Superman Mythology: TV to Film?

As a fan of Superman comics from waaaay before Smallville, I have to ask: Are you freakin' nuts?

Give me a break, Smallville is its own entity, it is nothing like the comics and to make any comparison of Smallville to Superman cannon is near blasphemy. The show has rode rough shot over comics continuity for a decade. A new film series is a means to start fresh and unfettered by the confusing storylines presented by a decade of writers struggling to keep a show on the air six seasons beyond its logical ending.

1. Legal issues will work out when enough cash shuffles into the greedy little hands of S&S's do-nothing relatives.

2. Mediochre actors for the greater part, I'm afraid. Nolan works with multi Oscar winners not Tom Welling.

3.Your kidding yourself if you think that many people, regular movie goers or even Fanboys, watch Smallville.

4. Why NOT Welling? Because this is a new series, unmuddled by the decade of convoluted story telling of Smallville.

5. Better chemistry than in the comics? Dude, that's not even comparable... You read the comic YOU fill in the chemistry with you own mind... That just shows a lack of imagination. Comparing a still image on a page to a half asses TV show, please. Don't blame your lack of imagination for acceptance of bad soap opera melodrama romance and acting.

6.(sigh) "Why not" is a lazy argument. And as for "why not," see number 4 above.

The whole basis of your argument is lacking, man. If you see Smallville when you look at Superman comics it in no means the vast majority of fans do, in fact I’d have to guess the opposite. It is much easier for Nolan and Co. to start fresh with their own vision than try to continue someone else’s. Nolan refuses to allow his characters to be “sullied” (my word not his) or contaminated by mingling with characters handled by other directors even those the caliber of Martin Campbell, there is no way in hell he’s touching Smallville. Completely unthinkable.

Sorry if I come off harsh, but sometimes you need to slap people out of delusion

I wonder if Nolan has ever seen Smallville. I'd kill to see his reaction to watching it. I think it'd be something like this:

@Jasonblue, I think people forget that Smallville has kept Superman in the public interests for ten tears now, and has brought in a number of fans to the character who have never read a comic in their lives. Smallville is ten years of development of various characters, as you see them you grow with them, more than two hours of story. I honestly like your idea, although as you probably know yourself its unfortunate this wont come to pass. I just hope that they take a leaf out of Smallville's book when production starts.

If this were just a straight up Smallville movie I think your idea would work just great, but this is a new Superman franchise, you know?

I think the 10 years of Smallville is partially the problem with using it as the basis for a film. True, those who have watched the show will know the back story and the characters and their histories together, but therein lays the problem.

You don't want a anew film franchise that will require audiences to watch seasons 1-10 to get certain established plot points. This film ideally will in some way tie into the new DC Film Universe, whether Nolan intends it to or not, and since Smallville has created its own versions of Flash, or Impulse, Aquaman, Hawkman, GA, et al, its already limiting what the new films can do with the characters.

I just think Nolan's Superman, Campbell's GL, and the upcoming Flash, GA, and WW flicks are going to need to start unincombered by any hodgepodge back story ham fistedly created for a TV show.

InTylerWeTrust....I think Nolan would think the same about Superman Returns.

I think Nolan would do more of this:
or this:

Eh, I thought he was decent in Returns and the only other thing I've seen him in is Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and I thought he was funny in his cameo with Justin Long there. He's not going to be in the reboot so I don't really care.

@rpintor1, exactly.

I can't speak for everyone, but I watch SV because of Hartley, Durance (even though she can be pretty over-the-top and cheesy at times), and the DC cameos. That's about it, but those things make it somewhat enjoyable when they're on screen. I don't think I've ever seen someone say "Suck my nuts" or anything that extreme to a Smallville fan. Mostly it's just grif's blunt "shit show" or tea's "Smallville sucks but I respect those who like it...BOOBS." If you want to say stuff like that about Returns, by all means. But if you get that annoyed by those who say "Smallville sucks", etc. then ignore those comments, just like you're telling those who don't like the show to ignore it. Complaining about the complainers is not going to accomplish anything.

I didn't say he was nuts for watching Smallville. I said he was nuts for thinking Smallville was the basis for what most people saw when they read the comics. Ala, "When we read comic books featuring Superman we only picture Erica Durance as Lois Lane. When we see Lana Lang pop up in comic books for one second we wonder why she has red hair." WE being the operative word.

