'World's Finest' (For Now) Announced At Comic-Con For 2015

Looks like its Worlds Finest for the follow up to MOS...



http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/comic-con-2013-superman-batman-movie-will-follow-man-of-steel/

A couple of pages are running with that same story.

furiousfanboys.com wrote:The Man of Steel Followup is Actually Superman/Batman
July 20th, 2013 at 10:36 am by Jeremy Conrad

Right as this is written, Warner's big Hall H panel at SDCC '13 is getting underway; and we already know one of their big reveals.

According to the LA Times, the followup Man of Steel is actually going to be a Superman/Batman team-up movie. They say Zack Snyder will return to direct, with David Goyer writing the movie. Nolan is also expected to be involved in some way.

This news comes after the revelation that a Man of Steel sequel was fast-tracked after the success of this summer's reboot. This Superman/Batman movie is the next outing for Supes on screen, but it's still possible we'll be seeing a solo Superman sequel sometime in the future.

URL- http://furiousfanboys.com/2013/07/the-man-of-steel-followup-is-actually-supermanbatman/

I suggested doing this very thing on more than one occasion so as you can imagine, this is fine by me. If it turns out to be true.

non_amos wrote:The thing is though is that you can already pre-order the Blu-Ray at Walmart for $26.96 I believe it is. However, it's a different picture. It has that shot that reminds you of Alex Ross' work with the pose & the shading like he's looking down. I'm sure you know the one I'm talking about? Anyway, I think this is like the 'super-duper' Blu-Ray version that by pre-ordering you get that special pic I just stated but other content too I think. I'd love to pre-order but when you're strapped for funds you're strapped! But where there's a will there's a way. It seems a little early to pre-order but I've noticed at Walmart for the last little while that they're doing this with films that practically just came out in theaters maybe the week before. Must be some new trend or something.

Probably. Don't go to Walmart very much but I'll take your word for it.

non_amos wrote:As for the comments you made about 'Director's Cut' & such I was immediately reminded of the stance that Singer took regarding Singerman's DVD release. Remember what he said? The film we saw at the theater was the Director's Cut! No additional cut needed. So why then did he blow 10 million on that 'return to Krypton' scene then? And the thing is is that duh apologists really wanted a Director's Cut & Bryan Singerman wouldn't give it to them. I suppose duh brothers could release something if they really wanted to & I'm sure Walmart wouldn't mind making a fast buck off of it too but by the same token, why do anything that might thwart MOS' success, even on DVD? As for the sequel issue, remember, duh apologists were always looking for the 'sequel that is just round the corner' that incidentally was called 'The Man Of Steel'. But it never happened. However, Zack Snyder gave us MAN OF STEEL with the sequel that really is just around the corner.

Yes, let's talk about a sequel, shall we? It's a done deal, for starters. For seconders, it'll include Batman.

Slash Film wrote:Zack Snyder Will Direct Superman/Batman Movie Inspired by Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns'

OK, here's the official word about the future of the DC Universe on screen via Warner Bros. Or the official suggestion. Zack Snyder took the stage at the end of the DC panel, gesturing that moderator Chris Hardwick should move aside. Snyder said, "I'm gonna take the lectern from you, because some shit's going to happen up here."

Snyder continued:

Zack Snyder wrote:It's official that we are going to make another Superman movie. And you say, Zack, what is the movie about? But you don't want me to tell you that. You want to go and see the movie. But I can say that maybe there's a single element that will be in the film that I could… help you out with. I was thinking about how to do that. I pored through the DC Universe to look for a way to tell this thing. We're writing the thing now, but I came across a thing I found that'll help you understand it.

And then Harry Lennix read this line, from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns: "I want you to remember, Clark, in all the years to come, in all your most private moments, I want you to remember your hand at your throat. I want you to remember the one man who beat you." That's Superman speaking to Batman from the end of Miller's story, and that quote blew the roof off Hall H.

