It’s no secret that there’s been a lot of doubt over the “Superman” franchise that starred relative unknown Brandon Routh and was helmed by Bryan Singer in 2006. “Superman Returns” cost a fortune to make and didn’t recoup everything it needed to be considered a successful tent-pole franchise. Plus the homagistic Richard Donner-esque picture left loose threads like a child between Lois Lane and Supes that may have offput the fans that Warner Bros./D.C. Comics are now apparently uber- sensitive to (where were you guys when you greenlit “Catwoman,” sleeping”?).
Anne Thompson is hearing rumblings about the project and says, much like every trade article about WB/D.C., that “Superman” wants to kick into high gear as soon as possible, but their could be problems with the director.
“It’s a priority at the studio to find the right direction and if Bryan Singer is willing to do that, fine, but if he gets in the way, he may not stay on the project. There are no writers working on a Superman script now. The studio wants to figure it out. ‘It might be better to start from scratch,’ one exec admitted.”
Singer may not entirely care. His “Valkryie” film is back on track for Oscar-bait season. Maybe he’ll leave the comic-book ghetto behind for real films, not movies. “The Usual Suspects” surely did illustrate that he has that talent.