Saturday, July 19, 2008

Anne Thompson Puts the Cold Boot of Reality on Singerman's Throat...Again

You may remember a few months back when Variety Deputy Editor, Anne Thompson, basically proved to any of the remaining doubters, that the Singerman franchise was in real limbo and a reboot was possibly being considered with Singer and Routh out of the picture.

Well Ms. Thompson is back once again, this time to hopefully quell any of the silly rumors that have popped up about their being some kind of casting call for extras on Craigslist of all places. In an interview with Legendary Pictures producer, Thomas Tull (i.e. the guy writing half the checks for all of their films with WB), he spills a bit about the future of the Superman film franchise:
"He's also vested in making the next Superman installment, which is still years away, come to life. While Bryan Singer has been working on Valkyrie, Tull and the folks at Warners have been listening to various screenwriters pitch their solutions to how to make the next Superman work. "It's an iconic character," says Tull. "After everything that went into the first film, it's important to make sure that nothing is rushed and we come out with a fantastic second film." One thing they all agree on: Superman needs a powerful antagonist, a "worthy opponent," he says."
An opponent other than it's OWN DIRECTOR this time hopefully... Still sounds a WAYS away to me at this point, and they don't seem to really be endorsing the return of the people in charge of the last debacle. And if Singer was involved in this process, wouldn't he have some input on the writers? Whatever it is, its not exactly a ringing endorsement.

And speaking of "ringing endorsements," check out this piece in yesterday's Washington Post where DC Comics President Paul Levitz discusses The Dark Knight. In the interview, Levitz gives a few telling answers to questions about DC's film slate and Singerman.

Washington, D.C.: What other movie projects does DC have on the way?

Paul Levitz: The next film after this is "Watchmen" on March 6. It's an adaptation by Zack Snyder, of "300" of what is probably the most acclaimed graphic novel ever published. The trailer is coming out before Dark Knight in most theaters and you can probably find it online. We haven't announced any other projects, but there are about 6 at the starting gate right now.

Nope, nothing even announced yet. What exactly "at the starting gate" means is anyone's guess though. BTW, The Watchmen trailer is BAD ASS. He goes on:

Washington, DC: In retrospect, do you think it would have been a better idea to reboot the Superman film franchise, instead of continuing the Donner films?

Paul Levitz: I think Bryan approached "Superman Returns" with a great deal of passion for the character and put what he loved up on the screen, which is the best we can ask of any director.

LOL He doesn't even answer the question. He just gives some company line answer about Singer. No backing of the guy or his franchise. He doesn't say, "No I think Bryan's take was great and we look forward to his next chapter" or ANYTHING like that. He might as well have come out and said "Singer is a nice person."

And I got a real chuckle out of this last question:

Albany New York: I'd be interested in your take on why Batman seems to be more appealing to such a broad range of directors/producers/audiences over a long period of time than other superheroes. Superman's the only one that comes close and there hasn't been a Superman movie since Christopher Reeves. What's the appeal?

Indeed my friend, indeed. What's even funnier is that Levitz didn't even attempt to try and correct him by bringing up Singerman. Maybe he agrees?

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I'M.....STILL.....SUUUUU-PERRRRR-MANNNNN!" ;)

Anonymous said...

Singerman, getting it 'stuck' to him again!

Anonymous said...

The Dark Knight had the biggest opening weekend in history. Maybe the WB execs will see the potential of giving a franchise to a gifted filmmaker and not a homosexual fudge-packer.

Anonymous said...

http://www.datelinehollywood.com/dateline_hollywood/2008/07/superman-makes.html

Anonymous said...

This just sucks being a Superman fan anymore. Batman is in the middle of a record breaking run at the BO and Superman is again in fucking limbo. I hate this bullshit

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Superman films should be getting the same kind of box office as TDK, & WB should realize this & do something about it, but good luck getting 'em to.

Anonymous said...

"Yeah, Superman films should be getting the same kind of box office as TDK, & WB should realize this & do something about it, but good luck getting 'em to."