He can watch Smallville if he likes, I'm just saying don't telegraph the idea that so many fan boys do that it is the basis of comparison for the majority of comic readers.

And I do change the channel as soon as I hear, "Somebody SAAAAAVVVVEEEE MEEEEE!" Click. If anyone else likes it that’s their business, I just don’t think the new films should be based on it.

Read more carefully, rpintor

Smallville does not have the viewership needed for it to be translated to film. Only a select few fanboys would know what was going on, everyone else wouldn't have a clue.

I am a huge Smallville fan; its my favorite show on Television but I just don't see Warner Brothers making the new Superman movie based on it.

I still hope ROUTH gets the part. they could still use him even after SR....perhaps this next film could be similar to SUPERMAN 3....not the story line but the concept. Lets not have Lois Lane or Lex Luthor in this one. We already know that we arent getting another origin story....its only just a SEMI REBOOT. Bringing Routh is still plausible and it can be explained to the fans that the bumbling KENT has transformed into a confident one ...perhaps Perry White has advised that he take some confidence lessons or maybe he just makes a conscious decision to be a different person...more outgoing etc. people in real life change in this way all the time.....and we all know that the Bumbling KENT facade is just an act anyway. ROUTH could still get the part and have it all still make sense without confusing anyone if its been explained in the film which is entirely possible since NOLANS films are all about dissecting the character and teaching the viewers who these SUPERHEROES are internally .... ROUTHBOOT!

How about we just trust Christopher Nolan.
"In Nolan, we trust."

@ omega

"JasonBlue@ Do you read Superman comics dude? Cuz what youve described at the begining of your article and in the chemistry section just isnt right."

took the words right out of my mouth

Im a connoisseur of Superman, ive collected everything from the 30s comics the the 30s early animation right upto season 8 of smallville...and i firmly believe the Smallville incarnation of Clark or more notebly now Superman is the greatest portrayal of the character ''ever'' WHY...OK well we've been told the man story over and over again, but never the story of the boy who becomes the man and why!..we've never been shown or told how he came to deal with who he is and what his capabilitys are' and how he comes to terms with using them, and for what purpose...and the Smallville people have nailed it'' sure theres been few dodgy episodes, but all in all world wide Smallville is a smash, or it would never have got past the second season,..now nearly in its 9th year..its clear the people or majority have chosen the way forward for the future of Superman, or if you like who should definitely portray him...and i have to agree...it has to be Tom welling, he's played the character longer than anyone else in the industry, so it would only make the sense obviously to cast him as Superman, because lets face it' brandon routh is ok actor but he's not Superman'' and i also believe this could be key factor into why the movie flopped...he just didnt convince people the way Tom welling dose, and as chris reeves said R.I.P, that a large part of it..to captivate the audience..to make them believe ''a man can fly'' ...so why should'nt Tom welling appear in Green lanturn...simply because his portrayal of the Clark kent character is been the best to date...just as chris bale's Batman has been the best to date with the new life breathed back into the franchise, taking nothing away from the chris reeves legacy....there Gold classic'' but it would seem fundimentally that Tom welling has as chris did all those years ago..captivated people into believing a man can fly...although he's only taken flight once in nearly 9 years, however i believe the best is still yet to come, what they've done with Smallville is what George lucas failed the first time to do with Star wars, wheres lucus had to go back..they've made perfect foundational basis of which to launch 2 or 3 great Superman movies...and it worked with Star trek after the 60s series finished and it would work with Smallville...im not sure how many Star trek movies they made off the back of the 60s series...i do know they smashed the box office though, i dont believe we've ever seen Superman super before..sure sure we've seen him fly and move outside time in Smallville...but we've never seen what he truely capable of'' the comics have always gave us glimpse...also if the keep casting the wrong people to play the key parts..the Superman franchise will fall into rut and decay just as the Batman franchise did in the 90s..before chris nolan rescued it!!...but with todays technology...and with the perfect cast Tom welling and michael rosenbaum...they should give us the world and Superman fans the movie we've been waiting so desperately for since mr reeves did the first movie!!! so should Tom welling appear in the new MAN OF STEEL MOVIE..YES 100% he's the way forward now for SUPERMAN!!!
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