McG Talks Superman

McG Talks Superman

Not too long ago McG was asked whether or not he would be interested in returning to Superman -- a film he was supposed to direct until a fear of flying prevented him from being willing to go to Australia for the shoot. This audio interview shares his feelings on the subject.

By EdGross - Jun 15, 2009 05:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

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Back in February, McG appeared at New York Comic-Con to talk about the then forthcoming Terminator: Salvation. At one point in an interview conducted there, he was asked if he would have any interest in revisiting Superman as a possible film. He was, of course, at one point supposed to direct what became Superman Returns. Had the pieces all fallen into place, McG would have directed Brendan Fraser as Superman in a film based on the screenplay by J.J. Abrams. While on the one hand McG sounds like a good director for what should be a fun adventure, on the other when he declares that he would make the Man of Steel
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much darker, one has to wonder whether he gets the character at all. In any case, below you'll find his audio comments on the possibility of taking on Superman. [Note: These images are costume designs that were done when McG was still involved with the Superman project]

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MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/15/2009, 6:17 AM
All you Singer haters, count your blessings that this tool didnt get his hands on Superman! Brendan "i haaaaate Mummys" Fraser? Balls
Shaman
Shaman - 6/15/2009, 6:30 AM
I second that roar!!!

Jim Caviezel as Superman!!!



And JENSEN ACKLES FOR CAP!!!
droopy1317
droopy1317 - 6/15/2009, 6:37 AM
i thought superman returns was pretty good. its not about fighting a villain, its about him simply using his powers that interested me. and i thought mcg did good wit terminator so either way would've been good. although i'm not too sure bout brendan playin superman
ManofSteel2012
ManofSteel2012 - 6/15/2009, 7:08 AM
Why does everyone want to change superman? new costumes? they suck. And Brendan Fraser as superman...cmon. I think Tom Welling is a good fit for superman, but all of these story's and screenplays suck.
vonstallin
vonstallin - 6/15/2009, 7:22 AM
I loved Superman Returns. Most superman Movies dont Have big time (or good) Villians in them (except for Gen Zod).

I do think its time for Superman to go up against a Villian as powerfull as himself.

Darker don't mean Superman becomes dark, it could mean the tone of the movie is Darker, like maybe a villian seeks out Klarks family and kill his mother, torture Loise etc...

It could show him still trying to hold onto his values and thinking of ways vs. becoming just like the villians.

Anyway, anthing written by JJ. Abrams can't be all that bad. Brendan gets 2 thumbs down...

As far as costumes go, I am ready for a change. A mild change. Everytime Superman changed or updated his costume in the comics sales boosted up. The classic is cool, but his costume shouldnt define him.

Those drawings are mild enuff to work.. its not 1930's The leotards with briefs overtop is dated, When they got rid of it with batman I jump for joy.

McG for supman written by Nolan, or JJ Abrams or his team of writters....

Oh and the current superman (i forget his name) if good...he can only do what the script say and he played the part of a sad alien to the T. I dont think Christopher Reeve could have played this script/story any better.
Shaman
Shaman - 6/15/2009, 7:36 AM
I didn't mind Routh but Jim would deepen the part. And Superman without the cape? I'd go for it but the majority wouldn't.
JeremyBentham
JeremyBentham - 6/15/2009, 7:56 AM
Brendan Fraser as superman?! i think that's the first i've ever heard of that, and if i hadnt read it with my own eyes i'd of thought it was a sick joke

the costumes they designed look sweet, actually. it actually looks more convincing of something alien like from krypton. also i like how the cape comes up seamlessly with the red portion of the suit. the s might be a tad oversized, but i would enjoy it on the big screen
Ship
Ship - 6/15/2009, 8:30 AM
what's the problem with Routh, i bet for him, is a better choise than Caviezel, Caviezel is too old for the part, Fraser hummmmmmm?????, i don't buy it, i enjoy SR a lot, but you are right too much luthor in superman films, it's time for some other, even bizarro will be ok.
Shaman
Shaman - 6/15/2009, 8:46 AM
Well i for one am tired of seeing Superman looking like he just graduated college. I think they should pic a man once and for all. Reeves wasn't bad, Cain was better(in looks only) but Caviezel would OWN IT!!!
cable82
cable82 - 6/15/2009, 8:55 AM
Caviezel doesnt even look like him. I don't think he will make a good Superman at all. Routh did a good job just poor directing and writing. He really looked the part and was of physical size. And no more Lex Luthor.
Hellmont
Hellmont - 6/15/2009, 9:00 AM
I agree with Ror1 if McG would have directed Superman Returns it would have been much worse than Singers shitty version of it.

