Nolan to Head Superman Movie

The LA Times has confirmed what was mere rumor last month.  Christopher Nolan, director and Batman-franchise reviver of the blockbuster films, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, will now be focusing his attention on shepherding  a new era of Superman films.  Set in its own time period, in its own universe, completely unrelated to the Donner-verse films and even Nolan’s Batman-verse (that’s a lot of ‘verses I just made up, ain’t it?), Nolan will be the producer and mentor for an as yet unattached director who will be making a reboot for the Man of Steel, based off a script written by both  Nolan and Batman-collaborator David S. Goyer.

According to Nolan, while he and Goyer were trying to hammer out an idea for a Batman 3, Goyer began daydreaming about how they would handle Superman, and the idea stuck:

“He basically told me, ‘I have this thought about how you would approach Superman,’” Nolan recalled. “I immediately got it, loved it and thought: That is a way of approaching the story I’ve never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting. I wanted to get Emma and I involved in shepherding the project right away and getting it to the studio and getting it going in an exciting way.”

Of course, no details on the script, though Nolan does specify that he would like to have an all-star cast, much like he did with Batman, and more on the nose, much like Donner did by casting Marlon Brando, Glen Ford and Ned Betty for the original franchise.

Personally, I find this to be great news.  I’ve been dying for a Superman reboot since Superman Returns was announced and it wasn’t a reboot.  I like Superman Returns, to a degree, but it kind of feels like a pointless tribute.  I wanted more.  Batman got a reboot.  Hulk got a reboot, twice.  Spider-Man and Iron got modern day fresh starts.  Superman, of all spandex-clad characters with a pension for crime fighting, should be getting a reboot!

Nothing against the Donner films. Superman is my favorite movie.  Not my favorite Superman movie.  Not my favorite superhero movie.  My favorite movie.  And I’m saying it needs to be rebooted.  It was made in 1978.  It’s 32 years old.  Time to move on.  No one will be better than Christopher Reeve, crystal technology is cool, Zod is the bomb, but let’s move on.

I want to see a Krypton like this. In 3-D:

I want to see a Superman ala Returns, zooming around saving the planet with all the greatest special effects money can buy at his disposable, but in a good movie.  In 3-D.

I want to see a hotter Lois Lane than Margot Kidder.  In 3-D.

I want a new series of Superman movies for a new generation.  I want it taken seriously, just like it was in 1978.  I want it to be awesome and amazing as only Superman can be, just like it was in 1978.  But I want it to be its own entity too, just like it was in 1978.

Now…is Nolan the right guy for the job?  I hope so.  I have my problems with both Begins and Dark Knight, but on the whole I think they are good films.  Certainly better than what was happening with Batman before!  Considering how into realism Nolan was with the Batman, I somewhat worry that he won’t have enough fun with a subject like Superman, but I’d rather that than making the movie silly, which I’m certain he won’t do.  So I guess I’m cool with Nolan.  Better than Burton anyway!

What really matters is who they get to direct the thing, so we’ll just have to wait and see.  All way too soon to make any real judgments, but for right now, I’m super excited!  Get it?  Super?  Never mind.