Dark Knight's Nolan and DC Comics Pics

Last weekend, I ran into youthful Dark Knight director Chris Nolan at a Christmas party in the Hollywood Hills. He was enthused about shooting entire sections of the movie in IMAX--entirely his idea. It's now possible to show the movie on some 150 IMAX screens that aren't just at science museums or in Las Vegas. He shot using IMAX cameras, which are four to five times heavier than 35 mm cameras--the first Hollywood film to do so. The opening first six minutes are being shown in front of I Am Legend in special IMAX locations. (Here's one ecstatic fan review.)

While the trailer makes the movie look pixel-big, the pic is character-driven PG, Nolan said. That way The Joker has to be really scary without resorting to real violence. The trailer is focused on creepy Heath Ledger as The Joker (played in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman by Jack Nicholson in a broadly comedic interpretation), not on district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who is also a key player in the movie. There are plenty of intimate scenes of people talking, as well as a few big-scale set pieces.

(This week while cruising the channels we happened upon Joel Schumacher's ridiculously over-wrought penultimate 1995 Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer, Chris O'Donnell sporting an earring as Robin, Nicole Kidman as a sexy therapist, a hyped-up Jim Carrey as The Riddler, and Tommy Lee Jones in piles of makeup as Two-Face. Give us Christian Bale and Nolan, please!)

Speaking of DC Comics pics, it is highly unlikely that Bryan Singer will return to shoot the next Superman movie. (The director is finishing up Tom Cruise's Nazi film Valkyrie, and prepping The Mayor of Castro Street). The next Superman we will see on the big screen will not be Brandon Routh, but a younger Superman among a cast of youthful superheroes in The Justice League. That movie will likely not be shot, however, until after the WGA strike is resolved. Warners is so happy with Dark Knight that their fondest hope is that Nolan will return to do another Batman.

Comments

[Peter Debruge]

I caught that Batman teaser on Imax (better than the entirety of I Am Legend that followed). Unlike the trailer, it sets the film up as a gritty '70s-style action film -- very classy.

Is Bryan Singer really going back to The Mayor of Castro Street? Now that Gus Van Sant has Sean Penn onboard as Harvey Milk (for a version of the script that Singer turned down, from what I gather), I can't see how that helming a competing biopic about a figure of limited audience interest would be a good idea.

[Maude]

It's a relief to hear Singer is off the Superman franchise. Superman Returns was a cold boring train wreck. Instead of inspiring a new generation of fans, it completely turned them off. They're all about Spiderman and Batman now.

Off the wall picks for the reboot: Michael Gondry, Zhang Yimou, the Wachowskis, the Coens, Peter Jackson, or Stephen Chow.

The viral marketing on the Dark Knight has been terrific. It might be the best campaign Warners has ever done.

[David C.]

John Singleton.

[Ken]

I am glad Singer is off the Superman project. However, along with several monumental writing errors, he did well with casting Lex and Superman, but Lois was all wrong. But harkening back to the Donner films was quite clever. Having Superman lifting kryptonite the size of Manhattan and casting it into space...wrong. Making a sickly hybrid baby...wrong.
And why have a Justice League and have them all young, that is retarded! They should meet after they are respectively older and battle-hardened fighting their own battles. Late twenties and early thirties. Not immediately after puberty. This way, they have another interesting angle to write on, working together. Something everyone struggles with. Duh?!?

[Nitin]

yeahhh.....
it's like they are making
''JUSTICE JUNIOR LEAGUE''

[Kal-El]

At this point, even though I'd like a SR sequel, I don't really care. I just want Brandon Routh as Superman again.
I know he won't be in the JLA film but he should be in the next solo Superman movie, SR sequel or otherwise.

[LegendsOfBatman]

Brandon Routh made a great Richard Donner type Clark Kent. He was a horrible Superman. I'd rather have seen a balding Nicholas Cage than Routh.
Routh might actually make a fine replacement for Tobey in spiderman; as he and Maguire have something in common. They both fit the non-superhero character perfectly.
But, thats my opinion.

[Pete]

Thank god WB is 86'ing Singer and Co. Tom Welling please save us!!!!

[GRD]

Welling's Superman is better at getting people killed than saving them.