Lest there be any confusion, this film is not an adaptation of Miller's story. Snyder explicitly said "we're not adapting this thing, but it is the thing that will help us tell that story." So while the logo he showed on screen, pictured above, uses the bat logo design from Miller's work, this won't quite be a direct adaptation. The thing to take away is likely that there will be a conflict between Batman and Superman, and that it might not end well for Supes.

No title was announced, and no actors were mentioned. Snyder did say that this is effectively the sequel to Man of Steel, and a press release confirms Henry Cavill as Superman as well as the returns of Laurence Fishburne, Amy Adams, and Diane Lane. No actor for Batman was suggested in any way.

Here's the press release from WB:

WB Press Release wrote:NEXT DC SUPER HERO MOVIE IN PRE-PRODUCTION
Director Zack Snyder Unites Superman and Batman in One Explosive New Film

BURBANK, CA, July 20, 2013 – On the heels of the worldwide success of "Man of Steel," director Zack Snyderis bringing together the two greatest Super Heroes of all time—Batman and Superman—for the first time on the big screen. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution,Warner Bros. Pictures.

The current hit, "Man of Steel," has taken in more than $630 million at the worldwide box office to date, and climbing. Along with its star, Henry Cavill, the upcomingfilm brings back Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane. The new Batman has yet to be cast.

Snyder is co-writing the story with David S. Goyer, who will then pen the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in 2014, with an anticipated release date in Summer 2015.

Silverman stated, "Zack Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he's a fan first and he utterly gets this genre. We could not think of anyone better suited to the task of bringing these iconic Super Heroes to the screen in his own way." Kroll added, "We are thrilled to be back in business with Zack and his team on this next movie. The success of 'Man of Steel' is a wonderful testament to the love and support that both fans and new audiences, worldwide, have for these characters. We are very excited to see what Zack has in store for all of us."

URL- http://www.slashfilm.com/zack-snyder-will-direct-supermanbatman-movie-inspired-by-frank-millers-the-dark-knight-returns

You hear that, all you Apologist douchebags? When a real Superman move comes down the pipeline, a sequel announcement is immediate and unambiguous. No need to dissect every word of interviews with former cast members for over a year with MOS. They get straight to business because Man of Steel was successful while Singerman is long forgotten. Eat shit, Apologists!

Oh, something else.

thecolorsblend wrote:I've just said so.

Movie 01- Superman solo film.
Movie 02- Superman/Batman team-up; preferably one where Superman is respected and isn't shown to be a total rube in comparison to Batman.
Movie 03- Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman team-up; preferably one co-starring Adrianne Palicki as Diana where she takes her gear off.
Movie 04- Justice League of America.
Movie 05- Superman II. And so forth.

URL- https://supermanfilmwatchdog.forumcanadien.org/t525-superman-batman-movie
Date- 08.15.2011

I've obviously wanted things done in this way for quite a while. Seems like WB may have the same idea. I'm not married to the idea of doing a Trinity movie as #3. They could move ahead with Justice League of America as movie #3 and I'd be fine with it. But if they really want to avoid comparisons to Marvel and use Superman as a rough launch pad for other characters for solo films, this is a good way to do it. Nobody questions Batman's box office viability but Wonder Woman? Eh. Trinity could be a fairly low-risk way to bring her to the big screen without staking $200'ish million on her. If the movie does well, then prep a solo Wonder Woman movie.

As to the bold section up there... look, the references to TDKR have me concerned. I don't want another thing where the ultra-cool, ultra-badass Batman beats the piss out that lamer Superman. I find it hard to imagine Snyder would go to such pains to set Superman up as such a tough guy in MOS only to have Batman send him to school in the Worlds Finest movie but weirder shit's happened. We fans should do what we can to keep Snyder and WB honest on this one.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=83754

BURBANK, CA, July 20, 2013 – On the heels of the worldwide success of “Man of Steel,” director Zack Snyderis bringing together the two greatest Super Heroes of all time—Batman and Superman—for the first time on the big screen. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution,Warner Bros. Pictures.

