Michael Mann To Direct New Superman

[Hey Man]

Did you cum in your pants or do you think he is a terrible choice?

[Danger^Cart]

I think this is terrible, if only because I wish he were spending his time on something better.

[JJFlamingo]

If Mann directs this in the style that Nolan has done the Batmans (possible, since Nolan has acknowledged him as a major influence), then this could be great, as long as Routh and the other Returns cast members stick around for continuity...:D

[eljefe15]

I don't think this is a good choice. I enjoy Mann's work but I don't think Superman the franchise lends itself to the level of "darkness" that Batman does. I guess it depends on how he approaches the work. It's a toss up for me.

[Tweek]

Did you cum in your pants or do you think he is a terrible choice?

That first part would be an overshare... lol

I love his work, but I think this is crappy if more than just a rumor.

[LordSimen]

He's a really bad fit for Superman anyway you slice it.

[therealjohng]

He's not a bad fit, it's like what DC said, he should be doing something better.

[lukeisevil]

he should set this in LA with over head night shots and a meeting between Deniro and Pacino.

[Hey Man]

Mann is in the top 10 of the most talented American directors today, it simply makes sense that he would make an epic Superman. I don't want a typical action movie hack or flavor of the moment doing this - I want the best of the best and Mann fits that description.

[MisterChristian]

I think he'd be interesting choice for Batman vs. Superman. Better than Wolfgang Petersen :)

[therealjohng]

Where is the proof?

[The Postmaster General]

^^That's my thoughts. I couldn't find anything on the main page, but didn't look much further.

Personally, I think Mann can do a superhero movie in his contemporary style and I've always wanted to see him do a sci-fi/fantasy type movie, even more so after seeing what could have been with The Keep.

Superman is a good choice for Mann, I think, because Mann more or less has always filmed "supermen" in his films. His best films have been when he focuses on specialization of characters - Vince and Neil in Heat, Frank in Thief, Will Graham in Manhunter, even people who disliked Miami Vice say they liked it most when it showed Crockett and Tubbs doing actual police work.

I think Mann would dive pretty deep into the things that are most potentially interesting with Superman. The Supes character really does remind me of many of Mann's best characters because it is someone who essentially puts all their life into working on one thing, and in doing so are unable to have much of a personal life, or unable to be true to their dreams and desires.

[Z_oasis]

Where is the proof?



REALLY! Is it true?? That would be GREAT in my opinion

[ilovemovies]

I hope it's not true. Don't get me wrong, I think Mann is, for the most part, a phenomenal filmmaker. Heat and The Insider and The Last of the Mohicans were especially amazing films. But I agree with LordSimen. He's all wrong for a Superman movie.

[The Postmaster General]

Could we at least get some insight as to why people think it's a bad idea so that this thread wouldn't have been better off as a poll?

[ilovemovies]

Could we at least get some insight as to why people think it's a bad idea so that this thread wouldn't have been better off as a poll?

He's a great filmmaker but I really don't think his dark, gritty style would mesh well with a Superman movie. That's why I think it would be a bad idea.

[The Postmaster General]

He's a great filmmaker but I really don't think his dark, gritty style would mesh well with a Superman movie. That's why I think it would be a bad idea.


Did you think Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt. Pupil) meshed well with a Superman movie?

[Scorpio24]

Hmmmm,

Michael Mann is my favourite director. I love his films. Every one of them. However I despise Superman. The charcter and story bores me. I will watch it but my first reaction was i'm not sure about that fit.

I didn't think his style would lend to kindly to the superhero cartoonish feel. Bubba raised an interesting point with Mann's searching style of his main charcters. Could well work.

Lioke I said it's Mann so i'm there but Superman? Meh!

[Monotreme]

I can see it now... a down-and-dirty, gritty version of Superman shot on grainy digital film with Superman not really having any superpowers at all, although sporting a stylish mullet...

Seriously, though, Superman sucks and has been irrelevant for the past half century or so, so I agree with the people saying that it's a shame Mann will be applying his talents for something nondeserving of them. Superman CAN'T be gritty and realistic, no matter how hard you try - Batman has the whole "not really a superhero, just a rich guy with gadgets" thing going for him, but there's no way to realistically dance around Superman's superpowers.

[FireCaptain4]

I really have nothing to add to this conversation, but I agree that this is a suprising, and not exactly favorable, development. Mann should direct his attention elsewhere.