[wesclough]

I feel sad about this news of Singer not returning to complete his vision of Superman and im sickened to hear someone imply that Welling is the way forward.
Superman Returns was a return to form for the Man Of Steel after Quest for peace and Small-Vile.
RIP Superman.

[dan]

I agree with Wes. Though Superman Returns had its problems, I like Singer and his direction. It's not the Superman we may all like, but it is a Superman that I think could reach a certain demographic and could be an interesting character. Superman is a hard character. A very hard character. Look at the comics. Thousands of Superman comics have been produced. How many worked? 10%? Let's just for the sake of argument say 50% worked...that's not a high proportion. And some of the best writers in comics have attempted to write him.

[Peter]

Hope you're wrong about Singer being off Superman -- as a lifelong Superman fan I was really looking forward to seeing that storyline play out on screen. I guess at 40 I'm not the target demographic for movies, though, so the 14 year olds will probably get their action-packed Supermovie full of explosions and punching.

Hope you're right about Nolan being able to come back and do another Bat-movie though.

[Metal Water]

It is time to recast and redo the whole Superman franchise...with a new director, cast, crew, producers and staff--time to clean house, from top to bottom...and from bottom to top. Bryan Singer blew what should have been an easy task in bringing new life to Superman. We need a new Superman...but this time, not as a sequel...but rather, as a whole new take on the character, entirely.

I would suggest that Warner Brothers study the pilot episode of their most recent Superman animated series from the 90s, for ideas. Therein, we witnessed the original take on Superman's origins...with Krypton being depicted as a red desert planet...with a new twist, that being a villain, Brainiac, already in play...and quickly introduced to the audience. In short, the pilot episode was very smart, inventive and fast paced, featuring action and a great plot...from start, to finish.

The pilot script could be easily adapted as a live action feature film...and should have been the route that Bryan Singer took for Superman Returns. Don't believe me, you say??? It's just another fan opinion, right??? I challenge any Warner exec to take my advice and watch that pilot episode for your own personal edification. I think you'll like, if not love, what you see.

[jorel]

How to Superman great again.

1. Michael Bay.

2. Matthew Reeve, the son of Christopher Reeve, as Superman.

this is the only way.

[Peter]

MetalWater, the pilot episode of Superman: The Animated Series was a nifty setup for the cartoon series, but would be yet another deeply boring origin story on the big screen, not to mention basically a remake of the 1978 movie (still the only real classic in the genre), with a few tweaks to the status quo (Brainiac is inserted in the Krypton sequence, Luthor is now a knockoff of Marvel's Kingpin character, et cetera). It even has the same beats as the 1978 movie -- opening third set on Krypton, second third set in Smallville, third act set in Metropolis (though Donner's movie had three distinct voices - mock Shakespearean tragedy, 50s American pastoral, urban action comedy)...

Granted, Timm and Dini's work remains the best version of the character to date in a lot of ways (though mostly emotionally flat after ditching the romantic aspect of Superman's story), but why try to recreate or emulate the animated show, which was already great in its own medium? In fact, why try to redo any previous story?

Singer and his writers at least tried to bring something to the character we hadn't seen before - he's indestructible, but his heart can be broken; he's utterly alone, but he's bound to humanity now...

[Ivan]

Quote by Pete:
"Welling's Superman is better at getting people killed than saving them."

He's right, if you watch Smallville, you can see that Welling's young Clark Kent is an idiot, and besides his look and figure, Welling's performance, even after seven years, still leaves alot to be desired.

[Mario]

Bring back Singer!

Bring back the cast!

Bring back Mike and Dan!

Superman Returns was brilliant!

[Pete]

Wow, I'm like the third Pete to post here...

Superman Returns was NOT brilliant. They made him a deadbeat dad. How does that promote any of the ideals Superman is famous for?

This isn't to say it was a BAD movie...casting was great (I was nervous about Routh at first, but he turned out well enough--Spacey as Lex, though...perfect), and Singer is still excellent at characterization and setting mood. It just...needed a better script. Honestly, I think it would have benefited from a full reboot, like Batman got.

[Metal Water]

Well Peter, you said it yourself: "Timm and Dini's work remains the best version of the character to date in a lot of ways"...since that is something we both agree on, with a few tweaks, their script can fufill the studio's expectantions of delivering something fresh. Why not show the Krypton opening as flashbacks...distributed throughout the film's plot as it progresses, rather than use it as an uninterupted prologue sequence???

