J.J. Abrams Talks About the Superman Franchise

J.J. Abrams Talks About the Superman Franchise

How does J.J. Abrams feel about returning to the Superman franchise? Find out in the MTV audio clip inside

By Whispers68 - Oct 26, 2009 11:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: SplashPage.MTV.Com

When J.J. Abrams first encountered the legendary superhero franchise, he didn't have an extensive career to help push the completed movie script he turned in during 2002. "Superman: Flyby" was a story he drafted as Clark Kent's origin where he dies and is eventually resurrected in a Kryptonian heaven after being defeated by four rogue Kryptonians.

Things have changed over the years for Abrams because he has generated much success in both film as well as television. He's best known for the box office hit "Star Trek" as well as the current television series "Fringe" and "Lost." With the legal matters surrounding the Superman franchise, if they were all sorted out appropriately, could Abrams return to the Kryptonian's universe once again?

MTV had the privilege of talking with the famous director/screen writer about his thoughts on the matter.

"No one has talked to me about it," Abrams told MTV News. "Obviously I’m sure Warner Brothers has a plan for what they want to do."

"Writing that script was a long process," he explained. "It was a very passionate character for me. As a kid growing up it meant a lot to me. It would be wonderful and fun to see that brought back. I don’t know what Warners is thinking or what their plan is. It would be a blast."

On a version of his script being used for the franchise, it seems Abrams would welcome the idea.

"That version of the movie—the one that was reviewed and vilified—was actually not the latest draft we had at the time and we worked on it well after that. I do think there’s a version of that movie that could be really fun to see," said Abrams. "You never really know. Everything happens for a reason."






Whispers68: With the legal matters and the previous direction taken with the franchise, chances are a new film won't make a theatrical release for many years. It would be pretty cool to see J.J. Abrams in some way involved with the film. Whether it is producing or simply writing a new script or even utilizing portions of the old one. Everyone seems to love his interpretation of "Star Trek," so who knows what potential he possesses when it comes to everyone's favorite boy scout.
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LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/26/2009, 11:57 PM
Great stuff @ WHISPERS!!

J.J.ADRAMS would be amazing on SUPERMAN!

Course it'll hav'ta be DOOMSDAY VS ROUTHY!!! ; D

Imran
Imran - 10/27/2009, 1:27 AM
J.J. Abrams would be great if he got to do Superman. He's really good at getting people hyped up about a film, and everytime I look at him he reminds me of the guy from Big Bang Theory.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 10/27/2009, 6:45 AM
haha, "everything happens for a reason"..JJ channeling John Locke there..

Yeah I think he would do a good job.

superdog
superdog - 10/27/2009, 7:34 AM
i think he would be great. but not sure about that script. superman dying and going to krypton heaven after being defeated by 4 more kryptonians (even though he is the LAST son of krypton). ditch that script and start from scratch and i say go for it.
PRMR77
PRMR77 - 10/27/2009, 7:35 AM
As a huge Star Trek fan I was thinking "you better not c**k this up" and he didn't I was well inpressed. As an even bigger Superman fan I think he should give it a go I recon it will be allot better than people think. While we're on the subject I know people will say no, but no to Brandon Routh and yes to Tom Welling.
superdog
superdog - 10/27/2009, 7:52 AM
personally i think this movie would have sucked. but now that j.j. has grown and learned some more things, a new script and concept with him at the helm would be great. and no routh or welling, i hate to admit it (cause i didnt particularly dislike returns, thought it wasnt that bad) i agree with tea. a clean break is needed and a fresh start.
Denn1s
Denn1s - 10/27/2009, 8:08 AM
abrams will rock the superman franchise. bring him on !
TheHumanBurrito
TheHumanBurrito - 10/27/2009, 8:12 AM
@ LEEE. BRANDON ROUTH SUCKS BALLS, he is very gay and a bad actor stop it NOW!
FlashThompson
FlashThompson - 10/27/2009, 8:26 AM
I don't see a reason to kick Routh to the curb. I thought he played the part that was written for him very well. He did a good job of playing the differences between the clutzy farm boy in Clark Kent and the strict, serious and almost iceman like Superman that tries to hide all emotions. I think the main thing that made Superman Returns the most okay superhero movie ever was the script. They wrote Superman to be a dead beat dad who let another man have to take care of his kid. I don't really agree with who they wrote the character because you felt worse for Richard White than you did Superman.

