Zack Snyder is not saying much about Superman’s reboot plot, but he is assuring people repeatedly that this will be a different kind of Origin story that isn’t already seen in films or comics.
As I have already explained, the film will focus on early days of Superman, so there will be no links with other films. This is not a remake then. Similarly, although I still can not talk about the script, I can assure you that this new Superman will not be based on a comic book in particular.
I like that this will not adapt a currently published story arc.
Reboots suffer from a lot of drawbacks before they are even made, and face an uphill battle the studios are hoping to overcome with brand familiarity. But when you are taking something that is being rebooted only 5-6 years after the last franchise installment, you have to offer something fresh and original to keep the audience interested.
I say bring it on.
Seeing a realistic spin on the unrealistic concept of a human looking alien who gains superhuman powers because of the exposure to our Sun’s unique radiation will be interesting to begin with. But as Superman Returns suffered from its retcon plot of Donner’s first Superman, they can’t reboot this and adapt something we have already seen.
Because we have already seen it twice.
While this doesn’t link to any of the previous films, I suspect that from the perspective of the Superman Films, this will take place sometime after the origin story arc that sees Clark growing up in Smallville, but before the story leaps ahead and we see the mild mannered reporter checking in for work on his first day with the Daily Planet.
And of course, considering this will be a very young Superman story, this eliminates fan favourite and rumour leader Jon Hamm for the role.