Wolfgang Petersen Talks "Batman Vs. Superman"!

[ElderPredator]

Hey everybody,

I'm sure you all heard the rumors back in the earlier days of when Superman Returns had just started in development, that a possible "Batman vs. Superman" could possibly be in the future. However, the producers and Warner Bros. didn't feel strongly about.....until now. Legendary Director, Wolfgang Petersen, who will soon be releasing, "Poseidon" in two weeks has had an interview with ComingSoon.net and said that he would love to do a "Batman vs. Superman" movie. Here is what he said:

"I still think that the Superman/Batman clash, putting them together in one film, would be absolutely fantastic," said Petersen. "I hope it still will happen because they are so different as we know. The dark Batman and the sort of goody goody Superman. It's so nice to play with both and see how the dynamic between the two also including fighting between the two how that would work."

Sounds pretty damn cool and I wonder if it will ever get off the ground. Anyway, what do you all think of that?

Here is the link to the full story: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14314

[The Young Son]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!!

This movie would not work. Its a fucking terrible idea. For starters, Batman is not a superhero. He's just a rich guy with cool gadgets. Superman is faster than a speeding bullet and would kick Batman's ass in a heartbeat. And how exactly would they write it? Batman and Superman are both good guys. You can't have them against each other.

This is the worst idea since AVP 2.

[cocksmokinclerk]

Originally posted by The Young Son
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!!

This movie would not work. Its a fucking terrible idea. For starters, Batman is not a superhero. He's just a rich guy with cool gadgets. Superman is faster than a speeding bullet and would kick Batman's ass in a heartbeat. And how exactly would they write it? Batman and Superman are both good guys. You can't have them against each other.

This is the worst idea since AVP 2.

i'm with ya dude, i think its a terrible idea, but about superman kicking batmans ass, i thought the same thing and my friend told me everytime they fought in the comics superman almost got his ass handed to him everytime, pretty much because batman is much smarter, but dont ask me to go into details, neway i saw an interview awhile back with brandon routh where they asked him about this and he said that he prolly wouldn't do it because he feels that since they are both goods guys they should be saving the world not fighting each other, and christian bale made a joke that this would be the batman begins sequel but later stated that he was just joking, oh yeah 1 more thing wolfgang peterson sucks balls

[Psychocandy]

Has no-one read Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns? Batman and Supes face off in that and Batman kicks his ass six ways from Sunday. I'm not saying it would work in a movie (as it would require the movie to be an adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns and that's not gonna happen)...but it's happened in the pages of that comic and it worked.

[bourahioro]

That Batman vs Superman shit may work in the comics (I LOOOOVE COMIC BOOKS), but it will NEVER EVER work in the movies....it will look absolutely retarded - I would have to pass on this if it were made. I couldn't stand it if they decimated the Batman series with this bastardly representation......oh yeah, and Wolfgang Petersen sucks ass cock.

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by bourahioro
oh yeah, and Wolfgang Petersen sucks ass cock.

Das Boot
The Never-Ending Story
Enemy Mine
In The Line Of Fire
Air Force One
The Perfect Storm

He sucks ass cock? Um...no.

[ElderPredator]

He's a brilliant filmmaker but I know what you all mean, it would be shit because Superman has incredible powers and Batman is still just an ordinary man.

[soda]

For the record:

http://www.thebatsquad.net/_images/dkr4.jpg

and

http://batman.ugo.com/images/galleries/batman_thedarkknightreturns_comics/batman_thedarkknightreturns_3.jpg

This is from "Dark Knight Returns", and is the classic Superman vs. Batman fight. It was pretty cool.

also...

http://www.comicstripshop.com/images/database/UG3SssLpLgZGuHR75Bco

This is the cover to the Superman issue of HUSH. In this issue, Superman got his mind taken over by Poison Ivy, and Batman and Catwoman were on the run from him, Batman had a plan, though, and with Catwoman's help, he managed to break Poison Ivy's grip on Superman. Hush had some of the best Superman / Batman thought balloons, including:

Catwoman: "okay, what do we do now? He's coming, and he's faster than a...you know."

"you don't come to Metropolis, without being prepared for him."

"If clark wanted to, he could use his superspeed, run me over, and end this fight right now. But he won't. Because deep down inside, Clark is basically a good person. That's his biggest weakness, even more than the kryptonite. But here's my edge: deep down inside, I'm not a good person."