Exactly and a lot of people want to blame WB as much as Singer and i don't understand that. They had Superman in devlopment for like 10 years and spent a lot of money that got them nowhere. So when you have a guy in Singer, who has made 2 really good and successful comic movies telling you "I want to make Superman", of course they were going to say "Yes". Singer just fucked it all up. 200 mil to work with and he made a movie so BAD, it's not getting a sequel and may kill any reboot for years to come, fucking nonsense. I'm with SSS on this, i liked TDK but am jealous as fuck about all the Batman hype.

ApologistPuncher said...

Just goes to show what happens when you DON'T ignore the source material. Imagine what we would have gotten if Nolan was ONLY a fan of the '89 Batman film?

Probably something MILES better than Singerman Peeps, but you know what I'm saying....

Anonymous said...

"Just goes to show what happens when you DON'T ignore the source material. Imagine what we would have gotten if Nolan was ONLY a fan of the '89 Batman film?"

So well put! Nolan recognized from the get go that he needed to immerse himself in the comics. Him and Goyer went over to DC offices, talked with editors, read a few hundred of the most important books, and from there on the guy was actually qualified to do it.

Whereas Singer recognized he didn't know the comics, and then went on to say he didn't effin care. Because to him the horribly outdated Donner flicks were all he needed, and even then he cherry picked from them (choosing in my opinion the worst bits to focus on).

In TDK's opening weekend it made a profit! There is still rational debate as to whether or not Singerman Returns made a profit at all, in it's entire run.

And for what, where did the money go. Somewhere between $209 and $270 million dollars. I've seen SR, the CGI is weak, Special Effects in general are scarce, and the movie was filmed with low rent actors in Australia.

Nolan must be a pretty thrifty guy the way he handles his budgets.
His action is live, meaning little to no CGI, his cast are huge, featuring the best veteran actors alive, and he films every from Chicago to Greenland(or Iceland?) and on a gigantic set built into a zeppelin hanger.

The critics, twice now, have given their praise, and comic fans, and non-comic fans alike agree on them.

Sorry, didn't mean to rant about that, but good lord.

Great info btw, thanks.

Anonymous said...

"Singer denied the reports, saying the film was in the early development phases.[67] Routh has stated that he expects filming to begin in early 2009 for a '10 release.[68] Singer has expressed interest filming some scenes in 3-D film,[44] while post-production will take place in Hawaii.[56] Man of Steel will use main themes established by John Williams in Superman.[69]"

Paul dont know dick he doesnt develope films just runs a comic book company. All he knows is lisensing and one in the starting gate is.......

Man of Steel in 2009!

Restart

As if this site has gotten anything right. I have heard not one word about singer getting the boot! He is here to stay! Live with it and move on!

Anonymous said...

Singerman & REtard, giving head & packing fudge.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I just wanted to say hello and that your site is hilarious and right on the money too. I watched Superman Returns and can't believe how everly boring it is, Superman fans waited forever for that film and they pretty much just spat in their faces with a lackluster plot and awful film. I am a HUGE Batman fan and have seen the Dark Knight three times, I don't know if SR can ever be washed off and that Superman can be worth the big bucks...if it didn't work for Hulk I don't think it will work for the Man of Steel.

-JN

Anonymous said...

Just curious, who did that awesome manip under Thursday's entry?

Anonymous said...

Good ole Reatrd back for more abuse. Has been saying Singerman will get a sequel in 2009 for 2+ years now but yet tries to knock this blog for not getting anything right. How's that 2009 sequel coming toolbox?

Anonymous said...

Singer is a FAG and Superman Returns was gay.

Anonymous said...

TDK = biggest opening weekend in history.

SR = biggest homosexual movie in history.

Anonymous said...

^ BWAHAHA.

Anyway, like I said before I really like this blog and I just made a new blog about news about any third Batman movie so I'll be putting a link for you guys on there for sure. Keep on hatin'. :)

If anyone would like to visit my page, leave me a comment!

