The Superman Reboot: Will History Repeat Itself?

The Superman Reboot: Will History Repeat Itself?

While details are still sketchy about the upcoming "Superman: Man of Steel" reboot, Brainiac is rumored to be the villain. How has that worked out in the past?

Editorial Opinion
By BrianZKing - Jul 13, 2010 01:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman

Good news, DC! Although the last Superman movie underperformed, the Batman movies have been doing great. So you’ve decided to give the director of said Batman films creative control over the next cinematic outing for the Man of Steel. And this time, he’s going to be fighting Brainiac!

Wait a minute…Is it 2010, or 1996?

That’s right, certain aspects of the next Superman movie are surprisingly reminiscent of the failed project “Superman Lives.” Kevin Smith’s script would loosely adapt the “Death and Return of Superman” storyline from the comics, and introduce Brainiac as the main villain. Due to his enormous success with the Batman franchise Warner Brothers chose Tim Burton to direct. Nick Cage was set to star, and even costume tested. They also wanted Kevin Spacey for Lex Luthor. Kevin Smith’s choice for Jimmy? Chris Rock. Also Michael Keaton would have a cameo.

Needless to say, things did not pan out. Tim Burton went on to direct “Sleepy Hollow.” The franchise he started died. Nick Cage named his son Kal-El and would go on to play Ghost Rider. And Kevin Smith has never stopped complaining about the spider fight executives insisted he put in the script.

Nor was this the first time Brainiac was proposed as the villain. Cary Bates script for “Superman V,” starring Christopher Reeve, would involve Brainiac and Kandor. It also wouldn’t be made.

It wasn’t the first time either. As far back as “Superman III,” there were initial plans to use Brainiac. And if you think about it, the big bad was a supercomputer. The idea was that Richard Pryor’s bumbling Gus Gorman was just a disguise used by Brainiac to infiltrate.

This didn’t pan out.

So what’s the lesson? That Brainiac can’t be adapted? Not really, just that it hasn’t happened before, and many have tried. Also, making Christopher Nolan the “godfather of the Superman reboot” seems an awful lot like making Tim Burton director of “Superman Lives.” How did that turn out?

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Denn1s
Denn1s - 7/13/2010, 2:31 PM
i am a bit skeptical about nolan gordfathering superman. he is an amazing director, but for superman he must take an entirely different direction than batman. more fantasy, less reality. throw reality out of the window for this one. singer tried the reality thing with returns (which i loved) and it was a disaster. same goes for x-men movies.
RoscoeFolgers
RoscoeFolgers - 7/13/2010, 3:07 PM
Denn1s, Yeah, everything Nolan does is realistic. He'd never make movies about cloning machines or entering dreams.

Chris, please never gamble.
AshleyWilliams
AshleyWilliams - 7/13/2010, 6:35 PM
I trust in Nolan.
McGinnis
McGinnis - 7/13/2010, 7:26 PM
Nolan will do great
TheMyth
TheMyth - 7/14/2010, 1:49 PM
I get it, kinda like a 'curse of Brainiac"... interesting.
Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon - 7/14/2010, 2:54 PM
@Anil Rickly

You don't really know the meaning of the word "diverse" do you? Most of Nolan's works are dark mindbenders set in and around cityscapes.

Favreau has produced such diverse works as a raunchy comedy (Swingers), a children's space adventure (Zathura), a fantasy/holiday comedy (Elf), a few superhero films (Iron Man 1&2), and an upcoming sci-fi western mash-up (Cowboys and Aliens).

How in the hell is that not "diverse"?
NightBat
NightBat - 7/16/2010, 12:03 PM
Very cool article and great points but Nolan and Burton are two VERY diffent directors, both of which I have great respect for.

@Anil Rickly.."nolan has a vision rare today that i see in only del toro, cuaron, proyas, fincher...and he has never disappointed...i have faith if he sets out to avoid realism and make a cbm...he can do just that... "....Did we just become best friends? Do you want to do karate in the garage?
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