How can the next Batman bad guy be the only good guy in comics as famous as Batman? Easy! Though they're partners in the Justice League and share a passion for fighting crime and helping people, they have a lot of differences. Just look at their costumes. Superman wears bright colors looking somewhat patriotic and standing out in a crowd, while Batman hides in the shadows and tries to frighten people with his appearance. They fight fairly often in the comic books, most famously in The Dark Knight Returns, but on a number of other occasions as well. Most every time Superman comes to Gotham City, he's greeted with something along the lines of "this is my city, get out."
Pros: If done right, it would unquestionably kick ass.
Cons: It makes terrible business sense. Superman Returns was a box office failure compared to Batman Begins (they made about the same in box office receipts, but Superman cost quite a bit more to make), and The Dark Knight's success only wides the gaps between the franchises. So it could be argued that at this point putting the two heroes together could be a step down for Batman.
More importantly, should the movie be a bomb, it would damage two valuable movie franchises. A huge budget Batman vs. Superman movie that is a critical and commercial disaster would probably make audiences reluctant to see either character again anytime soon. Prior to both Batman Begins and Superman Returns, there were real plans to have the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel face off in a movie, but eventually everyone came to their senses and moved on.
How I'd do it: Superman's a reporter and is obviously aware of the goings on in Gotham City. Batman is a brilliant detective who's known to plan for any situation, so having heard of Metropolis's nigh-invulnerable hero, he's figured out not only
Superman's weakness but also his identity as Clark Kent. Superman arrives in Gotham City to help out, and Batman's there to greet him with a "get out of Gotham, Clark, it's mine." Superman's freaked out at being identified, and since Batman's a wanted criminal, his instinct is to bring Batman to the police, at Batman's response is to pull out some Kryptonite. Superman retreats, and they both go off to prepare for what would have to be a 30 minute long final showdown full of destroyed Bat-vehicles and gadgets, heat vision blasts, Kryptonite-infused punches to Superman's face, and other things that would cause most comic book geeks to die from awesomeness overdose.
Casting Guesses: Brandon Routh wasn't bad in Superman Returns, but he wasn't great either. Superman is almost impossible to cast with established stars, so I'd say go with an unknown.
Verdict: It may happen someday, but not anytime soon, and, I'm sad to say, certainly not in the next Batman movie.
4 comments:
http://filmonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/iamlegendposters2.jpg
this always made me wonder if the company actually had any intent.
i think the superman actor from smallville would be a way better choice than the guy they had in returns.
i think he is a more superman-esque guy.
yah and if they use superman, they can make it bases on clark kent trying to clear batman's name. And they obviously fight off bane and scarecrow and who knows through in a lex luthor?
i talk too much in blog comments/
As I recall, that poster came about because Akiva Goldsman, who was a writer/producer on I Am Legend, had worked on a "Superman vs Batman" project in the late 90s or early 00s (around the same time Darren Aronofsky was working on a Batman: Year One movie) that was eventually abandoned. It was more of an in-joke that an implication that they'd actually make it. But if done right, it'd still be pretty cool.
I hope this doesn't happen in my life time. Superman is ridiculous.
I'd like to see a new Superman franchise get off the ground.
But, I believe that Nolan's Batman exists in his own, self-contained universe, independent from other superpowered beings.
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