Yeah, that’s the type of Superman movie I wanna see
Bitter, much?
Fincher has stated in interviews that he has no interest in Comic book movies.
Cauron would be an interesting choice. Especially working with Nolan. He would be up for prob since he already has a Harry Potter film under his belt.
Haha, David Fincher already ruined the Alien tent pole, dummy!
That was David Fincher’s first movie man. He’s obviously done a lot of growing as a filmmaker in the past twenty years. I think he can handle a Superman movie if he wanted, but he would never take it. Plus the script to every Alien movie after James Cameron’s has been sh##$.
Any word on who will wear the cape?
That was sigoirney weaver. David just came in last minute.
Snyder would produce the most visually interesting film. Can’t imagine Liebesman having time to do this film with his other projects.
1. Jones. 2. Tony Scott. 3. Reeves. All three of those guys could do a very exciting new take on Superman.
please let it be Fincher or an unknown. Everyone listed in the article has style that gets in the way of story.
Tony Scott is the biggest legend of all the Director’s on that list. He is even bigger than Christopher Nolan. Reminder, Nolan has only had recent hits and is a fairly new success story. While Tony Scott’s hits go all the way back to the 80’s when he helped create the modern blockbuster with Beverly Hills Cop 2 and Top Gun.
Since then, I think that Tony Scott has gotten to serious, in not wanting to much of the fun popcorn atmosphere coming from his movies. In any case it would be awesome to see him Direct a Superman since he’s so stylized.
Let’s hope that Lois Lane is finally hot on the big screen. Kidder had the sex appeal of a nun and that lady in Returns was Directed by a literal gay Director who didn’t care about her sex appeal.
I thought Jonathan Nolan was offered the directing job. Was he considered too inexperienced?
Matt Reeves would be a terrible choice!
Funny that the tool now in sr exec position at Legendary used to run Bryan Singer’s company and was instrumental in the shit-biscuit that baked a few years ago… you know, the GAY Supe film?
So while they most certainly aren’t going to retry that formula — and they may ha\ve even pay-or-played Singer to the biggest pickup-paycheck of his life just to keep him away, giving him that JOLLY GREEN GIANT MOVIE — they’ll find a way to muck it all up again… such a dated character anyways… if it could be great, Nolan would have taken that pot of gold himself…
Next is right… as in next spandex pile o’ crap.
Make MOVIES again, please?!
You say, “gay” like it’s a bad thing. You, sir, are a bigot.
No, sir, not a bigot… and FYI, I am gay myself. But never in all my imaginations did I want my SUPERMAN to exist in the toilet bowl that it did…
Hire the Coen Brothers to do a period piece Superman, set in the 50’s to start off the rebooted franchise.
Make it the ’40s and I’m sold.
Nolan was perfect to be the creative force behind the reboot of Batman but i strongly believe that he is unfit to handle the reboot of Superman.
The problem is that Superman in a basic level of characterization,is the opposite of Batman:
while Batman is pessimistic,anti-social and having lost his trust to the people,Superman on the other hand is optimistic,with hope and believing in people.
The one’s identity is compromised by personal trauma,the other’s identity is transformed by goodness.Thats why Batman was a perfect subject for Nolan,since his filmography focuses a lot in the identity of a person and the psychological damage that is hidden behind and also because his cold style of direction fits the cold personality of Batman.
But Superman is in the opposite side of the territory that Nolan loves so much to explore,and going to that opposite direction is what worries me most wit this reboot project.
Now Nolan has reassured the fans that he is going to do his best so that the movie will be as faithful as possible to Superman’s personality and his world.
He did a wise thing to hire Goyer to write the script of the movie,and i say wise because lets face it as comic-book style goes,BB was the more comic-ish movie.And Superman needs to be comic-ish since now we are leaving Batman’s territory of realism and grittiness.If nothing else,this choice reassured that Nolan truly “gets it”
But now Nolan suggests these directors for the movie to the studio (provided that these news are true) and with the exception of Snyder,the other guys,though talented,they dont ,lets say,inspire much confidence that they are suitable for this project.
1.Snyder
i like him and i think his Watchmen gets more trashing that it deserves.ofc
2.Tony Scott
he is Ridley Scott’s poor man.if you managed to watch his latest movies despite his motion-sickness shaky cam work,when was the last time that he focused more to the characters than the VFX?