Look, we all know this is Superman...so we can't completely reinvent the wheel, or risk alienating even more fans than Bryan Singer could have ever managed with Superman Returns--but what we can do is shuffle the deck of playing cards in terms of how to handle the original mythos. Take for instance, George Reeves version of Clark Kent was great. Clark was a real man, not a nerd...or a push over. I really loved his take on Superman's alter ego...unlike that of Christopher Reeve's version of Kent--however, I love Reeve's take on Superman, rather than the one, his predecessor, George Reeves...gave us. I think what we are looking for...and the best way to handle things, is to take the best of Superman's legend, and blend it together in order to make a better film.

In regard to the tv series Smallville, the opening meteor strike sequence on Earth...and the town of Smallville, was great...and should have been saved for a movie. The show has done many things right, like the 2 part episode where Clark saved Lana from the middle of a tornado. That's not to say the show doesn't have its problems, let's face it, when it is bad, it's bad...but the show gave us the first real portayal of Lex Luthor that we could respect, outside of animation form, again the 90s animated series. Lex is an intelligent 3 dimensional person with feelings, who is slowly losing his moral compass. Lex has a real life and a rich back story that make you empathize with him. He's not a lunatic, this is a methodical well thoughtout genius, often full of wisdom and great insight, and that is what makes him truly dangerous...and that is scary to witness, just like Darth Vader or one of the better Bond villains from years past. Lex hurts people who get in his way, but his primary purpose is to get the job done, by any means necessary, not for the sake of hurting innocent people, just for the sake of hurting innocent people, or...the not so innocent, as has been portrayed in previous Superman movies.

In terms of Smallville, I'll put the episode that I previously mentioned, and several other very good episodes of the series, up against any minute of Superman Returns, any day...as being better material...and better entertainment, and done on a much lower budget, and shorter filming schedule to boot...and that is the ultimate insult to Bryan Singer and his poor efforts in bringing us, the dismal Superman Returns.

Paul Greengrass, the director of the last two Bourne films...the Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum should direct the next Superman film.

[Rob]

Superman Returns is one of my favorite movies of all time. Brandon Routh was perfect as Clark and Superman. SR is one of the best critically reviewed superhero movies ever, and it's due mainly to Bryan Singer's vision and Brandon Routh. A sequel by this team - with more action and an alien villain - would continue to build on what was started in 2006, and bring in more new fans among the younger generation that craves the beat down.

[DC FAN]

Before anyone has a sh!t fit, I have nothing against the gay community. Having said that, with regard to the arguably macho world of super heroes, gay guys just don't get it. Schumacher almost killed the Batman franchise and Singer (while not nearly as bad) left a lot to be desired. I think a new director and writers can do wonders. I would keep Routh, though, as he really wasn't that bad in the role.

[kevin]

i think since they waited this long to make the next film wait one more year till smallville is over in season 8 then make a smallville movie with the same cast i think it should be a three part movie i think smallville get who the carters are and what they can do and be and they are welling to take a risk for bthe fans un like the other writters of the superman films smallville as all ways been about the fans because they listen to us

[Maulvader]

I had hoped Bryan Singer would direct Superman long before it became a reality, so was anticipating it big time. Man was I was disappointed!!

Brandon Routh was a good Kent, would be an ok Superboy, but no way was he a good Superman. The studios try to cast actors that would look decent for sequels 10 years down the line and in the process we end up with kindergarten heroes. That works for spiderman, but nothing else. The upcoming Justice League movie would be an ultimate example of this.

James Marsden was the only actor in SR who actually looked convincing. Everyone else was miscast. Some people liked Kevin Spacey but I thought the character of Lex in SR was more of a small time thug (surrounded by morons) than a top level bad guy. The best interpretation of Lex can be seen in the animated series where Lex is an extremely intelligent and wealthy guy. I mean come on! The arch nemesis of the most powerful superhero ever has to be more than that.

Finally, I thought the movie was too much in the universe of the original Superman, to the point of being handicapped by it.

I say get rid of everyone from SR. Cast an older, better built actor as Supes, Give Lex a lot more gravitas and personality than he had in SR, and give it to James Cameron.