[Reigh Kaufman]

I have yet to find a single source for this.

[Cronos]

If true I'm for it, he's a great director and I'd like to see his take on Superman. If it's not true (which wouldn't surprise me) then oh well...

[corran horn]

I'll echo the sentiments here in saying that, while Mann is not a bad choice (far from it), he should be doing something better with his time. Thing is, the Man of Steel is out of style and out of touch. The reason Donner's film worked out so well (besides being well-made) was that it captured the ebullient, America-can-do-anything style of conservatism that was in its ascendancy in 1978 (peaking a few years later). Now....not so much.

It also doesn't help that we're a lot more cynical now, and the good-boy-scout type that Supes embodies seems fraudulent and out of date. That doesn't extend to Captain America, though, because I think he could still work in our time (as Civil War showed, although what they did to Iron Man is less than popular).

[DarthWade]

Without proof this just seems like bs fan crap...which is probably is.

It just seems like an odd mix - like when Ang Lee did the Hulk. It feels so out of character for Michael Mann. It'd be like Woody Allen directing American Pie or something.

He's a damn good director, but I don't see this happening. Wouldn't mind being wrong though.

[Monotreme]

It'd be like Woody Allen directing American Pie or something.

http://www.impawards.com/2003/posters/anything_else.jpg

Sorry. Too obvious :)

[blankpage]

Until there's an actual source for this, just consider it a rumour. It's interesting, to say the least.

[Silverload]

There is not one single source out there that even suggests Mann is directing the new Superman.

If he were, which I doubt, I think it would be interesting but maybe too experimental & gritty for Superman. The Ang Lee Hulk comparison seems pretty accurate (though I did like Lee's Hulk better than the new one).

[cerealkiller182]

Its interesting. Manns great but maybe not so great for Superman. I think he'd be great for character development and dramatic plotline, but Superman needs adventure and scifi and scope, which i think he could easily handle, but unlike his other movies there definitely needs an overall light tone to it. Not that it shouldnt or couldnt be dramatic or sad at times but in general Supes is the opposing archetype to Batman.

[The Postmaster General]

Okay, how about...

Martin Scorsese To Direct New Superman

Happy Halloween, everyone.

[ilovemovies]

Did you think Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt. Pupil) meshed well with a Superman movie?



Singer also directed the first X-Men which were great. So he had practice in the superhero/fantasy realm.


For Mann to direct a Superman movie and be successful, he'd have to completely change his style for the movie. Not saying it can't happen, but I don't see him doing it.

[Danger^Cart]

Mann would be fucking awesome for a DareDevil movie.

[a7xfan]

to be honest i have little effort in a new superman flick, cause imo they all suck balls. he is the worst superhero to be adapted to film as of now, maybe mann can bring him back, and actually make the character live up to the name 'superman'. cause the last superman film was pathetic.

[DareDevil]

Mann would be fucking awesome for a DareDevil movie.


*Daredevils stamp of aproval*

[The Postmaster General]

Singer also directed the first X-Men which were great. So he had practice in the superhero/fantasy realm.


For Mann to direct a Superman movie and be successful, he'd have to completely change his style for the movie. Not saying it can't happen, but I don't see him doing it.


The Keep was really cool though - I mean, I can't suggest it as a good movie, but I thought Mann's style played well for the fantasy/horror genre. It kind of reminded me of Suspiria.

I know where you are coming from though, because it's hard to imagine since Mann has defined himself and identified himself so much with realism.

[LordSimen]

Did you think Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt. Pupil) meshed well with a Superman movie?

Not really, seeing as everything he did he practically had to take from what someone before him had done without ever really making the film his own in any way.

Singer didn't make Superman in his style, he tried to make it in Donner's style. And personally, it didn't mesh as well as it could have because he isn't Donner.

[adamjohnson]

Not really, seeing as everything he did he practically had to take from what someone before him had done without ever really making the film his own in any way.

Singer didn't make Superman in his style, he tried to make it in Donner's style. And personally, it didn't mesh as well as it could have because he isn't Donner.

Superman is a paradigm. He needs to be updated but his themes restrict him from doing so.

The emotional struggle for Clark Kent to not interfere needs to be more emphasized. Superman doesnt just stop muggers and save kittens, he should only come out when theres a real end of the world type threat, otherwise he would become societys slave.

