AFTER A NEAR-20-YEAR ABSENCE, THE MAN OF STEEL
COMES BACK TO EARTH TO SAVE HUMANITY
Frequent Flier: Brandon Routh as Superman, on another
worldwide mission to save humanity from Lex Luthor and co., in "Superman
Returns."
(Photo: Sony Pictures Imageworks/Warner Brothers Pictures)
"They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way.
For this reason above all - their capacity for good -- I have sent them you... my only son."
The above words are spoken by Jor-El, the father of Superman, in Richard Donner's "Superman: The Movie". In previous "Superman" films, Jor-El was portrayed by the late Marlon Brando. And his voice is recreated for "Superman Returns", the film directed by Bryan Singer, who previously struck gold with the "X-Men" film franchise, which he left to pursue this film. With this new film, Mr. Singer looks to do what Christopher Nolan did with last summer's "Batman Begins" -- renew and re-invigorate the film franchise of a legendary comic book superhero. Singer, who also directed the Oscar-winning film "The Usual Suspects", has brought that film's award-winning star, Kevin Spacey on board to play Lex Luthor, the evil character that has dogged Superman throughout his encounters. Luthor has been released from jail and is back to torment Superman with his own powers and weaknesses, and has designs to ruthlessly rule and change the world, shaping it in his own maniacal image.
Luthor is joined by his band of villains, including Stanford (Kal Penn) and Kitty (Parker Posey), as they seek to destroy Superman and put the Kryptonite which weakens him front and center.
Meanwhile, Mr. Singer has brought in an American actor making his big-screen debut, Brandon Routh, to play Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman. Compared to the late Christopher Reeve, Mr. Routh, 26, is unknown so people will likely concentrate on just how convincing Mr. Routh may be in the title role. Mr. Reeve inhabited the role so well in the four films that spanned nine years (1978 to 1986) that many people thought of him as Superman even after he had long since ended his tenure as the Man of Steel. Mr. Routh has one very crucial man in his corner, director Bryan Singer. "[Routh] looks like he walked off a page in the comic book. Pretty much at that point, he became my first and only choice because I felt he could handle all three roles -- Kal-El, Clark Kent and Superman."
The director also spoke in the film's production notes of his kinship with the DC Comics legend. "Superman and I share the fact that we were both adopted. I was an only child and he was an only child." Quite simply, Mr. Singer says, those are the reasons why "I have always felt a real connection to him and that is why he is my favorite Super Hero." The opportunity to direct this film was naturally one that Mr. Singer could not pass up. He also was very clear about the direction he wanted to take Superman, as the film's producer Jon Peters recalls. "I remember getting goose bumps and feeling 'wow. . .'that is right on the money.'" Co-producer Gilbert Adler agrees. "Bryan is a terrific filmmaker . . .he's a natural born storyteller." Mr. Adler attributed Mr. Singer's past successes to his storytelling ability. "Bryan is a maestro!", he declares.
Screenwriter Michael Dougherty viewed his and Mr. Singer's efforts with "Superman Returns" to be a sequel to Richard Donner's original 1978 effort. "The choice to do kind of a sequel to Donner's film has given us flexibility and confidence to move things forward . . . we are simply trying to continue that story."
All photos below: David James
Up, up and away: Young Clark Kent tests his vertical leap... ...while Lex Luthor examines the crystalline structure from Superman's homeland.
Known unknowns
Though Mr. Routh is an unknown, filmgoers will be familiar with Kevin Spacey,
who has played a number
of villains in his time, such as the uncredited role in "Seven" as Brad Pitt's
nemesis, in a film that also co-starred Morgan Freeman. Mr. Spacey also
played the bad guy of sorts in "The Usual Suspects" as Verbal Kint, a
fast-talking but humble con-man. His role as anti-hero Lester Burnham won
him an Oscar for best actor in the 1999 film "American Beauty." Mr. Spacey
was a busy man during the production of "Superman Returns" as he had to go back
to London where he is the director of the legendary Old Vic theater.
"It was a fantastic shoot and a lot of fun," says the two-time Oscar winner.
"In a lot of ways it was like not a day had gone by [between the "Usual Suspects" and "Superman Returns"]. Mr. Spacey, who had a window of just six weeks for the shoot on the Superman set in Australia and the return to London, added: "It was so enlightening to see how much he has advanced as a filmmaker in the last ten years." Mr. Spacey speaks of Lex Luthor as "the ultimate capitalist." Though Luthor has his vast, evil designs on the planet Earth, Mr. Spacey distilled his character's motives into one clear essence: "he just wants his cut."
Kate Bosworth plays Lois Lane, a role that had previously been the province of Margot Kidder. Lane is a highly successful and reputable news reporter for The Daily Planet newspaper who has now loved and lost, she thinks Superman. Lane's story, "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman," also reflects her own feelings and attitudes towards the man she once loved. She has moved on in her life. Interestingly, Ms. Bosworth appeared in Mr. Spacey's film "Under The Sea," the 2004 biopic on singer-musician Bobby Darin, whom Spacey portrayed. Mr. Singer saw Ms. Bosworth's portrayal of Sandra Dee in the Spacey-directed biopic and came away particularly impressed. ". . .I was just blown away by Kate's portrayal. . . Kevin had told me she was terrific to work with so I had her come in and read with Brandon. It was pretty clear they had a real immediate emotional connection and we all thought she would make a wonderful Lois Lane."
Ms. Bosworth spoke of her great joy in being part of "Superman Returns." "What a privilege it was for me to do this film. I felt a huge responsibility and a great amount of pressure just because everyone in the world knows and loves these characters so much." She also expressed confidence about one thing: "I think the fans are going to enjoy Lois and Superman back together on the big screen."
"Superman Returns" is now playing on the big screen in North America and the Phillipines, and will make its way around the rest of the globe, with Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Egypt and Puerto Rico getting to the film one day after the Phillipines. Other countries follow including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, Mexico (July 14) and Japan (August 19) and Italy (September 1). The film is showing in Imax 3D in select theaters. The film also stars Frank Langella, Eva Marie Saint, James Marsden, and Sam Huntington.
Here's the PopcornReel.com film review of "Superman Returns."
Just the facts, ma'am -- true believer, true love: Lois Lane delivers the news on her not-so-secret love, Superman. Lane is played by Kate Bosworth. Brandon Routh plays Superman.