Anonymous said...

http://nolan3rdbatman.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I just saw TDK for a third time. It is the best. I think the incredible success of TDK is good for Superman (not Singerman) fans because WB is rollin the the dough. Juxtapose TDK box office (in 5 days!) with Singerman and the WB execs will see the potential of taking the franchise away from the homo.

Anonymous said...

Well I was permanently banned from Superhero Hype for asking the apologists the same thing they have asked me hundreds of ties without the one mods intervention-C. Lee. I have no problem with the hype other than C. Lee. he claims to be fair but bans those who don't like the film whilst apologists get away with the same thing without intervention. But yet he still claims to be fair and balanced. The thing I got banned for was something that I had been asked hundreds of times. I wasn't even attacking. I was asking the same question I was asked.

buggs

TheGobshite.com said...

I hear you bugs... I've never been banned, but you guys should hop over to DC Comics message board and take a look at some of the fan boys in that place. Total donkeys. Statistical evidence is available in dozens of places to prove that average movie goers prefer Batman Begins to Superman Returns, but they won't hear it.

theCOLORSblend said...

"And for what, where did the money go. Somewhere between $209 and $270 million dollars. I've seen SR, the CGI is weak, Special Effects in general are scarce, and the movie was filmed with low rent actors in Australia."
Singer apparently has a fixation for parties. You want to know where the budget went? There's my guess. It sure as hell wasn't on script development or effects.

"Statistical evidence is available in dozens of places to prove that average movie goers prefer Batman Begins to Superman Returns, but they won't hear it."
Want to know why that is? Because Nolan ended BB on an up note that got everyone excited at the prospect of a sequel.

I'll never understand the attachment some fanboys have for Stalkerman. Here's hoping Mark Millar or someone else can reboot Superman and do the job right.

Anonymous said...

TDK made $300 mil in record time. SR couldn't make $300 mil even if the whole world turned queer.

theCOLORSblend said...

Bringing up the logical question...

TDK crossed $300 mill after nine days in wide release, how long did Stalkerman take to hit a paltry $200 mill?

Anonymous said...

"TDK crossed $300 mill after nine days in wide release, how long did Stalkerman take to hit a paltry $200 mill?"

117 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

(But it did better than Begins!) ;)

S.S.S. said...

117 days, but that was with WB paying exhibitors to keep it in the dollar theaters so they could say they hit the $200 million mark. Singerman is the slowest movie in the history of American cinema to hit the $200 million mark.

hey how about all of that Singerman sequel news that came out of Comic Con this weekend? LOL

theCOLORSblend said...

The Apologists on Blue Tights are remarkably quiet tonight, which is strange considering how they pinned their hopes on a Comic Con announcement. Oh well, there's always Comic Con in 2009.

Anonymous said...

Sigh I will explain again how a positive reviewed movie didnt make more money. With "smallville","Lois and Clark" reruns, justice league, and superman cartoons. Superman was just over exposed that and the poor marketing of the movie. But with WB having faith in Singer I know that................

MOS in 2009!

Restart

If Batman had Batman Jr., Batman and Vickie Vale and Reruns of all things batman. The movie would have done only OK. On top of which So far Returns still made more money then - Hulk, Hancok, Hellboy, and Wanted. Its hard to admit I am right, but I am.

theCOLORSblend said...

Excuses, excuses. Stalkerman made $200 mill... presumably based exclusively on the Superman name since nothing else about the movie could've appealed too much to general audiences. That doesn't say the public doesn't care about Superman, it says they're desperate for a good Superman film that actually deserves the name. If a craptastic retread of a far superior Superman movie can earn $200 mill at the box office, one can only wonder how much better a REAL Superman film would do.

Take your excuses somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

Awww, poor little Retard still believes in a sequel. So cute. But it still won't happen! Even the most loyal Singer puppets on big sites like "superherohype.com" have seen the light this past weekend and finally given up!!! Not just that, but now more and more of them are completely turning on Singer and acknowledge the silliness of the story! That's right, the fellowship of apologists is declining faster than Routh's film offers!

Goodbye Singerman - we'll never ever miss you!