3.Duncan Jones
i am almost sure that this is the guy that Nolan is going to support and promote until the studio makes its final decision.i say that because Jones has made a movie which also explores the subject of the identity crisis and his direction style seems a bit cold and sterile as Nolan’s
4.Matt Reeves
Clovefield was crap but his remake is getting good reviews.I havent seen it so i can make a complete judgment of his skill but regardless,i think he is the candidate with the least chance to get the job.maybe for the better.
5.Jonathan Liebesman
yeah that footage was cool,but shouldnt we wait to see the actual movie first? just saying…
anyway thats my opinion on the subject.i really hope that this reboot will end up having a better luck than Singer’s fiasco (which was a good movie but not the movie that the fans wanted) and not dissapoint.
As long as the suit isn’t made of lizard skin like the last one, get Ratner
Ratner? Why not Uwe Boll while we’re talking hacks.
Michael Mann
Alain Resnais
Jean-Luc Godard
Brad Bird
but seriously, I have no idea. While I certainly like the idea of Chris Nolan coaching this whole thing without quarterbacking, all the young names make me slightly specious, mainly as I haven’t seen anything really cerebral come from them. I dunno, maybe I’m wrong
Tom Strong, you’re the dummy! FOX ruined Alien 3 by rushing the film into production without a script. Fincher showed promise even with the disaster.
Perhaps I missed it, but does anyone know whether this new Superman movie is supposed to be a continuation of the 2006 Bryan Singer film, or a remake/reboot with new casting, story, etc?
I’m pretty sure it is a reboot. There is no attempt to extend Singer or Donner’s take on the character. Singer’s movie was an intent to extend Donner’s vision. In previous interviews Nolan discussed taking the character back to his roots.
That Superman (based on my memory) wasn’t yet the icon of “justice, truth, and the american way” that we were introduced to in the ’50’s. He was more of a prankster, trickster, and and oddly (to our memories) rebellious. I believe when this character is comical it isn’t along the lines that Christopher Reeve demonstrated.
I really can’t wait to see the movie should it stay on this narrative trajectory Nolan suggested.
Sounds like they could call it “Superman is a Dick.”
If you like 50’s Wonder bread Superman, more power to you and the other millions of people who agree with you. I always thought the original Superman was a bit of a bully myself but I don’t know what the script entails so I am willing to hold out for the film.
I think Nolan’s instincts have been pretty amazing. Of course it takes the right director to do the vision justice. I imagine this why there is so much anticipation.
1) Brad Bird
A former Warner Bros Animation guy, Bird gets story almost too well. Best track record out of any director. MI 4 is supposedly amazing.
2) JJ Abrams
If he isn’t doing Star Trek 2, he should be hired to do this. Superman can’t mimic Dark Knight. It’s a totally different city/character/universe. I’d even argue that the last Superman was too jarring for the typical audience to enjoy (he has a kid, Lois married, etc). I love what Abrams did w/ Hoffman’s character in MI4 and even though people complain about Nero in Star Trek he was the perfect reboot villain. This is a story about Lois and Clark. Build it up so we love both and go from there.
2) Jason Reitman
Sort of “out of nowhere” but Reitman understands how to direct lead actors better than anyone (which was the main fault of Snyder and Singer. Superman is an American hero, who needs to have charm and sex appeal.
3) Robert Zemekis
He’s close to being a household name, won an Oscar for Gump. Made Back to the Future. He’s been Box Office great w/ Polar Express, Beowulf, and Christmas Carol yet none of those films have been fan-base heavy.
um..you have to understand that jj abrams is under a very lucrative contract with paramount and though he has a T.v deal with warner bros. i dont think paramount would like him making a movie for them..but he would be one of my top choices to.
Gore Verbinski
There’s nothing for someone with the last name Reeves working on the Superman franchise to be superstitious about. Nothing at all.
Zack Snyder. So the film will at least have good action sequences and a great visual look.
Nolan can write the script to make you fanboys happy.
If he was not directing The Avengers, I’d say Joss Whedon should direct this.
Enough of this crap about Tony Scott being the “poor man’s” Ridley Scott.
Tony Scott has made some really important films over the years and has more artistic integrity than these other men combined. I admit that some of his last few films weren’t the best, but please show some respect to a genuine talent.
Important? Whaaaa?
NAME ONE.
The HUNGER!
so good – great 80s art sleaze
woah, important? laughable.