[Ryan]

I'm glad that Singer is off the project. I actually didn't mind Routh, although I had hoped for Welling. Routh and Kate had terrible chemistry. I've always hated the movie interpretation of Lex. The best live action Lex has to be the one on Smallville. Superman movies should be about the battle of might vs. mind. In the movies Lex has always been this weasly, coniving character rather then the genious he is supposed to be. Hell, Trump would be an awesome Luthor...*(half kidding). I still think that Superman returns should have been about Superman returning to a Metropolis dominated by Lex Enterprises. A twist of Brainiac or Bizarro wouldn't have hurt either. As for the kid? Don't get me started.

[TonyM.]

Routh was great. If Singer is out, then Richard Donner should direct the next Man of Steel film. And bring back Terence Stamp as Zod.

[Batfan]

Bummer that Singer won't be returning. I was formerly NOT a Superman fan -- however, after watching Superman Returns, Supes is now my favorite next to Batman. Brandon Routh was a great Superman and is a great actor -- he delivered all the subtleties needed for the role and didn't try to overact it. Spacey was a good Luthor, imo. The story was great and the special effects wre awesome. Sure, it didn't have super fast CGI fight scenes, but if someone wants that, they can go watch Spiderman or Xmen 3.

That said, I'm looking forward to the Dark Knight. I think Ledger is shaping up to possibly be the greatest Joker ever (if not, at LEAST 2nd place, MArk Hamill being in first). As a serious Batman fan I give the upcoming film two thumbs up based on what's been seen so far.

[hc]

Singer made a smart, deeply artistic film with Superman Returns, and is thinking deeper than the 'lets make a buck quick by making a big dumb action picture' which apparently the mentally challenged portions of Superman fans claim they want.

The thinking is flawed, though. "Batman and Robin" was made to sell to the comic book fans with five year old mentalities... but that bombed. "Superman REturns" is in the same vein as "Batman Begins"- a smart filmmaker who also shows a clear love for his material. The first film was a setup and introduction, just as "Begins" was.

If WB is reading, please ignore the fools who are ranting about how Singer leaving is a good thing... it's NOT! These are the same ones who want everything exactly as in their cartoons. Singer made a smart movie that critics have picked up on. TIme magazine (which is normally a fairly snobby news magazine) and Newsweek raved about the film. In a world of mindless action pictures, Singer did a fantasy film that had a head and a heart...

Similiar to Lord of the Rings of Superhero films. Please back him to continue what he started .

[Deep Shock]

I'd rather have a thousand SUPERMAN RETURN films than abominations like SPIDERMAN 3! Warner do not fall for it!

[morich]

Let's face it SR just plain sucked!! Warner needs too entice Chris Nolan if they want Supes to ever survive again!! Chris Nolan is about as good as you can get!!!

[Jim Corbin]

Superman Returns was a GREAT film, and it deserves a sequel. WB has made extremely stupid decisions before. Going ahead with a Justice League film instead of giving Superman Returns a proper sequel is just one in an extremely long line of really bad decisions the studio has made.

[James]

Just so you know, SReturns pro vs. con = the debate between the haters and likers of the first Hulk movie. ("too boring" vs. "you just didn't get it [cause you're not deep and smart]")

Anyway, please, please, PLEASE don't encourage them to do a reboot. Need I remind you what could have happened when they did think of one originally? Remember Krypton NOT blowing up? Remember SUPER EXTREME MATRIX FIGHT SCENES? Remember the suit in a can? How about the big whatta-TWIST...KRYPTONIAN CIA AGENT LEX LUTHOR????? And oh yeah, there were other rumors of genius ideas like making Ashton Kutcher Superman, Beyonce Knowles as Lois Lane, and Vin Diesel as Lex Luthor (cause he's BALD, get it?)

So yeah, I wouldn't trust most 2000s style reimaginings as far as I could throw them. But hopefully WB sees Batman Begins' success, and the Marvel movies that were good AND true to the source, and that the days of Catwoman are over.

