Superman Returns

Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film based on the DC Comics character Superman. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Brandon Routh as Superman, as well as Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden and Parker Posey. Superman Returns reboots the Superman film series, however, the film is also a continuation of Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). According to Singer, Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) serve as "vague history".^[2] The film tells the story of Superman returning to Earth after a five year absence. He finds that Lois Lane has moved on with life and Lex Luthor is plotting a scheme that will kill billions of people worldwide.

After a series of unsuccessful projects to resurrect Superman on the screen, Bryan Singer was hired to direct and develop Superman Returns in July 2004. Singer considered the film's tone to be similar to Richard Donner's 1978 film. The majority of principal photography took place at Fox Studios Australia. Filming ended and in November 2005, which constituted hiring thousands of local workers, generating over $100 million into the local New South Wales, Australia economy. The visual effects sequences were created by Sony Pictures Imageworks. Superman Returns was released with positive reviews, and grossed $391 million in worldwide box office totals. Warner Bros. was disappointed with the box office return. The studio has announced their plans to reboot the Superman film series, with release in 2011.^[3]

Plot

Superman has been missing for five years, having traveled to where astronomers believed they had discovered the remains of Krypton. During his absence, Lex Luthor was released from prison. Lex married a rich widow and obtains her fortune upon her death. As Clark Kent, he returns to Earth, living with his adoptive mother, Martha Kent on the Kent Farm in Smallville. Clark returns to his job at the Daily Planet in Metropolis, while learning Lois Lane has won the Pulitzer Prize for her article Why the World Doesn't Need Superman. Meanwhile, Luthor travels to the Fortress of Solitude and steals Kryptonian crystals. During an experiment with the crystals, Lex causes a worldwide power outage. This interferes with the flight test of a space shuttle attached to a Boeing 777, occupied by Lois Lane who is covering the story. Clark flies into action as Superman and stops the plane from crashing onto a baseball field.

The world rejoices in Superman's return, but Lois is more concerned with the blackout. Clark later meets her fiancé Richard White, nephew of Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, and their son, Jason. Clark is emotionally hurt when he overhears a conversation between Lois and Richard in which she says she never loved Superman. He then proceeds to stop a bank heist, saving Kitty, Luthor's co-conspirator. With Superman distracted, Luthor steals Kryptonite from the Metropolis Museum of Natural History. Perry assigns Lois to interview Superman while Clark investigates the blackout. That night, Superman arrives at the Daily Planet and takes Lois for a flight, during which he apologizes for leaving her.

Lois focuses her attention on the blackout again and ascertains its origin. Lois and Jason inadvertently aboard Luthor's ship and are captured. Luthor reveals to them his grand scheme of using one of the stolen Kryptonian crystals to grow a new continental landmass in the Northern Atlantic Ocean that will destroy much of Earth's existing continents, in the process killing billions of people and leaving him as the new landmass' owner. On observing the effect of a Kryptonite sample on Jason, Luthor asks who Jason's father really is; after Lois asserts that the father is Richard, he leaves to launch the crystal (now encased in green Kryptonite) into the sea. Under water, the crystal begins to create Luthor's new landmass. Lois faxes their co-ordinates to The Daily Planet and is attacked by a henchman. The henchman is hit by a piano, which seems to have been pushed at him by Jason; afterward, Lois and Jason are imprisoned in a galley. Luthor flies in his helicopter to the still forming continent. Meanwhile, Superman is attempting to minimize the destruction in Metropolis caused by the new landmass' growth when Richard arrives in a sea plane to rescue Lois and Jason. Superman soon arrives to help and then flies off to find Luthor.

Meeting Luthor, Superman discovers the landmass is filled with Kryptonite, which weakens him to the point that Luthor and his henchmen are able to beat him. Superman is stabbed by Luthor with a shard of Kryptonite and falls into the ocean. Lois makes Richard turn back to rescue Superman, whereupon she removes the Kryptonite from his back. Superman, after regaining his strength from the sun, lifts the landmass by putting layers of earth between him and the Kryptonite. Luthor and Kitty escape in their helicopter; Kitty, unwilling to let billions of people die, tosses away the crystals that Lex stole from the Fortress of Solitude. She and Luthor are stranded on a desert island when their helicopter runs out of fuel. Superman pushes the landmass into space, but is weakened by the Kryptonite present and crashes back to Earth. Doctors remove more Kryptonite from Superman's wound, but after it is removed they cannot penetrate his skin with their surgical tools. While Superman remains in a coma, Lois and Jason visit him at the hospital where Lois whispers a secret into Superman's ear. Superman later awakens and flies to see Jason, reciting Jor-El's last speech to Jason as he sleeps. Lois starts writing another article, titled “Why the World Needs Superman". Superman reassures her that he is now back to stay, and flies off to low orbit, where he gazes down at the world.

