Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Superman: Man of Steel

5/27/10 - Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Barry Meyer announced that Warner will soon give the go-ahead for a movie about beloved DC Comics superhero Flash.  Meyer highlighted that DC Comics characters are key parts of Warner's future, mentioning a July 20, 2012 release date for the latest Batman film by Christopher Nolan and a holiday season 2012 Superman film. He added that the studio is planning films featuring Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Mad magazine characters as in development.

2/24/10 - Latino Review reported that Warner Bros. is making its moves to send Superman on his next adventure.  The studio and Legendary Pictures are negotiating with David Goyer to pen a new script, tentatively titled Man of Steel, that would help Warner Bros. get a new Superman film on the bigscreen before it loses the copyright on the character in 2013.  Both Warner Bros. and Legendary are high on Goyer after he helped breathe new life into the Batman franchise in 2005 by co-writing Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.  According to sources close to the companies, Goyer pitched a more action-packed idea that involves Superman battling arch nemesis Lex Luthor and super villain Brainiac -- far different than the original story that was seen in Superman Returns in 2006.  Warner Bros. is under a timeline to get another film in production by 2011 or risk having to pay the heirs of Superman-creator Jerome Siegel considerable coin for the studio's exploitation of the character over the years. The Siegel heirs and the heirs of co-creator Joe Shuster will own the entire Superman copyright in 2013, according to an ongoing court battle over who owns the character.

2/9/10 - According to Deadline Hollywood, Warner Brothers is going to try to reboot its Superman franchise with The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan.  Nolan is providing an oversight role and ensure The Man Of Steel gets off the ground after a 3 1/2-year hiatus. Nolan's leadership of the project can set it in the right direction with the critics and the fans, not to mention at the box office.  Superman is in the early stages of development and unlikely that Nolan would direct. This wouldn't be a sequel to Superman Returns but a completely fresh franchise.

7/9/09 - A court ruling on Wednesday over the rights to Superman are such that the rights revert back to the heirs of creators Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster in 2013 and that Warner Brothers has no script and no development plans for a sequel to Bryan Singer's 2006 Superman Returns.  The studio wouldn't be able to release a sequel until 2012 at the earliest, meaning that the clock is running out for Warner.

3/27/09 - Comic writer Mark Millar, who had pitched an eight-hour epic trilogy of Superman films, is now saying that the proposed project is on ice for now.  "Warner's talked to us and a few other writer/director teams, but things seem to be in stasis right now," Millar reportedly said. "As far as I understand, nothing is happening with Superman at the moment, and so the director and I are just working on another project. If it happens, great. If it doesn't, no biggie. Kick-Ass taught me that creating your own stuff can be at least as much fun, and you don't have to answer to anyone. It's the future, baby."

2/20/09 - SlashFilm is debunking a rumor, first reported on Ain't It Cool News, that the Wachowski brothers were in talks to reboot the Superman film franchise.  The site cites two independent anonymous sources saying that the report is completely false.  The Wachowski Brothers have definitely never had any talks with DC or Warner Brothers to helm a Superman film.

07/02/08 - Mark Millar said recently that he's got a director and producer lined up for yet another cinematic reinvention of Superman: "Sadly, I can't say who the director is, but we may make it official by Christmas," with the film eyeing a 2011 release.

05/05/08 - Brandon Routh said recently that he expects to be working on the next film installment, Superman: Man of Steel, with director Bryan Singer beginning early next year (2009). "Of course, that's my timeline, not anyone else's," Routh said.  "Bryan keeps me up with what's going on, and I think he'll get a script together later in the year, and we'll begin filming early next year.  The actor joked about wanting to be able to hit more villains in the sequel and added that he has stayed in shape, albeit in a less-regimented workout routine.

12/31/06 - Warner Bros has confirmed plans for another Superman movie and a sequel to Superman Returns.  No word on plot or release.

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