Depending on how you look at it, this news can be seen either as a set back for Man of Steel, or a huge leap forward. Word coming from our friends over at IESB is that the team that penned Superman Returns, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, have taken a pass on Man Of Steel (the reported name of the next Superman movie).
As a result, WB is now taking pitches for Supe’s next outing from other scribes — just as the studio is trying to figure out which actor will don the character’s tights in “Justice League.” WB reps said the next film will in fact be a sequel and not a reboot although the idea of Superman’s son was not well received. The trade continues and says that Superman star Brandon Routh will return to reprise the role and not go the way of Universal’s Hulk with new star Edward Norton taking the lead.
So here’s the thing… personally, i think this is good and bad news. I’m one of the few people who actually enjoyed Superman Returns. No, it wasn’t what I was expecting… and no, it really wasn’t all that good of a comic book movie… but I still thought it was a very solid movie in general and I really like the way Bryan Singer managed the film.
Having said that, even I hated a couple of aspects of the first movie. Lex Luthor once again going after real estate?!?!?! He’s the greatest criminal mind of our age… can’t he come up with something different? And Super Kid?!?! Worst idea ever. Superman is a deadbeat dad. Nice.
So new writers I can handle… but the sad truth is that with these guys leaving the project… it could mean Brian Singer may ditch it as well. And i think that would be an unfortunate thing.