I didn't detest SReturns, but the problems IMO were:

- it tried to be a recreation, not a continuation, the Donner movies. It's post-Crisis, the Superman world has been changed a lot, so I can see how some of it doesn't work for hardcore fans.
- Also, Lex + Kryptonite vs. Supes who can't punch or beat up the human Luthor is a bit passe. Brainiac, Doomsday, or Bizarro (though he might be too comedic) would remedy this.
- I didn't feel Kate Bosworth as Lois. Not aggressive or no-nonsense enough, and too pretty. (not that previous Loises were dogs, but you know what I mean) If only the Dana Delaney voiced TAS version could be turned into a real person...:-)
- I didn't terribly mind the angle with the apparent Superbo...I guess I can't call him that for fear of lawsuits. Works better with the original Superman II and not the Donner cut, of course. Could he have grown into the movie answer to Conner Kent?
- The "Superman = Christ, get it?" angle was a bit too much.

BTW, Smallville = overrated. It's not awful but the whole "Kent's Creek" thing (Paula Cole now playing in my head :-)) is not my style.

As far as TDK, I hope Nolan's PG comment doesn't mean he is going to/had to water anything down.

And I don't mind a younger JLA, so long as it's not exploiting them being younger and thus hip and edgy (like the current Batman cartoon has done). And if they are doing it when the heroes started out, wouldn't it make sense that there's strength in numbers?

[david Mitchell]

Apart from the Richard Donner version of Superman, i think Superman Returns was the BEST superhero film of all time, as some1 wrote earlier Superman is pretty much invincible but can have his heart broken, yes there was flaws with it but overall was a brilliant movoe and i'd be gutted if Singer and Routh wasn't back. yes i was sceptical of Routh to start with but he was amazing!! As a person who watches Smallville Tom Welling could never grace the tights, god bless the show but it is so far from superman reality i doubt he'd know where he was going!! and all he can do is look soppy at Lana

[Metal Water]

For my money...the best super hero film of all time was always the original Chris Reeves film, however it is starting to show its age...and after the majestic opening sequence on Krypton, Smallville and the Fortress Of Solitude, the film fell apart after that, save for a few choice sequences...like the Lois Lane interview of Superman, the "Can you read my mind" flying sequence, and of course, the great reversal of time sequence...where Superman turned back the world in order to save Lois Lane from death itself...during the climax. Other than those specific moments, the film's middle act was deeply lacking thanks in part to a largely comical and slap stick happy Lex Luthor.

However, I was treated to a really great super hero film in the 90s called The Rocketeer, which is truly the greatest super hero film ever made, and a lost gem. The movie never has a weak moment, and was everything every super hero film needs to be, but isn't. Sadly, the Rocketeer was lost amid other more high profile films, and the fact that it had no big stars in its cast, except for some very good character actors, didn't help--that said...again, it is truly the greatest super hero film ever made. Warner's execs should take a look at it in order to help them better frame the next Superman film, as well as to gain much needed inspiration. The Rocketeer is truly worth your time to watch, and study.

[Ken]

I thought SR was pretty OK. Not great, but OK. I liked Routh and thought Spacey as Lex was inspired. Yes, he came off as sort of a typical bad guy as opposed to a criminal mastermind, but he had just come from prison. He was rebuilding his position as king of Metropolis's criminal underbelly. I hated the whole aspect of the Super-Kid and I think it mostly suffered from the retreading of the 1978 film, which was brilliant in its day.

That said, I don't think it really stands the test of time. I'm a teacher and I showed it to my grade 12 students. They thought it was just about the most boring film they had ever seen. Keep inmind, this is the MTV generation - everything is rapid-fire and over the top action from start to finish. The '78 film IS brilliant, but it's a product of its time. The movies in that era were all much like Superman in that they relied heavily on story over spectacle. That, sadly, is no longer the case.

Anyway, I was hoping to see where Singer would take this story, but I'm not sure its altogether a bad thing to have a restart. I don't, however, see a Justice League film as a step in the right direction. Seems WB needs to give their head a shake yet again. How many times does one need to shoot themselves in the foot before they realise they need to aim a little higher?

[nick]

A PG-rated THE DARK KNIGHT?! I sincerely hope not...

And Michael Bay for Superman!

[Jack Spicer]

Bruce Timm directing, and Paul Dini and Dwayne McDuffie on script is your winning team.

[conkent]

I Think Brandon Routh Was A Perfect Superman!
I Also Think That Spacey Was A Very Good Lex!
Lois Was Just OK But In All I Think SR Was A Great Great Movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring A Better Script And People Will Follow!!!
Brian Singer Should Definetely Direct The Sequel!! If Not Richard Donner Would Be The Best To Follow !!! That Would Drive Fans Craaazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JMFabianoRPL]

"And Michael Bay for Superman!"