The current hit, “Man of Steel,” has taken in more than $630 million at the worldwide box office to date, and climbing. Along with its star, Henry Cavill, the upcomingfilm brings back Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane. The new Batman has yet to be cast.

Snyder is co-writing the story with David S. Goyer, who will then pen the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in 2014, with an anticipated release date inSummer 2015.

Silverman stated, “Zack Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he’s a fan first and he utterly gets this genre. We could not think of anyone better suited to the task of bringing these iconic Super Heroes to the screen in his own way.” Kroll added, “We are thrilled to be back in business with Zack and his team on this next movie. The success of ‘Man of Steel’ is a wonderful testament to the love and support that both fans and new audiences, worldwide, have for these characters. We are very excited to see what Zack has in store for all of us.”

Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment, noted, “Superman and Batman together on the big screen is a dream come true for DC fans everywhere. All of us at DC Entertainment could not be more excited for Zack’s continuing vision for the DC Universe.”

Zack Snyder, who made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con today, breaking the news to audiences there, later said, “I’m so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can’t wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let’s face it, it’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world.”

The new film brings back Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder as producers. This time, Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are serving as executive producers, along with Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan.

Thomas offered, “Whilst our ‘Dark Knight’ trilogy is complete, we have every confidence that Zack’s fresh interpretation will take the character in a new and exciting direction. His vision for Superman opened the door to a whole new universe and we can’t wait to see what Zack does with these characters.”

The film is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, and Batman characters created by Bob Kane, published by DC Entertainment

Just for that little stunt, you're getting thumbs up on your post, sir.

thecolorsblend wrote:Just for that little stunt, you're getting thumbs up on your post, sir.

I accept.

The 'Dark Knight Returns' comment bothers me too, to carry over from the other topic. If they go the route of Batman beating Superman, or "punking" him, you will DESTROY his chances of being taken seriously in his solo films. I'm telling you this with 100% certainty.

Either go the animated route, or find some other way. 'Returns' is NOT the optimal "reference" for a team-up film.

Great news. Of course, the apologists are spinning this like crazy suggesting that a team-up movie is being made instead of a sequel because MOS didn't do good and that it needs Batman to get more interest. Here's the exchange I had with this apolgist:

Apologist wrote:If the numbers for MoS were good enough, they'd have announced MoS 2 and the team-up movie separately. We might be engaged in a face-saving Man Of Steel 2 - co-starring Batman! publicity push currently, but I guarantee you, when the team-up movie finally comes out, it won't be called Man Of Steel 2.

MoS did well enough for them to stick with Cavill, but not well enough to greenlight its own independent sequel. So they've thrown in the one character guaranteed in a post-Nolan world to make the next film a huge hit. Commercially, you can't fault Warner's reasoning.

James Stocks wrote:You could have a point, if they weren't calling it a sequel featuring Batman as the guest star, which is what they have done. Hiring Snyder and Goyer also seems to confirm that. Unless they decide to give it a totally different title like WORLD'S FINEST, at this point it's still considered a sequel.

Sequel or crossover, it's more than SUPERMAN RETURNS ever got.

No reply yet, but I'm sure he'll spin it in some way.

That brings up a point the Apologist himself probably failed to consider. For ages we've been subjected to the Apologist spin that Singerman was secretly the runaway success of 2006. Okay. (A) It's been completely curb-stomped by MOS so there's that and (B) if MOS is somehow a "failure", what does that say about Singerman?

Also, if this is all an attempt by WB to save face... why didn't they do the same basic thing back with Singerman back in 2007? This was pre-TDK, WB wasn't on their knees for Nolan yet, they could've easily told him to piss off if he didn't like the idea of a Superman/Batman film. So... what stopped them?

