Writers expressing disinterest in a character at one point can change their mind later on and produce great results. I think Grant Morrison said they weren't that interested in Superman or didn't "get him" back in the 90s, and then went on to write some of the best Superman stories ever. Chiefly All-Star but also Action Comics. They are pretty much the only writer who has expressed preference for Batman but still writes an awesome Superman.
Coates also said he likes the DCAU, including STAS. Which personally doesn't fill me with much more hope because the DCAU take on Superman isn't the greatest for me, but it's definitely something other than "dislikes the character."
I think we need to move on from Christopher Reeve as much as we need to move on from deconstructive takes. The reverence for that take is partially why the character is seen as corny and outdated. It was good for its time, but there is material both before and after that should be drawn from instead to mix and match. The Golden Age comics, the Fleischer cartoons, All-Star, Maggin's characterization, New 52 Action, etc.
All Star shows a bumbling Clark like Reeve. I think the best takes are those that use the aspects of the characters that most fans and audiences like. Like it or not, Reeve is still the iconic Superman on film. People like his confidence in the first movie and that he was a friend. And other fans like Cavill for the realism, the drama and how his powers look.
I think the key to a great Superman movie is borrowing from all that has worked with most fans. Ignoring Donner altogether is not the key to pleasing most people. The Superman and Lois show is borrowing from all Superman media and most people are enjoying it. You won't please everyone at this point, but you can please most.
Also, new Superman villains like Braniac need to show up to challenge him. Show new stuff audiences haven't seen. Take him to space, to new places. Wow the audiences while keeping Superman in character and making us care about his journey.
Last edited by stargazer01; 03-01-2021 at 11:59 AM.
A good politicaly charged Superman story could be a good thing, as long as it is also action heavy and exciting.
Would Coates be able to deliver all of that in a package?
All-Star at least had the implication that Clark had his Superboy career and didn't become a superhero due to training with Ghost Dad for 12 years, plus all the other crazy Silver Age-ish stuff that they didn't have the budget to pull off. And aside from doing the Phantom Zoners over and over again, none of it has really made it into a big film.
I also think the over dependence on guidance from parents (especially Jor-El and the Kents living after he leaves Smallville) greatly need to be downplayed.
He doesn't have to like it, He has to understand it and why it works. And seeing the superman movies and couple of shows is enough to get why superman works.
I mean Coates isn't going to think Superman is guy who snap necks or would let his dad die to protect his identity. I think he is already ahead of what we have know.
That's what Orlando claims, they claim they didn't pick up his option because his character wasn't part of the books they are focusing on in season 3 to be fair. Alot of actors didn't get picked up for season 3. Side note the actor who plays Shadow Moon would be the perfect Bishop in a Xmen film.
That's what solo films are for - they can make a Vixen movie, a Black Lightning movie, a movie about any black character. Heck, Static is getting a movie. MCU did Black Panther. That's better than race bending.
Eh, it's what comic book fans on forums bring up - if that were true everywhere Supergirl, Black Lightning, and Batwoman wouldn't have gotten shows.I talk about characters failing because that is the excuse not use them in movies and that is excuse that will be used after the failure in the movie realm. If Cyborg fails it would be because he wasn't that popular, If John Stewart fails it would be because they should have use Hal Jordan. And I am bring this stuff up because that is what people say when you mention a character should get a film.
Five years is five years - now is the time they're considering racebending Superman instead of pushing an actual POC character.Anyways maybe after this MCU run stuff will get look at differently Blade, Ms. Marvel, War Machine, Riri Williams, Falcon, Shang Chi, Nick Fury along with Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Wandavision and Black Widow. And you should praise Marvel for that least but conventional wisdom is never replace your big characters and fans/Marvel itself seem to push that and DC pushing a black Superman is from that type of thinking. Hopefully after next five years we aren't still having this convo.
Luckily we are getting a Static movie (albeit it sounds like it might be straight to streaming on HBO Max - and not because covid), but I do agree, I'd prefer an Icon movie over a black Superman movie. Maybe save Rocket for the end or after credits scene to set up the sequel. Icon, Icon and Rocket being the first two movies. Yeah.