Finally, if they're going to do a Superman and Batman crossover movie, I wouldn't want it to be Superman fighting Batman, I'd want it to be Superman and Batman fighting together, just like in the old days of world's finest comics, and just like in the new days, with the Jeph Loeb book:

http://supermanmegasite.com/coverimage/coversupebats5.jpg

http://supermanmegasite.com/coverimage/coversupebats1.jpg

http://humano.ya.com/JFAbascal07/galeria/Superman_Batman_8.jpg

http://www.usuarios.lycos.es/kalel2005/supbat10.jpg

http://www.brendanmckillip.com/comicart/SupermanBatmanCVR4.jpg

This is a great book, for awhile last year, it was the best seller in all of comics, and it's still a very strong seller every month. I think a Superman / Batman team-up would be the way to go.

[Monotreme]

If they make this, it will be the shittiest movie since "Alone in the Dark". Hell, they might as well just let Uwe Boll direct and get it over with.

[cocksmokinclerk]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
Das Boot
The Never-Ending Story
Enemy Mine
In The Line Of Fire
Air Force One
The Perfect Storm

He sucks ass cock? Um...no.

damn it, i have to eat my words again, all i can say is that i was tired, and that he doesn't suck but i'm not really a fan

[Monotreme]

Actually... the only good movie from that list, in my opinion, is Das Boot. All the rest are average.

On the other hand, he does handle special effects and CGI rather well, which means that I do have confidence in him adapting Ender's Game into a film, which is one heck of a brilliant piece of source material to make a movie out of. With good source material, Petersen does well.

[AngelDust06]

I agree with soda and would much rather see them fighting together than against each other.

[Mr. Fred Krueger]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
Has no-one read Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns? Batman and Supes face off in that and Batman kicks his ass six ways from Sunday.

That's only because Frank Miller has something against Superman. He always manages to make Superman look like a bad guy. :rolleyes:

As for the movie, it could work. Don't call it Batman vs. Superman though. That's not what these guys are about. When Batman and Supes first met, Superman first thought that Batman was a vigilante, someone no better than the criminals he fought. But not too long after, he realizes that Batman just has his own way of doing things and isn't that much different from himself.

That's what this film should be. Initially the two should dislike each other, but then go on to at least respect each other and be willing to work with each other if need be.

This needs to be World's Finest...not Batman vs. Superman.

[Digifruitella]

I think they should keep them seperate, at LEAST for now.

[Kidsilk]

They definitely should keep them a part. It may have worked in the comics, but I don't think that it would translate well to the big screen.

[LordSimen]

Originally posted by bourahioro
That Batman vs Superman shit may work in the comics (I LOOOOVE COMIC BOOKS), but it will NEVER EVER work in the movies....

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005Y71G.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[soda]

2 things:

1) because Lord Simien brought it up, what this fan would really like to see (and we've been lobbying DC for this for a while now) is Joker team-up. That's a comic that needs to happen, every month, the Joker would team up with a new fellow Supervillian. I know I'd buy it, and I suspect Patrick would too. The Superman / Batman movie taught me how badly this world needs more Joker team up.

2) For a long time (it's first twenty issues), Superman / Batman was the dominant seller in all of comic-dom. It's still a very high (ie, top ten overall) seller. The book is a really fun, silver-age infused, reimagining of world's finest. People buy it because this book doesn't make you think, this book doesn't have a point, and this book has a lot of crazy comic-booky stuff happen, but it's the best piece of popcorn entertainment I have ever come across. Amazon babes, giant robots, all the cool characters, unforeseen plot twists. It's great popcorn fun, better than any popcorn movie I've ever seen. I've you're ever going to make a Superman / Batman film, I think Jeph Loeb's book is the template you have to go from. I have all 23 (so far) issues of Superman / Batman, and I enjoyed every single one of them.

[adamjohnson]

Whats his name who asked this question asks it to WHOEVER is involved with either franchise at every junket he's at.

Petersen just said he wanted to. It is no way in development on ANY level.