Theres a lot of good stuff in there (what if he DID do too much an had to pull it back? Think of the heartache for him, watching people die so they can become self dependent again) etc, but the fact it Superman needs to be updated in general. They need to restrict his powers to a more reasonable level and provide a villain who can really go toe to toe with him. Superman cant be moving planets anymore, he needs to barely be able to move mountains.

[Hey Man]

Superman is a paradigm. He needs to be updated but his themes restrict him from doing so.

The emotional struggle for Clark Kent to not interfere needs to be more emphasized. Superman doesnt just stop muggers and save kittens, he should only come out when theres a real end of the world type threat, otherwise he would become societys slave.

Theres a lot of good stuff in there (what if he DID do too much an had to pull it back? Think of the heartache for him, watching people die so they can become self dependent again) etc, but the fact it Superman needs to be updated in general. They need to restrict his powers to a more reasonable level and provide a villain who can really go toe to toe with him. Superman cant be moving planets anymore, he needs to barely be able to move mountains.

I don't get all the people who say Superman is too powerful or they need to restrict his powers. That's Superman. There is a great line in Superman The Movie - where he says "All those powers and I couldn't even save him" - referring to Jonathan Kent.

No matter how powerful Superman is - when faced with an equally or more powerful enemy, Superman's powers won't matter and he could very well have to allow millions to die - due to being unable to stop it.

[LordSimen]

Superman is a paradigm. He needs to be updated but his themes restrict him from doing so.

The emotional struggle for Clark Kent to not interfere needs to be more emphasized. Superman doesnt just stop muggers and save kittens, he should only come out when theres a real end of the world type threat, otherwise he would become societys slave.

Theres a lot of good stuff in there (what if he DID do too much an had to pull it back? Think of the heartache for him, watching people die so they can become self dependent again) etc, but the fact it Superman needs to be updated in general. They need to restrict his powers to a more reasonable level and provide a villain who can really go toe to toe with him. Superman cant be moving planets anymore, he needs to barely be able to move mountains.

Crisis on Infinite Earths already simplified Superman's powers and updated him as much as he needs to be updated for the real world. The problem is, no live action film adaptation has yet to take on Post-Crisis Superman, because they've all tried to copy Donner's interpretation which was made Pre-Crisis.

[Steven S.]

I think Mann would dive pretty deep into the things that are most potentially interesting with Superman. The Supes character really does remind me of many of Mann's best characters because it is someone who essentially puts all their life into working on one thing, and in doing so are unable to have much of a personal life, or unable to be true to their dreams and desires.

That's an interesting take on what the scenario could be like. Really focusing on Superman's alienation from everyone else's reality could be enough to make him more interesting than his perpetual boyscout persona has allowed him to be. Then again, if handled wrong, it could also him hard to identify with. If this were the case, I'd be interested in seeing how Mann handled it.

I hope it's not true. Don't get me wrong, I think Mann is, for the most part, a phenomenal filmmaker. Heat and The Insider and The Last of the Mohicans were especially amazing films. But I agree with LordSimen. He's all wrong for a Superman movie.

This pretty much describes my first reaction as well. Michael Mann is a very realistic filmmaker in that you rarely (if ever) see any of the typical Hollywood stuff like people diving away from explosions or wounds spraying blood. Some of my favorite Michael Mann moments are the scenes he does with no sound, just music and I don't see this technique translating very well into a Superman movie. I can see him doing it more from a normal person's perspective more easily than I can imagine him flying along with him through the clouds - which I really don't know how that would work doing the movie as a whole. Basically, I'm having a hard time visualizing how Superman would work dialed down to a Michael Mann decibel and framed by that great limited-perspective, reactive camera shooting style he does so well.

Now... does anyone know if this is actually more than just a bullshit rumor yet?

[Brendan M.]

So is Michael Mann the supposed mystery American director that Mark Millar has been in touch with?

I can't find anything on him either. Mr. Original poster, please explain to us.

[dennisv]

I call bullshit.



I get it, it's Halloween. Thanks for the scare.

[darknite125]

I think as long as Geoff Johns writes the screenplay I don't care who directs it, it'll be good.

[sarah1980]

I hope it's not true. Don't get me wrong, I think Mann is, for the most part, a phenomenal filmmaker. Heat and The Insider and The Last of the Mohicans were especially amazing films. But I agree with LordSimen. He's all wrong for a Superman movie.

