As if it came straight out of Pulitzer Prize winning Lois Lane’s headline, perhaps the world really can get along without Superman.
As good as many fans felt the movie was, it did not meet up to Warner Bros. Picture’s expectations at the box office as compared with the whopping production costs ($200+ million) and they are reconsidering an effort at a sequel.
Director Bryan Singer certainly isn’t tired of the Man of Steel and plans on pursuing a sequel to his first visit to Metropolis. “I plan to get all Wrath of Khan on it,” Singer said. For those who have been living in the floating debris field of what use to be Krypton, “The Wrath of Khan” literally saved the entire STAR TREK franchise after a lackluster “STAR TREK: The Motion Picture.”
“I just know that there are certain things that were established in this movie, certain aspects of the characters’ relationships,” he told Britain’s Empire magazine. “Now that the character is established, I’d like to take the opportunity to bring in a more threatening element, a more terrible, foreboding element.”
However, Singer does openly admit that a sequel, while still remotely possible is very questionable at this point. “We haven’t concluded a deal,” added Singer, “[but if the sequel gets the greenlight], the intention is to do it for 2009.”
What will turn that light from caution yellow to speed ahead green is the botton line. Will “Superman Returns” make back its production costs of nearly $250 million in the domestic market? That will be the driving force behind a sequel.
I sincerely hope that Returns pulls in the money it needs. Bryan Singer is a great director, Returns was an excellent film and Kevin Spacey was a brilliant Luthor, and I will be first in line at the local cinema if they do a sequel.
Or is it the fact most of us like this kind of story telling have grown up and went on our way…
Would the *New Kids* of the Comic Books age wanna see more of this or is just a waste of time?…
“As good as many fans felt the movie was, it did not meet up to Warner Bros. Picture’s expectations at the box office as compared with the whooping production costs ($200+ million) and they are reconsidering an effort at a sequel.”
Whooping production costs? I’d hate to hear that.
Yeah, that’s a new superhero sidekick – the Whooping Bird of Paradise — I need frickin’ spellcheck with this program. 🙁
I enjoyed the movie well-enough, but I think the story really could have been much better. Rather than a run-up to an all-sprint at the finish, it felt like a walk with periodic pauses to smell the flowers. I really hope that a sequel is made.
It’s already made over 70% of the budget. I’m sure that international money will take care of the rest and more. Superman isn’t just loved in the US.
US Studios do not take into account the international B.O. when determining if sequels are made. They have to make their production costs up with domestic dollars. International monies, while significant, get divided up far too many ways for the production studio to see it as taking care of their initial costs.
A sad reality, especially considering that many pictures make most of their monies in the international market, The Da Vinci Code being a prime example.
I really enjoyed the movie. Were there parts I had issues with: sure. But there’s things in the comics I don’t agree with completely, either. That doesn’t mean that I would like to see the franchise die. Quite the opposite. I’d love to see where he plans to go with some of his ideas. I won’t give away any spoilers, but for anyone who has seen the movie, they’ll understand when I say it has to do with the revelation made during the piano scene. That really needs to be explored.
I’m just saying that they’ll eventually get their money back, whether there’s another movie or not.
Kevin Spacey was fine as Lex Luthor but don’t you think (if a sequel is made) it’s time for Superman to fight another villian.
They did that in Superman III and that didn’t turn out so great, in my opinion.
Bryan Singer has hinted that Braniac might be in the next Superman film (if one’s made), so that’ll be good.
I’d like to see some relationships in the film explored further myself. They can do that with the threat of a big villain looming over the horizon. I’d like to see Singer make the next Superman like Wrath of Khan or Superman II, more action-oriented.
I really hope that this superman movie is a big sucess.
Superman is a legend that should be carried on forever and so I hope this film brings in enough money to warrant another Superman movie.
Singer blew his load on the movie. he know he made a mistake. People know all about Superman and are just about inundated with it. They were looking for something a little more or at the least a promise of something a little more. Very disappointed at the approach although I think a sequel would be very good. Not a bad movie just not super.