That's another thing I notice apologists do until this recent announcement. When MOS's success is brought up, many like to point out that without 3D tickets and inflation that it's actually at the same position that SR was at. They're no longer trying to claim SR was successful, they're now trying to paint MOS's run being more or less the same as SR, therefore WB will not give it a sequel, "because if they didn't give SR a sequel for making $400 million, they shouldn't give it to MOS for doing the same business". Now that this recent announcement came out it's starting to change into "well, it obviously wasn't that successful otherwise they would have given Superman a real sequel instead of a teamup!" In the end, I always say "that's more than SR got". That's where the spinning stop, with Cavill reprising his role. Apologists always love to bring up the news of a sequel, that it was actually happening "but the writers strike killed it". To them I say this "you never heard jack of a Singerman sequel at the San Diego Comic Con in either 2006, 2007 OR 2008, but you definitely heard of the MOS sequel at Comic Con 2013, a month after the film's release."

The way I see it, we've already had so many solo films for Superman and Batman at this point that I think it's time to finally bring them together in some fashion.

I should add, I never cared for the apologists for a long time, even made that point clear here not too long ago. However, they've really become annoying over MOS's success with all their spinning and bullshit like "MOS is mean spirited, at least SR had heart". I don't know what the fuck that means, but the "SR has heart" is something they especially love to throw around. Whatever makes them sleep at night.

Just to address this honestly as humanly possible and not to, well you know... Sound like an bitching ingrate or anything but if they're going to do a MOS sequel then I think they should do one that actually has something to do with, well... Superman & Superman only!!! But if it's going to be a team-up film then they should have just say so. Plus, why use "World's Finest" as a follow up to MOS? Look, it's not that I don't want a WF movie or anything infact I love to see a film involving the team-up of an establish Superman and an establish Batman but not after we just had a "Superman" reboot especially when this Superman has not yet been fully experienced. Also I'm assuming that we'll be getting a new Batman, one created to solely exist in the same universe as the Supes from MOS and if so then why don't we get a solo/reboot film first before we see both individuals together in one film?

If by any chance that this is an attempt to bring a "Justice League" film to the big screen (Which I want to see more than a WF movie) then they should take a page book from Marvel and just do solo films to introduce the characters and get to know them first before we see them together in one epic film, in other words... Build up on it instead of rushing ahead or do things backwards and just forget about competition!

I mean it shouldn't be that hard to just go in a logical direction especially if Marvel studios got the right idea for their "Avengers" film!

It's better they're bringing in Batman than going with the original idea of doing a JLA film. I would prefer one more solo Superman film, but I'm fine with this. Besides, what WB is doing now was already done in the comics. John Byrne rebooted Superman with the six part MAN OF STEEL mini-series. What happened in Part 3? Batman appeared on, page 1. Right off the bat, Byrne jumped straight to their first team up and I thought it worked nicely. I'm very interested in how they handle this.

thecolorsblend wrote:That brings up a point the Apologist himself probably failed to consider. For ages we've been subjected to the Apologist spin that Singerman was secretly the runaway success of 2006. Okay. (A) It's been completely curb-stomped by MOS so there's that and (B) if MOS is somehow a "failure", what does that say about Singerman?

Also, if this is all an attempt by WB to save face... why didn't they do the same basic thing back with Singerman back in 2007? This was pre-TDK, WB wasn't on their knees for Nolan yet, they could've easily told him to piss off if he didn't like the idea of a Superman/Batman film. So... what stopped them?

 I saw superman1938's post but then I had to go to work so I'm just getting more info on this since I got home.

