"Ninja Assassin" and "V For Vendetta" director James McTeigue has long been rumored as one of the leading candidates to take over Warner Bros.' stalled Superman movie franchise.
Earlier this month, McTeigue offered a vague, somewhat cryptic response when asked whether the rumors were true—so we couldn't help putting the question to him again when he dropped by Splash Page HQ today. Fresh off wrapping things up with the much-anticipated, action-packed "Ninja Assassin," McTeigue would "neither confirm nor deny" his attachment to a new "Superman" movie... but he did tell us where he'd like to go with DC's Man of Steel if—and that's a big if—he was in the director's chair.
"I think if I was ever going to go near Superman, I would do a complete reboot—take it in a direction that you would absolutely not expect, actually," McTeigue told MTV News. "So, that would be my thinking on it, if I was ever going to go near Superman." Read more...
It's been a week full of news regarding the sequel to "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," but the stars could be aligning for the biggest announcement yet regarding the next installment of the X-Men film franchise.
As we reported yesterday, Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects") has officially signed on to script the second "Wolverine" solo film. McQuarrie has been a frequent collaborator with "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United" director Bryan Singer, and we speculated that the attachment of the new screenwriter could make the project more attractive to the filmmaker.
However, in light of several other recent (and not-so-recent) announcements, the big-picture look at "Wolverine 2" makes a return for Singer to the "X-Men" franchise even more logical. Read more...
When James Marsden dropped by MTV News HQ to discuss his upcoming thriller "The Box" with Cameron Diaz, we had to ask the "Superman Returns" actor if he had any news on the sequel front. With DC/Warner Bros legally obligated to begin production on a new Superman movie in the near future, Marsden's phone could indeed be ringing... or has it already?
"I'm not keeping up with it, but ... there's always hope," Marsden told MTV News. "I'd love to be part of that again. ... Whether I'm a part of it or not, I'd love to see that legacy continue on the big screen however it manifests itself."
"To me, that was the ultimate superhero -- and to see that on the shelf is saddening," he added. "But you want to see it done the right way as well."
Would you like to see Marsden and his "Superman Returns" character return for a sequel?
As you already know, actor Brandon Routh dropped by Splash Page HQ earlier today to discuss the multiple comic book movies on his plate these days. Along with upcoming roles in "Dead of Night" and "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," Routh is probably best known for his starring role in another little film called "Superman Returns."
With a role as the Man of Steel behind him and DC/Warner Bros. compelled to make another Superman movie by 2011, Routh would certainly seem an apt choice to reprise his performance -- but what if the studio decides to look elsewhere? I asked Routh how he'd feel about seeing another actor don the ol' red-and-blue tights.
"That's a tough question to ask, but I trust that everything goes as planned and I'd love to return to the character," said Routh. "I love the character and loved working with Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures and I'd be happy to come back."
Keep an eye on Splash Page throughout Comic-Con 2009 for more of our interview with actor Brandon Routh about "Superman Returns," "Dead of Night" and "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," as well as all of the other movers and shakers in town for the big show!
Would you like to see Routh return as Superman? Sound off in the comment section!
Two years ago, Kevin Spacey was all geared up to shave his head, pull his face into a serenely creepy glare, and reprise the role of Lex Luthor -- the iconic villain with a taste for world domination -- in the sequel to 2006’s “Superman Returns.” But he never got the chance, and the film collapsed like the Man of Steel after a hefty dose of kryptonite.
Now, after the July settlement of a legal battle that pitted heirs of the Superman creators against DC Comics and Warner Bros, a U.S. District Court judge mandated that a new “Superman” film must essentially go into production by 2011, else a fresh legal battle will ensue. So, what would it take to get Spacey to lop off his hair and Luthor-ize himself once more? Turns out, he doesn’t have much choice in the matter.
Read more...
The legal battle between the heirs of Superman creators Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel and the companies that house the Man of Steel, DC Comics and Warner Bros., has been nothing short of a David and Goliath story for quite a while now. However, after a recent decision, a small concession for the former could mean big problems for the latter.
On Wednesday, Judge Stephen G. Larson ruled in favor of DC Comics and Warner Bros. in a suit filed by the heirs of Jerry Siegel, according to Variety. The Siegel family asserted that they are owed profits on "Superman Returns" due to a "sweetheart" deal between DC and the WB, but the court disagreed with the claim.
Yet, in what could be viewed as a silver lining for the Siegels and Shusters, the judge ruled that if production on a new "Superman" film does not begin by 2011, the families will be eligible to sue Warner Bros. for damages, as they will own the entire Superman copyright in 2013. Read more...
Sure, when Superman eventually returns to theaters, you'll "believe a man can fly" yet again -- but that man might not be actor Brandon Routh.
While the former Man of Steel would certainly love a chance to don the blue-and-red uniform, Routh said the choice is no longer in his hands -- it's in the studio's.
"The term of the contract expired," Routh told Spanish-language entertainment site Omelete (an English translation is available via Google). "But if they call me again, [I'd go] back to the character without thinking twice!" Read more...
Bryan Singer's decision to leave the "X-Men" franchise to direct "Superman Returns" was met with mixed results from both a creative and commercial standpoint. General disappointment with the "Superman" sequel has caused Warner Bros. to reboot the franchise, leaving Singer without a superhero project to call his own -- so naturally, the director is looking to go back home.
The Geek Files has posted excerpts from a Total Film magazine interview with Singer, in which the filmmaker says that he'd like to return to the "X-Men" franchise -- in fact, he regrets ever leaving in the first place.
"I'm eternally intertwined with 'X-Men' now," Singer said. "What takes an audience four hours to watch -- the first two movies -- took six years of my life. So, to not be part of it... it's a shame." Read more...
Things are about to get hectic for Scott Mednick. The former "Superman Returns" and "300" executive producer recently announced his involvement in the upcoming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" live-action movie and says he'll soon be busy producing another major franchise as well. However, one thing Mednick says he won't be doing anytime soon is taking another crack at rebooting the Superman movie franchise. Of course, that doesn't mean he doesn't have an idea or two about who should.
"Bryan Singer is, as we all know from 'X-Men' to 'Superman' to 'House' on television, a genius," Mednick told MTV News. "And if anybody can bring [Superman] again to the screen, it’s going to be that team." Read more...
After months of stop-and-go news, director Kevin Munroe's "Dead of Night" is finally moving full-speed ahead. The cast is fully assembled, the cameras are rolling and star Brandon Routh is donning the necessary gear to battle the undead -- namely, a red shirt, sport jacket and crazy-looking monocle.
Shocktillyoudrop.com visited the New Orleans set of "Dead of Night" this week, and gave readers the first look at Routh as main character Dylan Dog (posted after the jump), the titular hero of Tiziano Sclavi's Italian comic book series on which the film is based. Read more...