But...IT WON'T BE G1! BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Sorry, reflex. About 2 years of bitchy Transfans will do that to you.

Anywho, I agree that this is a knee-jerk reaction to SR doing lukewarmly...as I said, for the sequel they basically don't need to mainly rely on recreations of or wink-wink-nudge-nudge references to the Reeve movies, plus they needed someone Supes can really fight. Him vs. Lex + Kryptonite is very '70s, and dare I say, almost Super Friendsish. Lex somehow has to get a connection with the likes of Brainiac, Bizarro, or Doomsday (and hey, he had some of Superman's blood by movie's end, so a slightly-botched cloning experiment could result in the creation of the latter two). And I just realized that they could have used Lex's green power suit as well...they used it again in recent comics and the JL cartoon, and if Luthor has extra protection, maybe Supes punching him wouldn't be so "taboo"? Also, I could have suggested using a certain ruler from some planet, Apokolips or something. But I think the Fourth World has to be treated carefully and with respect. Otherwise you'll end up with angry fanboys. If you don't believe me, look how much they were let down by Galactus, the Angry Little Raincloud.

Still, I actually would be willing to see what new blood would bring to the table. So long as it isn't blood in the vein of the pre-Singer Superman movie rumors. (Yes I am still afraid of WB going back to Plan A, Abrams script, gratuitous A-list casting, etc. etc.)

Oh for the person who worried (along with me, I admit!), an email to me from someone at Batman-on-film.com says despite the phrasing Nolan used in the above article, TDK is still PG-13.

[Lester Spence]

I remember seeing the 78 Superman as a child.

But the 78 Superman was not in itself a retread of the 50's tv show. It was reconfigured to fit not just a different medium, but a different era. I felt that the script Singer worked with was more of an attempt to praise Richard Donner, rather than create a Superman appropriate for a new era (which is what Nolan did with Batman).

Nowhere can this better be seen than in his treatment of Lex Luthor. By 1987 John Byrne transformed Lex Luthor from a "mad scientist" (complete with purple and green powersuit) to an evil corporate tycoon capable of running for president AND winning. It is this Luthor that we see the creators of Smallville working towards.

It is this Luthor who'd in the modern day context be the appropriate one for Superman to wrestle with. Not the petty, subway dwelling criminal with crazy schemes.

Similarly, "mild-mannered" doesn't mean "weak" or "bumbling." Byrne reimagined Kent such that he was soft-spoken, but still an All American kid. Byrne's Kent was a star athlete, a high school leader...just not aggressive. The Smallville Kent is based to a large degree on the Byrne template, and again it fits the modern context much better than the 78 version. In fact the 78 version is the anomaly in as much as George Reeves' Kent wasn't bumbling.

For me a reboot is in order. Doesn't matter who directs. A real reboot. Superman Begins rather than Superman Returns. With a Clark Kent and Lex Luthor (if they choose Luthor as the villain) updated with an eye towards the source material.

Trust the source material, the REAL source material...and I don't see how the script/movie can go wrong.

[Ryan]

I was going to do another post, but JMFabianoRPL said it all perfectly. I can understand some people saying Superman Returns was the best superhero movie of all time. But how many good superhero movies have ever been made? Batman Begins was not only imho the best superhero movie of all time, but it was also a great movie. The only other contenders I can think think of were the original 2 Superman movies and Spiderman 2. All of which deserve a second look at not because they are great superhero movies, but because they were great movies.

[SuperTX]

Just fix the "S" on the suit. Just look at a comic book, come on!!!!

[JMFabianoRPL]

Also...as for the JL thing, I don't care if they use whoever plays Supes in that movie. As long as he is a good actor and performs the role well, I'll be happy. It might throw off people trying to trace the DC Movie Universe's continuities, though. (Funny how NOW they don't mind using different portrayals of characters for different shows/movies...how soon we forget the Bat-Embargo*, eh?)

It's good that WB is pleased with TDK, so hopefully that means it'll be left alone as a separate franchise and they keep Nolan, Bale, etc.