[the clever guy]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
Das Boot
The Never-Ending Story
Enemy Mine
In The Line Of Fire
Air Force One
The Perfect Storm

He sucks ass cock? Um...no.

you're forgetting troy....yeah, it might have strewn from the actual story a little, but holy shit if it wasn't an ass-kicking movie! and by the way, no this movie wouldn't work. it would be too hard to translate into film. there would be too much contrast between light and dark. supes being the light (mostly a fighter during the day), and batman obviously at night. what people need to realize is that not every comic can be brought to screen. yeah, its bringing in HUGE fanbases and money. but we dont need every comic brought to life. i'm more partial to things being left on paper, theres more story being told, more action, and need i say it....more imagination (very, very childish). but thats what comics are all about. same with games...but thats a different story for a different thread. look at avp....honestly, could have been a good movie, but in reality it really really really blew. 1st warning: pg-13....how can something coming from 2 franchises both being mature readings and ALL r-rated movies be rated pg-13? if they couldn't get a good script or movie, leave it be for the comics. most all team-up comics will never work on screen, period. and if so, they would horribly long. thats just my 2 cents for right now.

[Tyler_Durden_208]

Originally posted by soda
2) For a long time (it's first twenty issues), Superman / Batman was the dominant seller in all of comic-dom. It's still a very high (ie, top ten overall) seller. The book is a really fun, silver-age infused, reimagining of world's finest. People buy it because this book doesn't make you think, this book doesn't have a point, and this book has a lot of crazy comic-booky stuff happen, but it's the best piece of popcorn entertainment I have ever come across. Amazon babes, giant robots, all the cool characters, unforeseen plot twists. It's great popcorn fun, better than any popcorn movie I've ever seen. I've you're ever going to make a Superman / Batman film, I think Jeph Loeb's book is the template you have to go from. I have all 23 (so far) issues of Superman / Batman, and I enjoyed every single one of them.
Have they released any of the Jeph Loeb issues in trade so far soda? You're making me foam at the mouth for it (something I've never really done for a DC comic, lol.) although I know I don't wanna try and pay high amounts for the older issues.

[Patrick Bateman]

Bleh.

IF this were to ever happen, it's definately quite a ways off.
As there are atleast 2 Begins sequels to go.
Cant say I am at all interested in seeing a Batman vs. Superman movie.

Sure. Seeing Christian Bale kick Brandon Routh's ass six ways to Sunday sounds like alot of fun, but it would take a hell of alot more than that to even remotely validate this movie.

One word: No.

Two words: Hell no.

Much like the Offspring song, "You gotta keep 'em seperated".

[soda]

Originally posted by Tyler_Durden_208
Have they released any of the Jeph Loeb issues in trade so far soda? You're making me foam at the mouth for it (something I've never really done for a DC comic, lol.) although I know I don't wanna try and pay high amounts for the older issues.

yes indeed.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/140120323X.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

"public enemies" is the trade of the first six issues of the book. BTW, as an aside, I think every comic book, movie, six issue arc, tv show, whatever, should be required by law to end with Lex Luthor looking at you, shaking his fist menacingly, and saying something cool. In this case, "and there will be a crisis." *shiver*

also

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/2601_400x600.jpg

This is the Supergirl arc (issues 8-12, I think, issue seven was a Robin/ superboy fill-in)

[Tyler_Durden_208]

Alright, man, thanks. I'll get those and then use some trade-in I've got from the Frank Miller's Ronin issues (I was missing issue 5, so I traded 'em at my local store since reading the whole arc, I wasn't too impressed) to get the rest of 'em. You may have got me back on a comic to keep following:D

[soda]

2 other things I forgot to mention:

1) if you have a local comic book store, get there this Saturday, as Superman / Batman #1 (that's right, #1) is being reprinted and distributed as part of free comic book day. This is your chance to pick up S / B #1 (you can't get in on the ground floor any more than that) for free, to sample this series, and see if you like it before picking up a trade. I still remember the feeling I had when my comic book guy handed me S/B #1, I knew I was in for a great ride, and the book didn't disappoint. Be warned though, read this #1 and you'll be hooked, I know I was.

2) Jeph Loeb recently signed marvel exclusive. S / B #25 will be his last issue, and S / B #24 just came out. S / B #26 is a fill in issue written by Jeph's son Sam Loeb before he died of cancer, and features a contribution by some of the biggest name comic book creators in the field, it's an all-star tribute. Then, #27 is the new creative team, which I will still pick up. Mark Verdhein, the guy whose taking it over as a writer with issue 27, is an executive producer on Battlestar Gallactica, which is one of the finest shows on the tele, in my opinion.