Tony Scott is a homeless mans Ridley Scott. His flagship efforts are Beverly Hills Cop 2 and Top Gun (True Romance was Tarantino’s baby and probably would have been better if directed it himself). come on. are you kidding me? Have you seen Domino? Anybody but that guy. Anybody.
Other top notch Tony Scott films? Crimson Tide and True Romance (QT isn’t a good director, particularly at that point in his career, but hardly even good now). Tony AND Ridley need fantastic scripts to make good films — Ridley’s best films where 30 years ago. Only Gladiator since T&L was worth watching or even making.
Tony hasn’t made a good movie in years, the last being decent was Man on Fire. Sorry.
His new ‘edgy’ style is contrived and forced. Of course I think can easily say that True Romance, Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop 2 were entertaining, if not great movies. But as of right now, he’s slowly losing it.
Darren Aronofsky
I’d like to see Neill Blomkap take a shot at Superman.
How about they make “A Shot at Superman with Tila Tequila?” There’s your Lois, boys.
This is an interesting idea.
Although the problem with Superman is the concept is basically outdate in a post-9/11 world. Superman should exist within the Batman Universe like in Miller’s DKR, but as a stand alone, it’s not a quality property… UNLESS you go all cosmic with the villain, or use Brainiac (which I doubt WB would do), but we’ll see ANOTHER revised version of Luthor or the Phantom Zone villains. The villain is the key to any comic hero, and Superman’s greatest adversary is really himself.
Superman just isn’t that compelling, perhaps if the script followed Byrne’s revamp/reboot, then it MIGHT have some merit, but odds are that Goyer wrote a “good” script, but nothing exciting.
The Aliens franchise isn’t and shouldn’t be treated as a tentpole. It’s a one-note concept that only gains additional legs when treated in a social commentary. If you think Superman is a limited character, then the Alien is that minus the human element. So don’t blame Fincher for having trouble with a concept that reached its creative peak with Cameron’s offering. That said, I’d rather see Fincher attempt Preacher, but his Nemo will be great.
Alfonso Cuarón or Zack Snyder. Tony Scott would be Kryptonite to this project.
Absolutely. Tony Scott is the man. But I wouldn’t recommend him for the job. You know what, I’ll go out on a limb here and suggest Michael Bay. Yeah I know his characters are super thin and plotting is questionable, but he’s a showman, he’s got pizzaz, he’s all about the American iconographic landscape. That’s who Superman really is. And thats why Superman Returns ultimately failed because it tried really hard to distance itself away from that. Along with the stupid plot of the kid and kryptonite island which also proved to be a major detriment to the film.
Sorry but have to shout this:
WHOEVER GETS THE JOB, NO SHAKY CAM AND SLO-MO CRAP!!!!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!THE TERROR OF THOSE STUPID STYLE DEVICES MUST STOP ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!!
My two top choices:
a) Zack Snyder (Quit bashing Watchmen, it was as good as the source material, even better in places! And have you forgotten 300??????)
b) Tony Scott (Would LOVE to see him do Superman in his edgy, stylized “Man of Fire” mode but you fanboy traditionalist assholes would whine too much)
How can Duncan Jones seriously be on this list? How do you go from little indie flick with literally 3 people in it (one of them a disembodied voice) to tentpole/blockbuster/CGI fest? Get real.
And scoff if you want to but MICHAEL BAY is an EXCELLENT choice to reboot the Man of Steel. Real balls-out summer action from an American character we can believe in, not some ambivalent gay shit. Imagine the LA street battle from Transformers only with Superman and Metallo???? Nuff said!
I certainly won`t scoff at Bay because Bay is excellent at doing Americana and Supes is all about it. Unlike Batman, Supes isn`t an emo/dark/whatever they call it now type of a character. He is all sunshine and virtues and Bay owns blowing up s*** in broad daylight so to speak.
But looks like they aren`t going in that direction.
Bay’s aesthetic choices, if you can call them that, always give a migraine headache after the 2nd action scene. And transformers 2 was UNWATCHABLE, walked out 5 minutes in.
NEVER suggest Bay for anything, he has no sense of nuance or emotion… unless he’s using slo-mo to convey a bevy of emotions… what hack work
Please god NO CAMP HUMOR THIS TIME. No Lex Luthor. Let’s have a Lois Lane who’s not only sexy but not a bitch or unsympathetic (like Margot Kidder & the Supman Returns’ Kate Bosworth.
