No, this isn’t a line from a post-credit sequence in Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman film, MAN OF STEEL. Instead it’s word that the JUSTICE LEAGUE film scheduled for 2015 will not be greenlit until MAN OF STEEL presents some favourable box-office return. No wonder Warner Bros. are a bit antsy, because other than Batman, the rest of the DC universe hasn’t exactly set the world alight. No wonder, considering how they keep botching every attempt at adapting their stars to the big screen. Currently sat here in my Green Lantern lounge pants, Green Lantern T-shirt, and Green Lantern snuggy (shut up, it’s cold and I look fabulous), I should be praying for a JUSTICE LEAGUE film but I’m still annoyed at that Ryan Reynold’s attempt at a DC character. In an article for Variety the following was stated:
Stakes are high for “Man of Steel.” Other than Nolan’s Batpics, Warners has not been able to effectively exploit the DC library. Its 2011 “Green Lantern” underperformed, and a “Justice League” film wouldn’t likely be in theaters before 2015, as Warner’s top brass has indicated that they are awaiting the results of “Man of Steel,” which opens June 14, before moving further ahead.
So, hopefully (for Warner Bros. at least) Snyder and writer David S. Goyer are onto a winner. It certainly seems as though Goyer is confident as he has been screaming about the ‘realism’ of MAN OF STEEL, which means he should really just say “It’s like the Dark Knight movies, honest!”
Speaking to Empire, Goyer discussed his take on MAN OF STEEL:
We’re approaching Superman as if it weren’t a comic book movie, as if it were real. I adore the Donner films. Absolutely adore them. It just struck me that there was an idealist quality to them that may or may not work with today’s audience. It just struck me that if Superman really existed in the world, first of all this story would be a story about first contact.
This may have worked for Batman, but will it really work for Superman? Especially when considering that they wish to join this to make a JUSTICE LEAGUE film. However, Goyer went on to say some things that really do ring true:
He’s an alien. You can easily imagine a scenario in which we’d be doing a film like E.T., as opposed to him running around in tights. If the world found out he existed, it would be the biggest thing that ever happened in human history. It falls into that idea of trying to humanize the inhuman. He’s made out of steel, he’s not made out of flesh, metaphorically speaking. We are portraying him as a man, yet he’s not a man.
I like the idea of this being “the biggest thing that ever happened in human history”, because it really would be that massive. But how does one go about portraying that without losing sight of the protagonist? And since we’re all so used to Superman being part of our culture, will the effect shown on screen resonate with us? Time will tell, but MAN OF STEEL hasn’t yet convinced me to spend my cash on it at the cinema.
MAN OF STEEL is directed by Zack Snyder and stars Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon and Laurence Fishburne. It will be released on 14th June 2013.
