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Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov laid down the studios' plans for future superhero movies based on DC Comics characters to The Wall Street Journal. In keeping up with Marvel Comics' entry into the film business with their properties, WB is now looking to take more advantage of their sister comic publication. Following The Dark Knight's mega-success, Robinov wants to take the same approach Nolan did with Batman to all the other DC heroes. Even Superman.

First thing's first, let's go over the rumors that have been floating around and see where they're at now:

Justice League of America
Dead. Or at least delayed until all the heroes have their own origin movies first. George Miller is still hopeful, but WB wants to adopt Marvel's plan for their Avengers movie by slowly building up to a team-up movie.

Batman vs. Superman
Delayed indefinitely until at least a third Batman movie and a new Superman movie, which brings us to...

Superman Returns sequel
Not happening. Superman Returns was a disappointment to the studio and they're opting for a "reintroduction" instead of continuing that thread. In other words: the reboot we should've gotten in 2006.

Back when Superman Returns came out, I thought it was a pretty terrible idea to pick up where Richard Donner left off. It's a different age we live in in now and we needed a different take. A fresh romance between Lois and Clark, maybe a new Lex Luthor closer to the way he's currently portrayed in the comics, as a crooked tycoon rather than a Hackman-esque madman. According to the article, this new reboot will take Superman into Batman-like dourness:

Mr. Robinov wants his next pack of superhero movies to be bathed in the same brooding tone as "The Dark Knight." Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.' DC properties. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it," he says. That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well.

All right—the key phrase here is "to the extent that the characters allow it." Meaning, in the case of Superman, not very. Darker Superman stories had been done and they can be done well, exploring his vanity and moral high-ground (See: "Brave New Metropolis" episode of Superman: The Animated Series and the Cadmus arc in the first two seasons of Justice League Unlimited), but trying to follow The Dark Knight's footsteps is a slippery slope that could lead to a Jon Peters-level of misinterpretation. Let's not start describing Superman as a badass beast from the streets who shouldn't wear his costume because it's, in his words, "too faggy." And if they're planning on taking the same approach to The Flash and Wonder Woman too? Man, not all superheroes have to be as questionable and realistic as Batman.

Opening scene from Justice League episode "A Better World"

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Comments (2)

August 22, 2008, Lex Walker said:

	Nice use of the An Evening With Kevin Smith quote "Too f-ggy".
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August 23, 2008, Charles said:

I'm glad you too picked up on the caveat 'to the extent that the characters allow it.' Lot's of blogs haven't. That said we have to keep reminding warner's that taking Superman dark means taking the character to dark places, into the realms of real danger from the likes of Mongul or Darksied, alien superbeings that can do real damage to Superman - and earth, which he defends. It doesn't mean giving us a black rubber suit, or a dark blue one with maroon cape n' trim for that matter. I hope going dark means a real world setting - I hate those silly rocket boots that let people fly in the comics. I cannot suspend my disbelief. If the tech appears to be magic, then its very advanced, not of earth, and necessarily alien. Like Superman! On that note we've had Kryptonite, stolen Krypton tech, and bad kryptonians already, like Luthor, something new please.

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