First, I do remember this from somewhere in years past. I don't remember the source but I remember in some press conference or something Blandon BJ appeared with none other than Christian Bale. I think this may have even been after TDK although I'm not completely certain. Anyway I seem to recall 'conjecture' being made about the always wanted team-up. I don't think there was really very much useful there but Bale seemed to be respectful towards the 2X4 if I remember correctly. Wish I knew where I saw that at but just thought I'd point that out. Of course nothing came of it.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this. Don't I want such a film? Of course I do! But I question the motivation. It makes me wonder if, although MOS is a success, it still didn't make a billion. So..........bring in Batman & let him do it for him. Suppose there's anything to that? And the comment by Harry Lennix bothers me too. Don't make Superman a wuss, 'K?!

James Stocks wrote:That's another thing I notice apologists do until this recent announcement. When MOS's success is brought up, many like to point out that without 3D tickets and inflation that it's actually at the same position that SR was at.

If you subtract 3D from Singerman's returns, it drops at least $5 million. Also, even if you adjust for inflation, MOS beat the snot out of Singerman. The ONLY reason it wasn't worse is because of competition MOS faced from action movies which hit similar demographics in subsequent weekends, the cumulative effect of which took a huge chunk out of Man of Steel's returns. I maintain that if MOS had a largely undisturbed second weekend, it would've hit an additional $40 million in the US AT LEAST. That would put it well past $300 million.

So no, I don't find those arguments believable.

James Stocks wrote:They're no longer trying to claim SR was successful,

I've noticed.

James Stocks wrote:they're now trying to paint MOS's run being more or less the same as SR,

I've noticed that too and, as above, it simply isn't true. There is no comparison between Singerman's performance and Man of Steel's.

James Stocks wrote:therefore WB will not give it a sequel, "because if they didn't give SR a sequel for making $400 million, they shouldn't give it to MOS for doing the same business". Now that this recent announcement came out it's starting to change into "well, it obviously wasn't that successful otherwise they would have given Superman a real sequel instead of a teamup!"

That brings up an interesting point. Apparently we fans can call this movie anything we like but it's Man of Steel II- Costarring Batman. It's not World's Finest or whatever else. This is the sequel.

James Stocks wrote:In the end, I always say "that's more than SR got".

My only gripe with this argument (as good and true as it is) is that it somewhat concedes the premise to the Apologists. That just doesn't line up with reality. WB, Snyder, Goyer, they ALL consider this MOS II.

James Stocks wrote:That's where the spinning stop, with Cavill reprising his role. Apologists always love to bring up the news of a sequel, that it was actually happening "but the writers strike killed it". To them I say this "you never heard jack of a Singerman sequel at the San Diego Comic Con in either 2006, 2007 OR 2008, but you definitely heard of the MOS sequel at Comic Con 2013, a month after the film's release."

True, every word of it. Also, I'm not sure how closely you were following fandom at the time but in 2007, but WB began working on a Justice League of America film for a 2009 (the original intended release window for Singerman 2- Bartender of Pleather). Most of us took that as unofficial confirmation that WB was rinsing their hands of Singerman. There was no other way to justify JLA's existence unless Singerman was being mothballed.

James Stocks wrote:The way I see it, we've already had so many solo films for Superman and Batman at this point that I think it's time to finally bring them together in some fashion.

Again, I have to agree. The marquee value of WF/MOS II will come from "Superman and Batman onscreen together for the first time!" and not from certain actors or whatever else.

non_amos wrote: I saw superman1938's post but then I had to go to work so I'm just getting more info on this since I got home.

First, I do remember this from somewhere in years past. I don't remember the source but I remember in some press conference or something Blandon BJ appeared with none other than Christian Bale. I think this may have even been after TDK although I'm not completely certain. Anyway I seem to recall 'conjecture' being made about the always wanted team-up. I don't think there was really very much useful there but Bale seemed to be respectful towards the 2X4 if I remember correctly. Wish I knew where I saw that at but just thought I'd point that out. Of course nothing came of it.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this. Don't I want such a film? Of course I do! But I question the motivation. It makes me wonder if, although MOS is a success, it still didn't make a billion. So..........bring in Batman & let him do it for him. Suppose there's anything to that? And the comment by Harry Lennix bothers me too. Don't make superman a wuss, 'K?!