And besides we all know if Superman busted a nut in Lois Lane it would shoot right out her back. He would have to reproduce with Wonder Woman because she would be the only woman non-Kryptonian that would have a strong enough uteris to bare his seed. The only way he'd be able to bust one in Lois Lane is if he wore a Kryptonite condom and that would kill him. I [frick]ing love Mallrats.
dancingmonkey08
dancingmonkey08 - 10/27/2009, 8:30 AM
damn right superdog, clean break is the only way to go and JJ Abrams could be perfect to direct. JJ Abrams could finish off the Star Trek trilogy first by 2014 and in the meantime maybe a Justice League movie could introduce a new Superman and then JJ Abrams could direct a new spin-off Superman trilogy with this new Superman after he is done with Star Trek
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 10/27/2009, 8:38 AM
I'm still thinking about Superman bustin' a nut in Lois....
jazzman
jazzman - 10/27/2009, 8:50 AM
if Warner Bros wants to reboot Superman first thing they need to do is to get rid of Jon Peters completely from anything Superman. Jon Peters famous for been Barbra Streisand hair styling and for been sued for sexual harassment by Brian Quintana who wants this guy still involved with The Man of Steel.

superdog
superdog - 10/27/2009, 9:09 AM
agreed
gibbyblaylock
gibbyblaylock - 10/27/2009, 11:52 AM
YES, ABRAMS!!!!!!!!

Script sounds flimsy though. Let's have a GOOD Superman villain like Brainiac and/or Bizarro and/or Parasite.

No Hulk with spikes (Doomsday) please.
Banner123
Banner123 - 10/27/2009, 1:11 PM
Brandon Routh as Kent/Superman was absolutely HORRIBLE. What a douche! Unbelievably stiff and horrible acting. Granted, you only can go as far as you can with what you are given, but even so, the only good work he has ever done was in Zack and Miri Make a Porno in which he was kind of funny. Superman Returns SUCKED. Even Spacey, who was the only bright spot, sucked for the way he hammed up the roll. The movie had a lot of potential, but blew it early on. While 'Throwing the S' is the new term, something should be said about that f*cking kid who was supposed to be his son(?). What the hell was that?! Bottom line, Singer shit the bed. Start over. New story, new actor, more action. I'm still digging the idea of a McTeigue/Wachowski's vision of Superman. While those are just rumors, I think that team could bring a fresher, much needed re-imagining of one of the most iconic characters to the big screen...
thegreek
thegreek - 10/27/2009, 1:16 PM
Like i said before i actually like Superman Returns it was entertaining that is what it was suppose to do .... But the kid has to go ... Like i said in previous posts... Just continue with the stroy ... Bring Mongul or Braniac to kill his kid and then we can finally see some really action....And after that we can see someone else is pulling the strings IE Darkseid... Which Superman can kick his ass too and then bring on DOOMSDAY ..... Justice league after that with the Resurrection of Superman in the storyline ... and there u have it ... tada
FlashThompson
FlashThompson - 10/27/2009, 1:23 PM
Jesus Harold, I think you have yourself a storyline to follow. I don't know, I can sit here and say what I think they should do. But who the hell am I?
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 10/27/2009, 2:54 PM
I MISSED THE OVER THE TOP NERDY KENT...THIS IS WHY IT WASNT AS STRONG A CLARK KENT AS REEVES..
wussupman
wussupman - 10/27/2009, 5:46 PM
Good find JAZZMAN , that picture by itself has me pumped ! That's the SH%T !!!!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/28/2009, 8:35 AM
Don't doubt the ROUTH!!

valeriesghost
valeriesghost - 10/28/2009, 9:30 AM
i liked BR as supes. Think Welling would be fine as well, but as long as its one of the 2 i'm happy. i do lean toward BR though, not sure how Tom would translate to the big screen. Reboot=Welling, moving forward (which is what we all want)=Routh.
valeriesghost
valeriesghost - 10/28/2009, 9:44 AM
i liked BR as supes. Think Welling would be fine as well, but as long as its one of the 2 i'm happy. i do lean toward BR though, not sure how Tom would translate to the big screen. Reboot=Welling, moving forward (which is what we all want)=Routh.
Magicfingers
Magicfingers - 10/28/2009, 1:41 PM
@teabag- Drop the story. Keep the giant robot from the concept art above. That is what is needed in a really good Superman film, one bad A** fight with a CGI monster-bot. ;)
@LEEE777- Routh for Supes!!! :D
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