* - For those unfamiliar with it, the Bat-Embargo refers to when WB said that Justice League Unlimited (as it was renamed by that time) could not use any Batman characters that were appearing on "The Batman" (the Kids' WB cartoon that is, to put it mildly, inferior to anything Bruce Timm has done). And that ended up meaning pretty much everyone except Bats himself, and some characters from Batman Beyond.

[Steven J Patten]

I certainly hope Chris Nolan returns for a third Batman movie. He needs to continue what he started and not turn it over to another director. That can be the worse thing that happens. The first Batman franchise started with Tim Burton who did fairly well but then switched to Shumacher which was a total joke. We cannot have that again! Nolan needs to stay on board because he got this Batman franchise the way it should be. It's about realism and theatrics and I love it. Christian Bale is perfect as Bruce Wayne/Batman and the rest of the cast is perfect. The Dark Knight will be just as good or better than Batman Begins and Chris Nolan needs to keep the ball rolling!

[Tommy Hariyono]

It's a great news indeed to know that both Brian Singer and Brandon Routh to return on the Man of Steel, sequel to Superman Returns. I really looking forward for Tom Welling to wear the last Kryptonian costume, either in the Man of Steel or in JLA movie :D

[Tommy Hariyono]

Sorry, there was a typographical error on my previous posting. This is what it supposed to be:

"It's a great news indeed to know that both Brian Singer and Brandon Routh WILL NOT return to the Man of Steel, sequel to Superman Returns. I really looking forward for Tom Welling to wear the last Kryptonian costume, either in the Man of Steel or in JLA movie :D"

[Neil Varone]

I am very happy Bryan will nto be returning to the Superman Franchise, while inspired his series lacked the creativity and story many fans and new readers want to see.

Lex is a done plot. Lets move on.

Routh Surprised me and i wouldn't mind him returning, but Tom Welling was the Obvious choice that was not taken.

Young Viewers already likened to him in his weekly role as Superboy turned Superman and he has the Super look.

Michael Bay and Peter Jackson seem like the best choices to bring this Franchise to the forefront of SuperHero Movies!

[Travis]

Tom Welling is a bad actor, so lets drop the TOM WELLING 4 SUPERMAN bit...
Bring back Brandon Routh to play the legendary character...
Bryan Singer did an excellent job bringing back the MAN of STEEL, which is no easy task...
Singer has made some of the best superhero films to date (X-Men, X2, Superman Returns)

[matt kiely]

please please al gough and mile miller save us all'' with the succsess of the mummy movies' can you give us a ''SUPERMAN MOVIE WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR'' superman returns was rubbish and brandon routh was possibly'' in fact the worst acting' look a like of any superman from the 50s right up till the current day' terrible' and when we hear sad perthetic people ''DOWN SMALLVILLE AND TOM WELLING'' well dipsticks 'are you aware or smallvilles ratings ''WORLD WIDE'' were you aware of superman returns ratings ''WORLD WIDE'' in case your not' superman returns was complete flop and never earned half of its exspectancie' even warners are embarrassed of it' smallville on the other hand is world wide succsess an on par rating with the donner movies of the late 70s early 80s '' and my friends tom welling has been the longest acter to play clark kent/young superman ''EVER'' so if smallville was so poor and bad i honestly think it would have been pulled long ago instaed of nearly running us into its eighth year'' so please guys with your great writers and with possibly few great directors'' give us superman the movie'' show us what being super is all about again'' you've done such good job with smallville' with michael rosembaum and tom welling'' there the way forward for any superman future weather its justice league or superman the movie ''

[matt kiely]

brandon routh crap crap crap' any pizza deliverie boy could do better job' he had the body of matchstick man, you guy need that guy from smallville do do it justice

[matt kiely]

THANK GOD BRYAN SINGER ISNT COMING BACK' COULDNT DIRECT CAT N MOUSE FIGHT NEVER MIND SUPERMAN' AND WHY DO THEY KEEP GETTING JERKS TO PLAY SUPERMAN' ROUTHS A LOSER

[matt kiely]

how they've gne back to the begining with smallville and told story thats never been told or heard' the done what george lucus did the second time around with the second star wars trilogy' however i think the makers of smallville have done it the right way around' and if there clever they could turn smallville into a superman saga probably as big as star wars and be remembered as an all time smash