I personally kind of doubt that Snyder and Goyer would go to all the trouble of showing so much of Superman as a brawler in MOS if they were going to make him Batman's bitch in MOS II. At least, I hope so.

I'll be up for a while longer so I hope you post some more stuff as I'd like your viewpoints on this.

thecolorsblend wrote:

James Stocks wrote:That's where the spinning stop, with Cavill reprising his role. Apologists always love to bring up the news of a sequel, that it was actually happening "but the writers strike killed it". To them I say this "you never heard jack of a Singerman sequel at the San Diego Comic Con in either 2006, 2007 OR 2008, but you definitely heard of the MOS sequel at Comic Con 2013, a month after the film's release."

True, every word of it. Also, I'm not sure how closely you were following fandom at the time but in 2007, but WB began working on a Justice League of America film for a 2009 (the original intended release window for Singerman 2- Bartender of Pleather). Most of us took that as unofficial confirmation that WB was rinsing their hands of Singerman. There was no other way to justify JLA's existence unless Singerman was being mothballed.

I remember that well. It especially made apologists furious over the idea that WB might actually try pulling off a JLA film without Routh because that would in some fashion invalidate him, and many would try to lump in Bale just to emphasize how wrong it is. The closest they'll ever get the JLA they dreamed about in 2006 happened at the MTV movie awards, much like how the closest Donner/Burton fans got their JLA was in that romcom SPEECHLESS.



"At least I bailed out before the fourth installment, and the third."


"Fuck you Bruce."

Check this out...the announcement got a good response at comic con

thecolorsblend wrote:

I personally kind of doubt that Snyder and Goyer would go to all the trouble of showing so much of Superman as a brawler in MOS if they were going to make him Batman's bitch in MOS II. At least, I hope so.

I'll be up for a while longer so I hope you post some more stuff as I'd like your viewpoints on this.

Yeah I live on the East Coast so it was really getting late for me & I've been on & off line today as it is & sidetracked just now for the last little while.

Now, from one of those links that was provided here, it sounds like Snyder is saying that they're not doing a direct interpretation of The Dark Knight Returns but rather they seem to be taking cues from it. We know that with the Frank Miller comic that Batman was old & coming out of retirement & that this Batman is gonna be young like Superman. So why then did Snyder have Harry Lennix quote that line from the comic? So it's not an adaptation of that comic but a young Batman is still gonna 'own' Superman?! So if it's not an adaptation then what's the premise?

It sounds like the next film is gonna pick up from where MOS ended, with General Zod dead & Superman having to deal with the ramifications of that. So where does Batman fit in? Does Batman, the vigilante, view Superman as a vigilante? So he decides to 'take him to school'? Or could Snyder be throwing us a 'red herring'? Actually it's probably too early to tell. What we don't want is this:

Here's the deal, a fight is inevitable so what I want a Stan Lee-style confrontation where Superman rolls with Batman but there isn't a clear winner in the fight.

Maybe I've just followed fandom for too long but... really? This is how we're reacting?

I guess I should say that the prevailing sentiment is excitement. But the few nay-sayers are all the louder simply for being unorthodox. We're right back to that idiotic "establish the individual franchises first" shit.

Now, a quick history lesson. When was it, around 1999 or 2000 or something, WB tried like mad to put together a Superman vs. Batman movie. Superman had been on ice for several years by that point and (although history seems to have forgotten this) Batman was a box office joke at the time following B&R. WB saw this as a chance to jumpstart both franchises. From all accounts, it really was fan distaste that killed the movie. "Build individual franchises first".

For better or worse, for right or wrong, I guess WB eventually agreed with that so the idea was mothballed and we all know what happened next. Batman Begins and Singerman hit the scene. Now, there was a rumor making the rounds about a Bale/Routh team-up movie. I have no idea how much traction it ever really had but it was known. And once again, fans balked. "Do a sequel to each movie first". That paid off with Batman but we all know how Singerman fared.