Cast

• Brandon Routh as Clark Kent / Superman: Stephan Bender portrays teenage Clark Kent in a flashback scene. James Caviezel expressed interest in the role.^[4] However, Singer believed only an unknown actor would be suitable for the part. "I found the James Caviezel reports very interesting," Singer said. "Superman is essentially the Jesus of superheroes and Caviezel portrayed Jesus in Passion of the Christ (2004)."^[5] Routh was chosen from thousands of candidates interviewed at casting calls in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia.^[6] He had coincidentally auditioned for Clark Kent in the television series Smallville, but lost to Tom Welling. Routh had also met director Joseph "McG" Nichol for the role during pre-production of Superman: Flyby. Dana Reeve, wife of Christopher Reeve, believed Routh's physical resemblance was strikingly similar to her husband.^[7] To obtain the muscular physique to convincingly play Superman, Routh underwent a strict bodybuilding exercise regime.^[8]
• Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane: Spacey recommended Singer to cast Bosworth in the role because she co-starred with Spacey in Beyond the Sea (2004) as Sandra Dee.^[9] Claire Danes and Keri Russell were reported to be considered for the role. For inspiration on her performance, Bosworth studied Katharine Hepburn's acting, particularly in The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).^[10] She also watched Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich (2000).^[11]
• Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor: Because of his Academy Award-winning performance in Singer's film The Usual Suspects (1995), and friendship with the director, Spacey was the only actor considered for Luthor. The writers specifically had Spacey in mind for the part when writing the script.^[9]
• James Marsden as Richard White:
• Parker Posey as Kitty Kowalski: The character is a homage to Eve Teschmacher from the 1978 film, portrayed by Valerie Perrine.^[12] Posey was the only actress considered for the role.^[13]
• Frank Langella as Perry White: Hugh Laurie was cast in the role but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with House.^[14]
• Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen: A young photographer at the Daily Planet. Jimmy is friends with Clark Kent, and also struggles to takes a pleasing photograph of Superman for Perry White.
• Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent: The adoptive mother of Clark Kent / Superman. She was emotionally broken by her son's five year absence.

Marlon Brando reprises his role of Jor-El from the 1978 film with the use of previous footage combined with computer-generated imagery. This required negotiations with Brando's estate for permission to have his footage used. Singer explained, "we had access to all of the Brando footage that was shot. There was unused footage that had Brando reciting poems, trailing off subject and swearing like a sailor."^[15] Kal Penn plays a small role of one of Luthor's henchman, Stanford. Jack Larson, who portrayed Jimmy Olsen in the 1950s television series Adventures of Superman, makes a cameo appearance as a bartender. Noel Neill, who portrayed Lois Lane in the television series, the 1948 serial and Atom Man vs. Superman, cameos as Gertrude Vanderworth. Richard Branson cameos as the pilot of the Virgin Galactic airship.^[16]

Development

Further information: Superman (film series)#Superman V

Director and producer Bryan Singer conceived the storyline of "Superman returning to Earth after a five year absence" during the filming of X-Men 2 (2003). He presented the idea to Lauren Shuler Donner and her husband Richard Donner, director of Superman (1978). Donner greeted Singer's idea with positive feedback.^[17] In March 2004, Warner Bros. was commencing pre-production on Superman: Flyby. McG was signed to direct with a script by J. J. Abrams. A target June 2006 theatrical release date was put in motion. However, McG dropped out in June 2004. Warner Bros. was aware Singer's interest to make a Superman film. As Singer was preparing to leave for Hawaii on a short vacation with his writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris the same month of McG's departure, Warner Bros. asked him to pitch his idea for Superman Returns. While in Hawaii, Singer, Dougherty and Harris began to outline the film treatment.^[13] In July 2004, Singer signed on to direct and develop Superman Returns.^[18]

Although he was not a comic book fan, Singer was most impressed with Donner's 1978 film, citing it as an influence for his, Dougherty's and Harris's writing.^[18][19] Superman Returns reboots the Superman film series, however, the film is also a continuation of the 1978 film and Superman II (1980). According to Singer, Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) serve as "vague history".^[2] Dougherty compared the continuity to Casino Royale (2006).^[20] With Singer's hiring, he dropped out of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and also had the Logan's Run remake pushed back.^[18] Superman Returns was financed 50/50 between Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures,^[21] and pre-production began in November 2004.^[22] By February 2005, Dougherty and Harris had written six drafts of the script.^[23] Early versions of the script contained references to the September 11 attacks before they were removed.^[13]