I do, BTW, largely agree with Patrick on the movie prospects. I like world's finest, and Superman / Batman as a comic, and while the comic is very cool, I don't know that a movie going audience has reached the point where the translation would work. It takes a certain willingness to enter the world of comics, on it's own terms, for something like superhero team-up to work on the big screen, and I for one don't have faith in a movie going audience to get that far into it, or a director to remain true to the spirit of the book, where the concept does work. The problem is one of sufficient suspension of disbelief, there's an old comic book saying: the best special effects in the history of the world weren't done by a sophisticated computer at lucas film, the most sophisticated special effects in the world was Jack Kirby with a pencil. Computers have come a long way, and we're almost at the point where anything Jack Kirby could draw is what we can get on the screen, the difference is that when Jack Kirby drew it, people accepted it, I'm not sure that's true with Hollywood special effects.

[Tyler_Durden_208]

Awesome, thanks for clueing me in on that. And yeah, I'm with you, I'll still check out the newer ones as they come along cuz even if they have a few bad issues, it's still nice to stick with the bad stuff so that when the good stuff come along, it seems golden.:D

[Commodore]

Petersen needs to forget about this and get to work on Ender's Game, a much better story.

[Badbird]

Jeez. Welcome to five years ago. There's no way this can be new information. This has to be crap from back when Warner Bros and Wolfgang Peterson actually were talking about Batman vs Superman and even held a press confrence about it.

This was after they green-lit Batman Year One for Darren Aronofsky and Batman Beyond for Boaz Yakin (And also had press confrences for those movies), before pulling the plug.

The budget was a concern (you think?!), and they decided to not do it and focus on seperate Batman and Superman movies instead.

This is why we ended up with Catwoman. When BvS got canned, Warner didn't have a big summer movie lined up for 2004, so enter Halle Berry and the rest.

Nothing to see here... move along...

[Mr. Fred Krueger]

Originally posted by Badbird
Jeez. Welcome to five years ago. There's no way this can be new information. This has to be crap from back when Warner Bros and Wolfgang Peterson actually were talking about Batman vs Superman and even held a press confrence about it.

This was after they green-lit Batman Year One for Darren Aronofsky and Batman Beyond for Boaz Yakin (And also had press confrences for those movies), before pulling the plug.

The budget was a concern (you think?!), and they decided to not do it and focus on seperate Batman and Superman movies instead.

This is why we ended up with Catwoman. When BvS got canned, Warner didn't have a big summer movie lined up for 2004, so enter Halle Berry and the rest.

Nothing to see here... move along...

They decided not to go with Batman vs. Superman right away simply because they wanted to re-invigorate both franchises separately first. Budget wasn't the concern.

As far as the Batman/Superman movie goes, it's not a matter of if but rather when.

[bigred760]

The only way this would work for me is if Christian Bale and Brandon Routh were the title characters - and the actors playing the villains were consistent as well. Otherwise, it just wouldn't do it for me. I'm for consistency in movies, sequels, and spinoffs. Wouldn't hurt if Christopher Nolan and Bryan Singer were involved as well.

[Shockwave]

Batman with 5 minutes of prep time would beat anyone.

Hes like McGuyver with a cape. Give him a paper-clip, a wad of gum, and an old shoe,...and its all over.:p

[jaw2929]

I don't give 2 shits about the comics, because if this movie were made... Superman would fucking OWN Batman EASILY, the movie would be about 2 mins long... So prolly not the best idea, BUT I would see it if it were made ;)

[adamjohnson]

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer
I don't give 2 shits about the comics, because if this movie were made... Superman would fucking OWN Batman EASILY, the movie would be about 2 mins long... So prolly not the best idea, BUT I would see it if it were made ;)

incorrect, my friend.

[jolanar]

The general public would never buy a Batman vs Superman movie. Because they are both good guys. I think it would be a terrible idea.

[mouldy311]

who was the antagonist in the book which i never read

[bigred760]

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer
I don't give 2 shits about the comics, because if this movie were made... Superman would fucking OWN Batman EASILY, the movie would be about 2 mins long... So prolly not the best idea, BUT I would see it if it were made ;)

Well, I'm thinking when they say Batman vs. Superman, it's a conflict that gets resolved before the end and they team up to beat the bad guys. I don't see it as an all-out, winner take all, rock 'em & sock 'em brawl. Couple of fights, a little kryptonite, and a scratch or bruise here and there. That's it. I don't see it as one's a bad guy and one's a good guy. It's more like both are good guys and just take a while to get used to each other.