Now here we are. We're at as close to square zero as we can be considering the Nolan trilogy ended about a year ago. This is WB's best chance and (wisely, if you ask me) they're giving the middle finger to the nay-sayers and pushing ahead with the movie they really wanted nearly 15 years ago. And of course some brats have found a way to take issue with it.

I just don't understand. And this goes across party lines. Snooty Batman fans, MOS fans, MOS haters, etc. I can't really find too much of a common thread apart from this opinion itself.

Like, scores of MOS haters are really Apologists in fans' clothing. They whine about everything so nothing new here. I can roll with that. Several others are Prima Donners who mourn the mere existence of a reboot (esp a scorched Earth reboot like MOS). My point is that MOS bashers tend to have a pretty identifiable unifying philosophy. But the WF/MOS II bashers are like Democrats; a big coalition with no single guiding principle underlying anything they say. It's fucked up.

And it's also fucked up that anybody should have to "defend" the existence of a Batman/Superman team-up movie. Guys, I've wanted a movie like this ever since I was a kid. Something something Marvel, whatever, but I'm a DC boy at heart and this is HUGE for me. I guess I don't understand why people have to piss all over it. Even if you're not onboard with MOS, even if you don't think a reboot should've happened, even if you pine for the days when Blandon was 2006's biggest star, SURELY you can see the inherent coolness of a Batman/Superman team-up film done right. Right?

I mean, is it just me? Am I the crazy one here?

Prima Donner. That's a good one. I almost thought you misspelled but then it hit me.

I don't mind such a film but I just questioned duh brother's motivation, i.e., like it takes Batman for Superman to earn a cool billion. But then again, who knows who'll play Batman? Since it's not Keaton or Bale it's anyone's guess how this Batman will be received. I liked Andrew Garfield in the Spiderman reboot but then again, that film didn't earn like the Raimi films either so who knows how a new Batman will do? Now, since Nolan's version was so successful commercially it's probably a given that the new version will succeed too unless it just totally sucks which I'm sure it won't. But like the Spiderman film it really hasn't been long enough for a Batman reboot either & I'm sure Nolanites & apologists won't let us forget it. But like true hypocrites they'll still see the film anyway.

Another concern I have is that I wonder if we're not getting MOS2? I know, I know, technically this is still it but somehow it feels like it's taking it's place. Here's something that occurred to me after this news broke:

1) MAN OF STEEL: A stand-alone Superman film
2) WORLD'S FINEST: Superman/Batman team-up
3) JLA: A Multi-hero team-up

So what concerns me is getting one proper Superman film followed by 2 ensemble films so that's 3 films & Cavill's contract is possibly up? Not that I mind said films, mind you, but judging by the above it concerns me. Now I'm not gonna become like those naysayers or anything but just have legitimate concerns about this. I mean, if there's anyone I want to have solo films then it's Superman.

non_amos wrote:Prima Donner. That's a good one. I almost thought you misspelled but then it hit me.

Of all places, I figured it would play around here.

non_amos wrote:I don't mind such a film but I just questioned duh brother's motivation, i.e., like it takes Batman for Superman to earn a cool billion.

No offense but I wish people would step off that already. Few action franchises earn a billion. It's not a birthright. I'm sure WB would love Superman to hit those kinds of numbers but I can't convince myself that they're pushing formulas on the two guys who are poised to hit $650 million worldwide on a character NOBODY believed in. Prior to MOS, sure, give them their marching orders but if Goyer and Snyder didn't want this on some level, I think they'd be well within their rights to say "thanks but no thanks". It isn't a job where if you don't do what your boss says you're history. Either of them can find work, esp now. If they were opposed to bringing in Batman, they'd fight it and win or they could choose to walk away. The fact that they're sticking around tells me they're onboard with this.

non_amos wrote:But then again, who knows who'll play Batman?

