Wolfgang Petersen Talks Batman vs. Superman Source: In Focus Friday, May 7, 2004

So is there any chance we'll ever see Batman vs. Superman or a new Superman film?

I ask the question myself quite often. I was just talking to Alan Horn about it and he said, "I always liked that concept so much." I think it's on the back-burner because Warner Brothers decided to go with single "Batman" and "Superman" movies. "Superman" is, at the moment, shelved; I think if they successfully launch it again, then at some point it will be "Batman vs. Superman" again. I'll definitely be attached to that project whenever….

You'd think that WB would let Smallville play out a couple more years and then continue the story on the big screen with Tom Welling as Superman.

Remember those gems, Warner Brothers?

Superman 3 and 4 weren't exactly cinematic gems either

Reliable Superhero Hype! scooper 'Enigma' tells us that Warner Bros. has brought special makeup effects guru Stan Winston on board to create the new Superman costume for the studio and director McG!

We're told that the costume, at this moment, is sculpted with muscles, etc. The cape is said to look like latex, much like the new Batman Begins cape.

We've been tipped by a scooper that Warner Bros. has selected ESC Entertainment to produce the visual effects for its upcoming SUPERMAN film. ESC is the San Francisco-based special effects firm that was created after the dissolution of Manex Visual Effects (the firm that created most of the effects for the first MATRIX film); many of the ex-employees of Manex went on to found and work at ESC. The company created the bulk of the major visual effects sequences for the two MATRIX sequels and went on to deliver effects for the remake of THE LADYKILLERS. They are currently working on two more Warner Bros. movie projects, namely CATWOMAN and CONSTANTINE.

We can exclusively reveal that screentests have begun on McG's Superman! After a tip-off and some further investigating we've discovered that six actors are testing for Superman next week, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Test deals are being finalised as we speak.
Who are the secret six? We don't know right now (so don't ask), but the recently rumoured Jake Gyllenhaal is not one of them (this reporter could only see Jake as Superman if the movie was made in a tangent universe and directed by Richard Kelly! =) ).
The source isn't sure if the much-rumoured Henry Cavill is in the six. Since insiders have been consistently telling us Cavill is McG's first choice for the role we'd be pretty surprised if he wasn't one of the six.
Stay tuned, in a couple of weeks we could know who'll step into the tights vacated by Christopher Reeve in 1987.

who'll step into the tights vacated by Christopher Reeve

who'll step into the tights vacated by Christopher Reeve 


Also? Kind of gross.

McG Ditched By "Superman"
Posted: Wednesday June 23rd, 2004 11:45pm (Au-EST)
Author: Garth Franklin
 
A good man is definitely a hard thing for McG to find, so much so it appears he's given up the search.

Superman V reports that earlier this week they heard that the "Charlie's Angels" director was to be "no longer involved" with the "Superman" production (which explains his reluctance to speak about the project the other week), and after a bunch of calls, e-mails and pressure they finally got it confirmed that it's true - McG is off the project.

Seems that the recent auditions were "McG's last chance at getting the SUPERMAN movie off the ground, and landing himself the job of directing. Seems NO ONE has offically signed on as director of SUPERMAN since Brett Ratner left the project last year. Warner Bros. are being VERY cautious before accepting a director, and I guess McG didn't have what they were looking for.  We were told, if he didn't manage to please the studio execs with his ideas, he would be gone, which he now IS.  As of TUESDAY, McG is no longer involved with the SUPERMAN production what so ever".

They "also heard that the latest report about ANOTHER suit being introduced - a BLACK kryptonian suit - was accurate, this was an addition to the latest Abrams draft.  We are told that after this the studio asked for re-writes of the script, and McG brought on board Josh Schwartz to touch it up.  We are led to believe that McG may not have even handed in the latest revised draft (he was giving the boot before he had the chance)...We are led to believe that Abrams is no longer connected to the project, that his work is complete with it, so expect a NEW writer to come on board and start from scratch".

As for casting, "It's back to square one, no one has signed as Superman, and no one will be Superman with no director". However the studio 'Did like a few of the screen tests and thought they went really well' so a favourites list is expected to be handed over to a new director who could be selected as early as the end of this year. The production is still aiming to begin filming sometime next year for a release in 2006.

Thanks to 'Muscles' & 'Gustavo'

'The Godfather' Actor Brando Dead at 80

LOS ANGELES - Marlon Brando, who revolutionized American acting with his Method performances in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront" and went on to create the iconic character of Don Vito Corleone in "The Godfather," has died. He was 80.

Brando died at an undisclosed Los Angeles hospital Thursday, attorney David J. Seeley said Friday. The cause of death was being withheld, Seeley said, noting the actor "was a very private man."

Charlie's Angels director MCG has pulled out of the project.

Studio execs at Warner Brothers confirmed that they've parted ways with the director. The primary reason was that they couldn't agree on a budget that neighbored around $200 million, but that wasn't the only point of contention.

Casting and the shooting location were also big issues. MCG wanted a New York shoot, while the studio wanted to film in Australia. MCG says it felt inappropriate to try to capture such an American icon on another continent.

Tim Burton and Rush Hour Director Brett Ratner were both in talks with the studio to make the film but eventually dropped out.

"When I flew to New York to scout, I became enamored with our greatest American city," McG said in a statement. "It was clear to me that this was Metropolis. As a filmmaker, I felt it was inappropriate to try to capture the heart of America on another continent. I look at Superman as a character that embodies all that is beautiful about
America."

Warners is now on the lookout for a new director for its Man of Steel movie. McG's departure also does not tie the studio to the script, which was written by "Alias" creator J.J. Abrams.

DONNERS TO PRODUCE SUPERMAN + IS SUPERMAN RETURNING!!!
The Super Team!
We can exclusively reveal that Richard Donner and his wife Lauren Schuler-Donner are in "deep negotiations" with WB. With Neal Moritz and Gilbert Adler now gone Superman needs a new production team and S-V couldn't think of anyone better than the Donner's. And it gets better! A reliable source informs us that Christopher Reeve will be offered a role in producing this movie!! It is unknown what his exact role will be but if all things go according to plan Reeve will be involved.

And topic? So, is Tom still in the running this week to play Superman on the big screen?

After previously awarding the special effects work for Superman to ESCfx in Alameda, CA (The Matrix sequels, among others...) Warners has cancelled it.

They also pulled the work they were finishing on Constantine. Such a last minute move has effectively killed the company. Hundreds of people who have killed themselves on Warner films over the last few years out of work.

Rumor is that the Superman work will go to Sony, but that's unconfirmed.

It's not as if there's no one in Hollywood who fits the bill. But a Who's Who of Hollywood hunks - Jude Law, Ashton Kutcher, Josh Hartnett, Brendan Fraser and Paul Walker among them - reportedly refused to don the blue tights for "Superman Returns: Unbelievable."