Let’s have a story with real characterizatons; humor that is contextual; and a script that has decent cliffhangers. Let’s have a story that pits Superman against someone (or some Thing) that is as strong as he is… and lastly, a storyline that involves feeling without dumb sentimentality like the other Supermans.
Interestingly, the best Superman was really George Reeves. He was not a boyish, soap opera stud; but a man (read the comics, people) with maturity and intelligence. And as Clark Kent, he never played the goof-off fool, with slicked-back hair like a yokel – like Reeve and Routh. This was the real Superman of the comics as he should have been, not a dick-of-a-producer’s idea. I sincerely hope that this Superman is a man and not a kid. The movie’s not called Superboy, yeah’know?!
How can there be a superman movie without Lex Luthor? Next to superman he is the most importent character in that series. I say have Lex as a supporting villian and not a main villian. Mob bosses should always be written that way unless the writers plan to kill them off.
RIDLEY SCOTT SHOULD DO IT OR LUCAS…THEY WOULD GIVE IT A MORE EPIC MAYBE BIBLICAL WEIGHT.
1) Duncan Jones – “Moon” proved that this guy is a master in the making. Simple, Brilliant, Beautiful, Haunting…and CHEAP! A true auteur.
2) Matt Reeves – “Let Me In” shows lots of promise, especially for a remake of another excellent film. He’s proven he can adapt classic material in new and exciting ways.
3) Darren Aronofsky – Nuff said.
*Zack Snyder = Disaster! His vision is way too homoerotic!! You might as well give Bryan Singer another shot (please don’t!).
*Tony Scott = Terrible! His editing style and his entire approach are beyond dated. Super 90s. No thanks.
MOON is over-rated. While I liked the film, it doesn’t demonstrate that he has a “vision” or has mastered the craft — 50 different 1st timers have done better.
What about the Hughes Brothers? or F. Gary Gray? Or Peter Jackson? I can’t give Matt Reeves any props, Let Me In “looks good”? Uh, see the movie before recommending that he do a franchise; not to say that he’s good or bad, but the jury is still out. Might as well suggest Lars van Triers!
Honestly, you’d need a director who can stand up to the WB brass.
Isn’t Tony Scott directing another train film with Denzel Washington in 2012? I thought he had one more train movie left on his deal.
Ben Affleck directing. Jon Hamm as Superman.
Hamm as Superman is a good choice. Tina Fey as Lois Lane? Mmmmmm…..
I honestly dont care as long as Brandon Routh plays Superman!
Kathryn Bigelow
Alfonso Cuarón
Neil Blomkamp
These are the folks I’d be calling.
Snyder is probably the front-runner, being in the Warners family. I can’t imagine they want to hand it over to a younger director that doesn’t have experience with this kind of budget/logistics…just like what happened with Berlanti on Green Lantern.
Tony Scott is too frenetic and not character-driven enough, especially for Nolan. The best new idea would be Cuaron–Gravity may not happen but he’s proven that he’s gifted with character and large-budget filmmaking. That would immediately give the project a legitimacy that the other options, as talented as they may be, do not.
Duncan Jones!
keep zack snyder the hell away from this property.
he demonstrated no understanding of the watchmen material.
the fact it turned out ok visually is the whole thing had been storyboarded for him some 20+ years ago – in comic form. everything else was terrible. nixon’s prosthetic nose pretty much summed up that movie. the nose might have been anatomically correct but it looked ridiculous and fake. Likewise imbuing screwed up and very human heroes in funny costumes with super-strength shows how he was miles away from that story’s whole raison d’etre.
he is incompetent and vacuous, but i guess that chimes with the audiences appetites. a visual director but visuals are only a fraction of what makes a good movie.
brad bird would be awesome though…
Why does every Superman have to be a “return to roots” affair? That always consumes half the movie! Why not assume the truth: everyone knows his story, and make a movie about Superman saving the world from some dastardly villain(s), and needing the help of Lois and Jimmy to make it happen?
The 50s TV series did something like this every week, as did the 60s Batman TV series. Why the constant Hollywood need to “reintroduce” us to characters that every native-born American KNOWS?
1st: Duncan Jones… Superman needs a compelling character arch mixed with action, or it’s a pointless piece of fluff… Matt Reeves, would be a good second.
No, Tony Scott, please.
I don’t know why they haven’t explored the “Superman is Dead” idea more. I think it could be a great film artistically, and the story is awesome.
I guess the big concern would be that it’s REALLY dark for a Superman franchise that has been pretty technicolor.