It's never been an easy role to cast. Still, there's more flexibility now than there might normally be. They can cast a 20-something or they can cast somebody in his 30's. There's room to manipulate.

non_amos wrote:But like the Spiderman film it really hasn't been long enough for a Batman reboot either & I'm sure Nolanites & apologists won't let us forget it. But like true hypocrites they'll still see the film anyway.

The Apologists will bitch and complain no matter what. But I truly believe the Nolanites will largely stay quiet except for one worst case scenario I'll deal with in a moment. Why would they do otherwise? They've got their trilogy. It's pure, untainted and at this point the continuity is completely immaculate. Nobody will ever be able to come along and screw it up. If they love their trilogy now, nothing and no one will ever be able to sully it for them. Not at this point. So whatever, let new blood in. It won't change anything for them.

The only exception I can think of would be if the rebooted Batman hits bigger numbers than Nolan did. Then and likely only then would they become full-on enemies of the new franchise. But even then, I think it would be somewhat muted because all of this is being done (officially at least) under the auspices of Chris Nolan. You can't rock the boat too much as long as he's involved. Ironically he may end up being insurance for the new films.

non_amos wrote:Another concern I have is that I wonder if we're not getting MOS2? I know, I know, technically this is still it but somehow it feels like it's taking it's place. Here's something that occurred to me after this news broke:

1) MAN OF STEEL: A stand-alone Superman film
2) WORLD'S FINEST: Superman/Batman team-up
3) JLA: A Multi-hero team-up

I guess it comes down to what the MOS II story is. If it's a team-up between Superman and Batman (ie, they both carry about equal shares of the story)... well, there might be a problem there. But what I'm assuming is that it'll be Superman's story (COSTARRING BATMAN!!) and that much I'm okay with. If it's fundamentally Superman's story with Batman being essentially a supporting character like Swanwick or Hardy (with about as much or maybe a bit more screen time), I think it's a very clever way to move forward.

non_amos wrote:So what concerns me is getting one proper Superman film followed by 2 ensemble films so that's 3 films & Cavill's contract is possibly up? Not that I mind said films, mind you, but judging by the above it concerns me. Now I'm not gonna become like those naysayers or anything but just have legitimate concerns about this. I mean, if there's anyone I want to have solo films then it's Superman.

The reason all this plays for me is that it breaks away from the STM, SII, SIII, SIV, etc, formula of the Reeve franchise and lets Superman play in a truly shared universe but it also doesn't follow Marvel's exact formula either.

Plus, I think it's a hell of a smart way to reintroduce Batman. In this case, people truly DO know the broad strokes of his history. An origin movie might be redundant at this point. So why not throw a rebooted Batman into a Superman sequel and treat him as an existing character? To all intents and purposes, that's what he is to wide audiences. WB seems to be experimenting with "rebooting without reintroducing". Obviously that approach had mixed results with the Hulk but a character like Batman can probably survive it. Maybe even benefit from it.

I understand your concerns, esp as far as perceptions go, but I just can't convince myself we have anything to be worried about just yet.

What say you, Puncher?

There may be a lot of fans bitching about this, but come Summer 2015, I guaran-damn-tee you that they will be going to the theaters like droves. This mere announcement got more buzz than AVENGERS 2, and that should tell you something. There is that phrase that applies, that there is no such thing as bad publicity for movies. It's true. Remember when Michael Keaton's casting as Batman angered a lot of fans? All the bitching over Daniel Craig getting cast as Bond? Right. Didn't make any kind of dent on the performance of those films, they just generated more buzz.

Star Wars VII, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Assassin's Creed, Terminator, Independence Day 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and Smurfs 3 so far.

And MOS II.

Yes, I'd say 2015 is looking a bit crowded. If something doesn't change, MOS II's best bet may be 06.05.2015.