But just to hear his idea about making Superman Darker like Batman is stupid and it clearly reveals that McG Doesnt know the first thing about Superman.
Batman can loose it and pummel the shit out of the Joker and be close to killing him but thats just Batmans nature,but Superman Cant pummel the shit out of Lex because he would kill him instantly and thats not who superman is.

Do we need to see Superman fight Darkseid or Doomsday. Definetly with out a Doubt

No do not F#ck with the superman Suit.

Do not make Louis Supermans Baby Mama with a super kid.
Superman is Immortal and making him have children is making him more human thus more vulnerable.

Do not Kill off Pa-Kent and make Ma-Kent a horny senior citizen that goes off on dates.

No more Lex as a Villian although it would be cool to see a Lex Corp building within the shots and if Supes Battles DarkSeid or Doomsday it would be great to see Lex by the sideline a top his sky scraper watching the entire event.

Jim Cavaziel looks a bit too old for my taste

LEEE777
LEEE777 - 6/15/2009, 9:06 AM
BRANDON ROUTH STAYS SUPERMAN VS DOOMSDAY = EPIC!!! ; )
ironknight27
ironknight27 - 6/15/2009, 9:06 AM
I actually liked Routh as Superman. They had the right idea going with an unknown. The movie just suffered because of the script. I actually liked Superman Returns but I didnt love it. They should have Zod return or use Doomsday as a villain. Hell even bring in Darkseid. And I do not like the suit they would have used in McG's movie. I also can't imagine superman without his cape.
longbowhunter
longbowhunter - 6/15/2009, 9:40 AM
Instead of making Supes darker, just use his villians. The Superman movies would for sure have darker tone if he fought Darkseid or Brainiac. What do we get Lex Luthor every time.
shibazz
shibazz - 6/15/2009, 11:32 AM
Sorry Shaman but i cannot allow Ackles to become Capt. America,.... maybe Bucky . Oh and no more dancing Luthors please,... i hate even the slightest comedic take on Lex. I want a supes that Batman can really hate.
thegreek
thegreek - 6/15/2009, 11:33 AM
I thought Superman returns was done pretty well... And sure u can have Lex but only for a bit part where he works with someone else to take out Supes... Perhaps Darkseid.

thegreek
thegreek - 6/15/2009, 11:35 AM
I agree Longbow... Put Braniac in the movie and they can segway into Darkseid and then Justice League and then Doomsday... And begin the Crisis novels those would def be Epic....
stupify_me
stupify_me - 6/15/2009, 12:36 PM
I like the idea of a Darker Superman film. People are reading this all wrong. He didn't say he was gonna make Superman a dark character he said he was gonna make it a darker movie. I think that's needed and should be done. A darker movie with the same old superman trying to shine through as a beacon of hope and an example to stand above everyone else. The movie should be dark and at times hopeless, but when Superman is on screen you get this feeling like things can be better. He lives as though the world were what it should be to show it what it can be. That's Superman.


Anyway Fraiser is a bad idea, but still better than Nick Cage seriously lol. Not to fond of the Jim Cavizel (Sp?) idea. I'd rather see Routh back than that guy though a fresh casting would be nice just not this Jim C guy.
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 6/15/2009, 1:15 PM
I love that costume design, it looks like that alternate reality look from justice league unlimited episode.
yanky820
yanky820 - 6/15/2009, 3:00 PM
I like the costume design, and I kind of wish they did go a bit darker with superman returns but whats done is done ... Routh was ok as superman, a lot better then what Brandon would have been I bet. Over all I think Tom Welling would be perfect for the role. I just hope that if they do another one they just need to leave lex out of it and really get darker, we've seen to many movies with Lex in it when they could use Darkside or any other character other than Lex Luther ... thats just my thought in it though.
BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 6/15/2009, 4:12 PM
As much as I hated Superman Returns I am sooo glad that this never happened. Brendan Fraser is terrible. Although he'd make a great Bizzaro for the Nic Cage Superman! HAHAHHAHAHHAH!