Brandon Routh better be in consideration. That would go a long way towards repairing the brand. The dude has the chops. Whoever is in charge don’t worry about the residual effects of Superman Returns. It wasn’t his fault. If they they cast him in the role then I will definitely give this one a shot. Don’t mess this up WB, please?
Vladislav Tretiak
Here’s a novel idea. BRAD BIRD. Yes, he’s an animation guy but his movies are dynamic, have heart, and are able to focus on memorable characters in epic circumstances. The Iron Giant. The Incredibles. Two great movies. He’d be great. PS – I don’t know him and have never worked with him. I just think he has the right visual, story, and character sensibilities.
Because Superman Returns? Kryptonite.
Todd Fields
well well ….you can all keep guessing but…darren aronofsky has met and has lets say is now commited…a message from a little bird….!
the only good directors in the short list are tony scott & zack snyder. there rest are shit.
i personally want the wachowsky bros. to direct or even write a superman flick. my 2nd choice would be james mcteigue as director and 3rd would be matthew vaughn. these directors know what fun, smart (or at least smart-ass)stylized action films should be. the best part is that they also know how to shoot action sequences really well, though not as godly as james cameron, but no one does action like cameron. they should also hire co-writers who would make superman a real superman and kick some major ass effortlessly like– a gotdamn superman! i’m tired of reading stories about batman beating supes coz supes would never ever kill a human being. i don’t mind supes not ever killing a human but i want him to kick their arses, beat em to a pulp, and let ‘em know why he’s called superman. superman should never be beaten by batman no matter how god-like batman’s intelligence is. superman could move faster than batman could react even if he uses roids or w/e else he’ll use to give him superhuman-like reaction time, strength, power,etc. etc. Supes could toast batman from a mile away with his heat-vision, see all the traps batman laid w/his x-ray vision for miles, and also freeze him like an ice cube from a good distance away. if that’s not good enough he can flick him with one finger and knock his head off his body if he wants to. all that intelligence and lots of kryptonites won’t beat superman like some great writers have written in the comics.
anyway, the co-writers they should hire are: grant morrison, mark waid and/or garth ennis to spice things up in a real superman flick.
Does nobody remember when people wondered how the ‘Memento’ director could do Batman? Duncan Jones is by far the most interesting director on the list and could bring something fresh and true to Superman. I like Snyder but his approach doesn’t seem anything like what Nolan would want to do.
Folks, we’re living in post-Superman America.
And it’s only going to be more so by the time this movie is done.
So unless the villains are going to be Dick Cheney and Goldman Sachs, you can expect more or less the same reception the last re-boot received.
Matt Reeves would be an inspired choice. Saw an early screening of Let Me In — the last time a movie freaked me out that much was The Exorcist. This guy clearly knows what he’s doing. Would love to see him get to play with the boy in blue!
I would love to see what Jonathan Nolan can do with a film like this. Especially since he and his brother are so close it would basically be like Chris directing it himself! But since Jonathan Nolan most likely will not be picked, I would go with Zack Snyder, Alfonso Cuarón, or even Matt Reeves (as the last choice of the 3).
Zack Snyder is a visually amazing director..and that’s the problem a lot of people have with Snyder directing because he is to much style and not enough substance (even though I bed to differ). But you have to remember, it is going to be Nolan’s mind crossed with Zach Snyder’s style….now that is something I would pay a lot of money to see.
Duncan Jones is very much like Chris Nolan in his style, taste and savvy. I’ll give odds that Duncan gets the call, even before SOURCE CODE opens.
OH and another thing…PLEASE don’t let it be Jonathan Liebesman. I seriously don’t know why in God’s name he would even be considered for the part. His movies include Darkness Falls (I know, right..), The Texan Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and The Killing Room. Now, would you want to entrust one of the most iconic superheroes in movie history that’s in desperate need of a reboot to the helmer of Darkness Falls? Those are my thoughts exactly.
In the end though, I have full confidence that Nolan will pick the right guy for the job and I honestly can’t wait for 2012…Batman 3, The Man of Steel, Spider-Man, and the Avengers all in one year!
They need to go a whole new route. Who wants to see the same film again and again. Find someone totally new.
I think Nolan should go with Reeves or Snyder.
The others just don’t cut it IMO and Scott is past his prime!