.

[Steven S.]

I think as long as Geoff Johns writes the screenplay I don't care who directs it, it'll be good.

Is Johns doing the screenplay?

[SteelTrap]

I haven't been a big fan of Mann's recent "digital" trend - is it just me or does the cinematography in Miami Vice and Collateral look kind of low-end cheap?

I don't know - if he brings that look to the table count me out.

-Tim

[SteeleDude]

I'll echo the sentiments here in saying that, while Mann is not a bad choice (far from it), he should be doing something better with his time. Thing is, the Man of Steel is out of style and out of touch. The reason Donner's film worked out so well (besides being well-made) was that it captured the ebullient, America-can-do-anything style of conservatism that was in its ascendancy in 1978 (peaking a few years later). Now....not so much.

It also doesn't help that we're a lot more cynical now, and the good-boy-scout type that Supes embodies seems fraudulent and out of date. That doesn't extend to Captain America, though, because I think he could still work in our time (as Civil War showed, although what they did to Iron Man is less than popular).

Cynical people could be more likely to buy into a hopeful look at ourselves. Instead of the dark knight which Americans might feel reflect our current persona, an upbeat heroic person doing good for others just because he can might be something that makes the cynicism temporarily go away.

Most people don't want to wallow. They want to feel good. When done right Superman movies make people feel good about themselves. Maybe it won't be as deep as the Dark Knight, but it won't be any less important.

[bourahioro]

No offense, and I KNOW I'll take some shit for this, but I don't like Michael Mann, his movies all look like they're poorly done made for tv shit.

[bigred760]

I'd have no problem with Mann directing a Superman flick (or flicks), but I don't see a source . . . confirmed or otherwise . . . anywhere on here.

I don't see Mann taking on this kind of project. He's usually done his own thing.

[soda]

Few thoughts:

It looks like michael Mann directing superman is something the thread starter pulled out of his butt, as I can't find any hint of it anyplace else online. I think Mann would be an okay pick for the job.

That being said, here's what the director of the next superman movie has to get. Superman is A)not boring and B)not a dark character. I'm terrified that what WB learned from TDK was "well, lets just make 'em all darker." Trying to make an easy buck, without understanding a darn thing about the material.

So, what is superman? There was a man who just won the presidency of the United States running on a platform of hope, and that is what Superman has always embodied. In these troubled times, in which we live, Batman mirrors our troubled society and reminds us all that it could be much worse (we don't live in a world with a real world Joker, thank goodness). In our troubled times, Superman reminds us to look to the sky, for hope and for the promise of a better tomorrow. They both have their roles, they both have their jobs, and whoever makes the next superman movie will have to be aware of this.

[shawn-o]

Few thoughts:

It looks like michael Mann directing superman is something the thread starter pulled out of his butt, as I can't find any hint of it anyplace else online. I think Mann would be an okay pick for the job.

That being said, here's what the director of the next superman movie has to get. Superman is A)not boring and B)not a dark character. I'm terrified that what WB learned from TDK was "well, lets just make 'em all darker." Trying to make an easy buck, without understanding a darn thing about the material.

So, what is superman? There was a man who just won the presidency of the United States running on a platform of hope, and that is what Superman has always embodied. In these troubled times, in which we live, Batman mirrors our troubled society and reminds us all that it could be much worse (we don't live in a world with a real world Joker, thank goodness). In our troubled times, Superman reminds us to look to the sky, for hope and for the promise of a better tomorrow. They both have their roles, they both have their jobs, and whoever makes the next superman movie will have to be aware of this.

I agree, Superman should be much more lighthearted compared to The Batman Begins/Dark Knight movies. Because of this, I find Micheal Mann an interesting choice, sense he has made some really badass movies grounded in darkness. But Mann is also good at making real-looking movies, so if he does take the job it will be interesting...but sense there isnt a whole lot of evidence yet.../??

[Jason77520]

I'm a big fan of the original Superman movies. I wrote a script for a Supeman sequel (to Returns) and have been asking for opinions on it. They have been pretty negative so far, but from people that do not like any of the Superman movies, or even Superman for that matter. I am in the process of rewriting the opening as some people have found it offensive and also add the extra needed pages to bring it to "movie" length. If there are any fans out there, I could use your thoughts. Please check it out and respond to the appropriate thread at:

http://www.joblo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124881