Say Goodbye to Routh Too

When it rains, it pours I guess. These past few days feel like that scene in the movie Goodfellas when all of the mobsters who were in on the Lufthansa heist start turning up dead. Only their crimes weren't as egregious.

Just days after we got news of what potentially could be Bryan Singer's demise as director of Singerman, comes word via the fine folks over at Latino Review that Brandon Routh is OUT as the "Man of Squeal" as well in any solo Superman films, and that the Superman from the Justice League film, when or if he's ever cast, will take over the role in any stand alone flicks that will thankfully have absolutely no relation to Singerman. The article reads:

Kelvin knew about Brandon not being the new Superman for weeksand weeks now, but made a promise to the DC people that he wouldn't break the story. Variety has now confirmed what we've secretly known for a while and Brandon Routh will be replaced in the stand alone sequel by whomever is cast as Superman in the upcoming Justice League of America movie.

If Singer is gone as is expected, then Routh getting the boot is basically just a formality. We pretty much thought that would be the case. Routh is, in effect, the ugly baby getting thrown out with the dirty bathwater. As I've said before, personally I have no issues with Routh. While his acting is a bit stiff, he wasn't the big issue here and might've been serviceable under better direction. He seems like a likeable enough person, but he's just too much a part of what Singer did and that's something that will never come off in the public's eyes. Any future incarnation of Superman with him in it would automatically be linked to Singerman and that's NOT a good thing in WB's eyes at this point. Best of luck in your future endeavors maybe now you can devote more time to campaigning for Barack Obama. Ugh.

Now as for this JLA Superman. The heat has been pumped up a notch. As we suspected, this role will be bigger than just one film or even the JLA series. This person will have to be able to star in the role in solo films as well. God help us all if WB thinks some schmeg like D.J. Cotrona is going to be able to hold up that burden. Your move, WB.

UPDATE 1/5/08: Here we go again, Now AICN is allegedly "debunking" this claiming that they've talked to one of their infamous "moles." I had a feeling something like this was going to pop up from someone else with a source. Honestly, I'm deferring to Latino Review and their previous track record until I hear otherwise. We all know AICN's track record for things Superman has been a bit sketchy at best. Remember Rupert Evans and Scott Porter? Stay tuned.

Writers Out, Singer to Follow?

Women and children first.

Well news comes today via Variety that Bryan Singer's hand-picked cronies and partners in crime, Mike Dougherty and Dan Harris, won't be returning to write any alleged Singerman sequel. As a result, WB is now "allegedly" taking pitches from anyone who might possibly be able to save this disaster.

Of course the article claims that the two are leaving to "pursue more directing gigs." But in reality its more like they were "asked" to leave because A) the crew to Singer's film is slowly being let go as WB pushes forward with JLA, or B) they just weren't able to bring the goods when they pitched a sequel.

How can I make such a claim? Well, if you go back to those glamorous Saturn Awards in May, both of these guys went on record about their plans for the sequel and how they were working on it "right now." Then in August, some guy from BlueTights ran into Dougherty in Washington D.C. at which point he told him that the sequel was actually being written and also that there would be even 2 villains, so obviously these guys did some form of mapping or scripting a sequel film, and Singer was intent on using them for it. Put this together with the fact that WB is accepting sequel pitches, and there you have your answer that either the sequel pitches thing is bullcrap to avoid making a complete cancellation announcement or that what these guys planned on doing was completely rejected by the studio to the point where they told them that they wanted to head in a new direction (like a reboot, hopefully).

Why do we think Singer might soon follow? Other than the rumored Harvey Milk film and the fact that the more JLA news we get the less likely a sequel is looking anyway? Well, although some would like to chalk this up to wishful thinking on our part, this is a legitimate inference from Harris and Dougherty leaving. These guys are good friends with Singer and were brought over from the X-Men franchise specifically for this project because they're in his inner circle. These are "his guys." WB getting rid of them, sorry them "leaving," takes Singer out of his comfort zone, and likely forces him to work with a writing team that the studio is going to appoint, if you believe the news about the open solicitations for scripts. Does anyone think that's something Singer and his ego are going to acquiesce to? Despite what some company mouthpieces are telling some of the shill sites, this is a legitimate possibility and somehow I don't see this captain going down with his ship.

Should be interesting from here on out to hear who starts moving on to other projects.