I think with Nolans’ producing and storytelling abilities mixed with Snyders’ visuals and intense action would make for a dynamic filmmaking team!
snyder would have a bunch of unnecessary slow down and speed up motion. Possibly so he could try to shoot an hour long movie and make it two hours. In other words, he should stay far away from this, and when I went in to read about this, I was hoping that he was not being considered. I don’t feel we’ve seen enough of any of the middle 3 named directors works to really know. But with that being said, I’d say the middle 3 seem the best. Keep it away from tony scott, and keep it further away from snyder
Kevin Smith or Quentin Tarantino
duncan jones or matt reeves!!
As long as its not Tony Scott it’ll be fine.
On a personal note, i’d be curious to see what Jonathan Liebesman could do with it. He seems to show a lot of promise.
Zach needs to move away from this genre.
Matt Reeves could probably make it happen, but i’m not excited by his work, and let me in… well i still don’t know why its being made.
Duncan Jones, i didn’t like moon, sorry haters.
But on the tail end, if it could have dream director, i’d pick Sean Penn. Thats the man for the job.
Kevin Smith!!! That tubby bitch would rock Superman with Nolan helping out!!
I think Neill Blomkamp would be a really interesting choice. They should definitely think outside of the box with this and go with a lesser known who has a clear stylistic approach.
Choosing someone obvious isn’t a recipe for failure, but it won’t make the most interesting film.
honestly…ive been sorely dissappointed with the efforts since the first C. Reeve’s superman. Personally, considering the technology they already have now (era after Avatar) there’s definitely so much potential considering Superman can pretty much do anything.
If they can just think outside the box for a moment; dont reinvent the mythology of superman, instead, make it a period piece set circa 1950’s (when Superman was conceptually thought of to begin with).
Point? In this era of internet and Ipods, nothing fascinates us anymore, there’s no magic such as the slogan of the original Superman teaser “would you believe a man can fly?”
however, set the scene in 1952, superman swoops down Metropolis for the first time, and you transport the audience to the wonder of how people would react to seeing a superhero for the first time.
There’s so much more meat into a project that, hopefully with Christopher Nolan’s ‘inception’, can achieve with a strong, almost realistic story (if that’s even possible), without the need to take a so called dark aproach ala Batman Begins.
that is how i would re create Superman. Because nowaday’s everything’s been there, done that. Let’s face it, we’re too jaded to even care. Shock us with something original without compromising the myth.
shut up…you guys just wish you’ve thought of it lol
Casey Affleck directing. Storyline…Superman decides to give up superheroics to become the first Kryptonian hip hop star. Grows a long, scraggly beard, makes a demo tape that M.C. Hammer rejects despite receiving Richard Pryor’s endorsement, Lois dumps him, he gets high on blow, embarrasses himself on live television and has an orgy with Miss Teschmacher, Lorelei, Mercy Graves and some hookers provided by Luthor, after which the sex tape leaks on the internet. Finally his bearded self splits from his normal persona and they have a dramatic fistfight in a steam-and-sparks factory. The twist, the bearded Supes wins and classic Supes is frozen solid in a cooling vat of molten steel. Bearded Supes carves out the frozen Superman as a statue for his home in the Hollywood hills and sells his story to the tabloids for a cool million. Happy ending.
If I had my choice it would be Kevin Smith. He has a love for comics and I don’t think he would settle for anything less than perfection.
I hope Nolan “recommends” Reeves or Snyder.
The others just don’t cut it IMO and Scott is past his prime!
I wouldn’t be surprised if Jones gets the gig either, since Nolan may have a soft spot for smaller indie guys like him with no big time film experience. However, Jones has not proven himself enough yet.
I think with Nolans’ producing and storytelling abilities mixed with Snyders’ visuals and intense action sequences would make for a DYNAMIC filmmaking team that can execute the type of Superman film we have been waiting to see for many years!
Imagine the marketing for the The Man Of Steel film announcing: “From the Creators of the Batman Trilogy and the Director of 300 and Watchmen”
Also, if Zack wants to take his filmmaking to the next level, then collaborating with a talent like Nolan is the way to go.
Alfonso Cuaron would be a great choice to direct and work with Nolan as the producer.
Here is the problem with Tony Scott:
He is more talented than all those Director’s combined! However, he said reluctantly that his biggest hit “Top Gun” was a popcorn flick. In other words, he is embarrassed about a movie that most Director’s in there wildest dreams wished they had made.
