Superman's new boots

Superman: Today.

2006. Bryan Singer directed Superman Returns, a film written and produced in a manner heavily inspired by Richard Donner's 1978 film. I quite liked it, but it failed to capture the popular imagination, sell enough cinema tickets or action figures to be considered a viable model for future Superman films.

2010. Superman's owners, Warner Brothers, need to make another film soon or face a hefty financial claim from the estate of Superman's creators.

To this end, the director's chair has been handed to Dawn of the Dead (remake), 300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch helmer; Zack Snyder for a hasty reboot.

So what do we know, what can we guess?

1. Rushing

Superman: Already moving.

The rumors surrounding the development of this Superman make for pretty depressing reading. What we know for sure is that this it needs to go in front of the cameras soon, Mister Snyder is directing it and that comic book movie stalwart David Goyer has written it.

What does a David Goyer Superman script look like?

Goyer's successes have come when the material is steeped in darkness, horror, grime.

I like his Blade script, it's formulaic but it has... well, teeth, a villain willing to throw a child through a bus shelter, a vampire nightclub that rains blood from the ceiling, enough room and motivation for a lot of action, a bit of invention. It does it's job. With Superman he's out of his comfort zone.

Rumours abound that the Superman reboot will feature general Zod and a young Clarke Kent still traveling the world, wondering if he should become Superman (spoiler: He does).

We know Goyer's a geek, we know he likes comics and the rumor feels right for me, it's definitely not what's gone before and it speaks of a simple, classical structure.


2. Casting

Superman: Not this guy (and definitely not Tom Welling)

We know Brandon Routh will not be reprising his starring role from Superman Returns. He was a relative unknown with a tricky boots to fill and, frankly, a naff script to play off. He didn't shine, but was given little to shine with.

This is a mistake that won't be made twice.

John Hamm's revelatory turn as Don Draper, his physical resemblance to a square jawed, Fleischer-Brothers drawing and the early 60's glamour that oozes from TV show 'Mad Men' has got half of Twitter screaming that he should be Supeman.

But he won't.

Warner want a brand for the future, not one that ties itself to the past. Expect young and fresh, but not unknown...

3. Punching

Not Superman: Yargh!

Zack Snyder likes fights. He really does.

300 is a love letter to balletic, cinematic violence. Watchmen featured extended, slick, murderous kung fu (greatly extended and mutated from the book).

In truth, all he ever delivers is slick, cosmetic 'combat'. And that's what we'll see here.

It's interesting to note that the only bit of imagery that 'stuck' from 'Returns' was the extremely slow motion CG shot of a bullet hitting Supernan's eye. I wonder if that played any part in Snyder getting the gig.

You have to fear for the heart of the film, but I know visually, at least, we'll see something.


4. Cameoing?

Superman: And friends.

Are Warner Brothers (like Disney/Marvel) building a shared cinematic DC universe? The interesting thing about this question is that no one has concretely said so, there's hesitancy here, it seems.

George Miller's Justice League stalled on take-off, although utterly intriguing, it always struck me as a weird project, a full CG cinematic release featuring the same characters as their tent-pole, live action movies. I suspect that, amongst the reasons the project stopped (as well as tax issues in Australia), was that it muddies the IP waters.

To date. There's no hint I've seen that the in-production Green Lantern movie features any connection to Christopher Nolan's amazingly successful Batman films, but more DC movies are coming, and quickly, you'd expect a plan to be in place.


Predictions.

• The plot is a coming of age tale. Young Clarke Kent, traveling the world to find himself, feeling alone amongst humanity and racked with doubt about his place is forced to pick a side and choose Earth as his home, when General Zod arrives and claims the planet for Krypton. 
• Superman will be played by "Someone we've heard of", expect a raft of young actors with successful films under there belt to be floated, my wildcard pick, this guy. 
• Expect a number of actual fights with different, exciting, easy-to-mould-into-plastic villains to appear in extremely slick action sequences. Giant robots smashing up Metropolis? don't rule it out.
• A Green Lantern cameo, Nolan's Batman world mixes with 'grand fantasy' like oil mixes with water, but alien-superman and neon space-cops are far more comfortable sharing a stage. Warner's want what Disney/Marvel have, a credible shared superhero universe, but they won't risk tarnishing their most profitable superhero franchise... until Bale and Nolan bow out after completion of the 3rd film.