(Sigh) If the new Superman movie is just half as good as the behind-the-scenes machinations that preceded it, this film will be fantastic. Superman geeks and websites have lit up the internet like hot kryptonite with the rumor that M.Knight Shyamalan might write/direct the new film. But there's one thing the fans seemed to have overlooked!
Years ago, before Signs, before Unbreakable, before Sixth Sense...back when Tim Burton and Nicholas Cage were attached to this project, M.Knight tried pitching himself to write and direct the film. Of course the studio turned him down. He was a nobody back then who hadn't earned $300 million dollars domestically with a film about a boy who 'sees dead people'.
Now everything has changed. M. Knight has the clout to walk right up and take charge of this project if he so desired. I for one would love to see M. Knight writing and directing a new Superman film because I think he would do a terrific job and I believe Bruce Willis is the only one who can adequately portray Lex Luthor. No one is saying the rumors are true. But here is what Superman-V.com has to say:
"Who is this mystery writer/director that could be coming onto Warner Bros' new-look, Peters lacking Superman? Who is Mark Millar talking about? We can't say for sure who he meant, but after consulting various sources, only one name came up that wasn't McG... M. Night Shyamalan.
As for being someone who will not disappoint fans and being a writer/director (Mark's description), he fits the bill. Does he know Mark? We don't know, however it seems Mark is a huge fan of Unbreakable. When asked on the subject Millar simply replied 'he would be happy' with Shyamalan. In fact, Shyamalan's quite the Superman nut, having a two-foot statue of the Man of Steel in his office and writing the introduction for Alex Ross' upcoming 'Mythology' book.
M. Night, who's previous films include Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs, is currently prepping The Woods (starring a certain WB favourite Ashton Kutcher!) meaning IF he came on to Superman, Summer 2006 would be the earliest we could expect it. However, he just sealed a two-picture deal with Disney. A recent interview in Variety sheds light on this. It says the director could possibly do a movie in-between his Disney contract, but only if an 'irresistible book adaptation came up'. If WB offered him Superman, allowing him creative freedom, surely the project would be too good for him to turn down?
The 'official' word is that WB are still committed to Jon Peters' Superman, McG directing from a script he developed with JJ Abrams. Unofficially, behind the scenes, yet another power struggle seems to be brewing. A Superman film stands to make certain individuals big money. Meaning everyone wants a piece of Supes and will use any method, be it the net, individuals or trades to get their Superman made. In example, hot-shot exec Y may have promised director X that he is getting the Superman movie and will bring him on to direct. The exec, or director, could conveniently leak this info online to drum up support.
There's an easy way to resolve this matter. WB should tell the fans the truth. What is happening with McG's project? The last we heard it was going through budgeting and casting could follow should they come up with workable numbers. Is Shyamalan waiting in the wings to develop his own Superman story? If you remember correctly, the 'official' word from the studio was that they were delighted with Brett Ratner's vision of Superman. 'Officially' Batman Year One was still in the works at the same time Chris Nolan was working on Batman: Intimidation. Are Mark Millar and the net being used in power games? Is Mark even talking about Shyamalan? WB, the fans would like to know what the real truth is about the Superman movie."