Hey LEEE777

I know how much you hate FOX (shibazz too if I'm not mistaken) But I just read how they saved to original Alien. I never heard this before, but apparently Ridley Scott's original ending for the movie was to have the alien bite off Ripley's head, then radio back to Earth in her voice announcing the Nostromo's return. Fox said no. Thus saving the franchise and giving us Cameron's Aliens. Score one for Fox! But just one.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 6/15/2009, 5:18 PM
Cool BILLY @ I don't hate FOX, FOX did STAR WARS ffs! It just nowadays everything they touch turns to crap!!!

Now ive heard, just to rub salt in a Fantastic 4 reboot! ???? FFs ... : /
stupify_me
stupify_me - 6/15/2009, 6:44 PM
Fox is actually a decent studio they just aren't great with Comic films. They do a lot of other quality work though. Hell the have even done some decent comic stuff look at the first X films.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 6/15/2009, 11:32 PM
JUST KEEP THE COSTUME LIKE THE ORIGINAL, DONT WEIGH HIM DOWN WITH DRAMATICS AND MORE WEAKNESSES THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED(A SON) I DUNNO..I WOULDNT GO SEE A DARKER SUPERMAN, ITS SO STUPID..RETARDED THAT BECAUSE BATMAN DID SO WELL THAT DIRECTORS AND STUDIO HEADS LEAN TOWARD DARK HEROES TO MAKE MONEY..SUPERMAN IS NOT DARK, HE'S THE OPPOSITE OF BATMAN, TO CHANGE THAT IS STUPID AND A SLAP IN THE FACE TO GENERATIONS OF FANS..
SupermanReturns2
SupermanReturns2 - 6/15/2009, 11:32 PM
Routh for Superman! In this modified costume with the yellow "S" on the cape!
BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 6/16/2009, 12:13 PM
I disagree teabag

They could pull it off completely if they took a few pages from what Bruce Timm and Co. did with Darkseid in the Superman Animated Series and the JLA sht they did with Darkseid. Those were compelling and serious storylines that would traslate well to film, especially with the budget they had for Returns.

I'm with you stupify_me

Fox isn't as bad as people make out. They've struggled of late, but some of my favorite franchises have come from Fox. And you are correct, the first 2 X-movies I thought were great.
SupermanReturns2
SupermanReturns2 - 6/16/2009, 5:19 PM
Superman-IF-- they were to resurrect him, should take on Brainiac! have Brainiac kill lots of people enslave lois and give The Man of Steel a reason to go all Krypton on him!
DrRockit13
DrRockit13 - 6/24/2009, 12:00 PM
they need to take that pussy ass smallville fight with doomsaday give a 200,000,000 million dollar buget and do the death of superman. the very first comic book i ever read adn still one of my favorites. and as to McG's comment on making him darker what the [frick] is he thinking. thats bat mans job a$$hole.
SuperBat
SuperBat - 8/22/2009, 10:40 PM
Quite frankly, with all respect McG, that Superman costume--mostly the collar--that wasn't used in "Superman Returns" looks a little to Star Trek-ish. I say that Brandon Routh should dawn the red cape and blue tights once again for "Superman VI," whether it'll be a reboot or a sequel to "Superman Returns" As for the suit used in "Superman Returns": it needs modified, reworked and recolored to the same colors as those of the Christopher Reeve-era Superman suit. Let's hope John Ottman returns to score "Superman VI." Otherwise, John Williams would do so. If neither Ottman nor Williams are availible, then may I suggest a different composer--either Danny Elfman, John Debney, Don Davis, Mark McKenzie, or Damon Intrabartolo (who scored John Ottman's score to "Superman Returns")--should compose a new score that incorporates original themes from the 1978 film, for it won't be a "Superman" movie without the original music themes by John Williams?
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