Top Gun is just as big a legend as The Dark Knight or the original Star Wars Trilogy. That’s his problem, he doesn’t ignore the critics like Spielberg does when working on popcorn movies. Ever since his two biggest hits: Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop 2, he has been trying to add in boring drama and way to boring stories into his movies.
I hope his agent or manager reads this and lets him know that it is alright to do popcorn fair, because he has gotten hits that 95% percent of people in Hollywood wished they had.
Tony Scott was Micheal Bay before Bay. He still has the style and I think he is much more talented than Ridley Scott. I just wished he would do more summer flicks. I mean who gives a damn about a damned train or etc. If he does a fun Summer flick than it is guaranteed to be a hit. HE IS THE BEST MAN FOR SUPERMAN HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. His photography style has gotten kind of over the top. His style for Top Gun and Crimson Tide is what he is known for and I wished he would go back to that style since it still stands up to today’s modern blockbusters.
lol, the dude that just commented saying “watchmen had no heart?”….you must be lost just making that comment….as much as i like snyders visual style, and 300 is one of my favorites…watchment was a dreadful bore with no heart or substance…it was a visual feast and nothing else….a visual bore…snyder should’ve had something better to work with.
if you thought watchmen was good, fix your thoughts…the nearly 80% box office drop in its second weekend proves how bad the movie was….how do you open up in a first weekend with a 3 day take of $55 million, and then its overall domestic run ends with only $107 million???….something is wrong there…chris nolans inception opened with a 3 day take of like $59 million, and went on to a domestic tally of $285 million….thats word of mouth prolonging the movies stay because its good….watchmen every1 hated, leading to bad word of mouth, leading to huge box office drop in following weekends.
I believe Duncan Jones would be perfect. He’s a director who understands how to work science fiction and fantasy but from a wonderfully emotional perspective. His “Moon” was a perfect film and I’ll bet Mr. Nolan would prefer him because he’s not a blockbuster director—just a great filmmaker.
Truth is Snyder shouldn’t be allowed to touch superman. Yes 300 was awesome but Watchmen was totally unbearable to anyone who actually read ALL of the comic (not just the part with pictures). He missed the point completely with Watchmen. And frankly I don’t think Snyder would know what to do with Superman without having a specific comic book to look down and copy from.
And Scott’s style doesn’t work with the cape.
As far as the story goes, personally, I’m through with the Louis angle the will they won’t they BS. Hell it might be more interesting if they were just together at the start of the movie so we can get over all that. Start with the marriage of Louis and Clark that’ll get people back in the seats. That is a relationship I’m interested in. What’s it do to Louis to be married to a literal God? How does she deal with pressure of keeping that secret. And as far as Superman is concerned he just needs to Punch something worthy of him punching it. Returns was 2 hours of him lifting things and flying. Yawn.
He needs an enemy. A great enemy. Since Superman’s MO is that he ALWAYS wins you got to give him something so at least we as an audience can have some fun watching him fight. Doomsday. Bizzaro, Something ya know.
The Watchmen bashers on this site are almost as pathetic as the Nolan haters.
5 years ago you people would have creamed your pants with joy at this very same movie. What’s next? We gonna retroactively bash 300 now?
Piss off back to aintitcool or chud or whatever mother’s basement pit you “elite” cine-snobs lurk.
Jesus.
I agree Cuaron would great but I’m not sure he could fully grasp the cultural implications of such a cultural icon. Would it be crazy to bring Donner back?
As long as Kate Bosworth and her super bland Lois stay far away, we’re already ahead.
Kevin Smith idea sounds GREAT!! But as long as its the Death of Superman stoy im in! Think thats the only stoy that could save the franchise!! Dont want another sequal to the 80’s and 90’s movies!
It almost defies belief. Can this site go by ONE day without mentioning Guillermo Del Toro? The “Prime Hack Of Not Delivering”?
It doesn’t take anyone with half a brain to see that Del Toro and “Superman” would be the kiss of death.
Has Del Toro just got the most efficient publicist in the business? Somebody should publish a list of projects this overrated filmmaker has been attached with and failed to deliver. Beginning with “Meg” and ending with “The Hobbit”. And counting.
the only choice is DANNY BOYLE.
FINCHER would rock it!
If you have any history of ALIENS 3 at all…you’ll know it was forcibly taken
away from FINCHER by the FOX suits during the filming and in post production.
Just watch the DVD with the production stories on it.
Oh…
I forgot.
You don’t research.
Just take everything in Hollywood as they spill it.
i say nolan should just direct this one.