Production

Warner Bros. considered shooting Superman Returns at Warner roadshow studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. After filming, this could have been used as an attraction for the adjoining Warner Bros. Movie World theme park, but the idea was scrapped for being too expensive.^[24] Set construction started in January 2005 at Fox Studios Australia for the film's 60 setpieces, while the start date was pushed back for two weeks. In an attempt to avoid public attention, Superman Returns carried the fake working title of Red Sun during filming.^[9][25] Starting in late March 2005, principal photography lasted until November.^[26] Filming of Superman Returns in New South Wales constituted hiring thousands of local workers, generating over $100 million into the local economy. 80% of filming took place at Fox Studios Australia, occupying all nine sound stages.^[27] Scenes set in Smallville were shot at Tamworth,^[28] while the Australian Museum doubled for the Metropolis Museum of Natural History .^[29]

Design and effects

Superman Returns was shot using Panavision's Genesis digital camera.^[30] Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's Johnson Wax Headquarters for the design of the Daily Planet.^[31] ESC Entertainment was originally set to design the visual effects sequences, but Warner Bros. replaced them with the hiring John Stetson from Sony Pictures Imageworks as the visual effects supervisor.^[32] A total of 1,400 visual effects shots were created.^[26] The script required a scene of Superman safely delivering a Boeing 777 in a baseball park. This would have been impossible to assemble the number of extras, thus computer-generated imagery was used. A second unit crew traveled to Dodger Stadium to photograph elements that were composited into the final images.^[33] Using footage from the original Superman (1978) film as a reference point, Marlon Brando was re-created by Rhythm & Hues using computer-generated imagery.^[34] The opening credits for Superman Returns are presented in a deliberate recreation of the style used for Superman, again to the accompaniment of John Williams' theme music.^[35]

Music

See also: Superman Returns (soundtrack) and Sound of Superman

Singer hired regular collaborator John Ottman as editor and film score composer months before the script was written.^[36] Ottman said in past interviews that John Williams, who composed the 1978 film, had influenced his decision to become a musician.^[37] He was both cautious and enthusiastic to work on Superman Returns. "Bryan [Singer] said he wouldn't even greenlight the movie if he couldn't use the John Williams music." Ottman continued, "it was important for me to preserve the Williams theme right down to every single note for the opening titles." Ottman referred to his work on Superman Returns as "a homage, not a ripoff to Williams".^[38]

Budget

Entertainment Weekly first reported that the budget for Superman Returns was at $204 million. Adding in the financial services and pay or play contracts spent since the film's development from the early 1990s, the budget came to $263 million. Entertainment Weekly then claimed that with worldwide marketing costs, the final budget would come to $350 million.^[13] This would have made Superman Returns the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release.^[1] Singer later denied this report.^[39] In February 2006, Warner Bros. had put the budget at $184 million, "factoring in tax breaks offered in Australia".^[40] In a July 2006 interview with Newsweek, Singer quoted the final budget as $204 million.^[41] The following October, Warner Bros. placed the cost at $209 million, after factoring in tax rebates and incentives.^[1]

Release

Marketing

See also: Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman

Warner Bros. promoted Superman Returns at 2005 San Diego Comic-Con International.^[42] Singer and screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris came up with the idea of publishing a prequel limited series, spanning four comic book issues. The stories were written by Jimmy Palmiotti, Marc Andreyko and Justin Gray, with artwork by Karl Kerschl and Matt Haley.^[43] During production, a series of "video diaries" on the Internet were released at BlueTights.net, showing behind-the-scenes work being done. After 27 installments, the video diaries stopped for a while shortly before the teaser trailer debuted on November 17, 2005.^[42] The main theatrical trailer premiered online on May 2, 2006.^[44] The trailer appeared in theatres on May 5, with prints of Mission: Impossible 3, while the international trailer came with prints The Da Vinci Code and X-Men: The Last Stand.^[45][46]

The Superman Returns cast with members of the Red Bull Racing team

Warner Bros. made tie-in deals with General Mills, Burger King, Duracell, Pepsi, Doritos, Papa John's Pizza, 7-Eleven and Colgate.^[45] The film was also advertised with Red Bull Racing Formula One cars for the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix; David Coulthard managed to get the team's first podium that day as well. On the podium, Coulthard also wore a Superman cape in celebration of his achievement.^[47] NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon also sported the "Man of Steel" look by promoting the movie on his #24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the 2006 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Troy Bayliss appeared in promotional "Superman" leathers and sported a cape on the podium following a win and a 2nd place at the 2006 Brands Hatch Superbike World Championship round on his way to winning that year's championship.^[48] The National Geographic Channel released The Science of Superman on June 29, 2006: a television special that studied popular science analogies with the Superman mythos.^[49] Singer admitted at 2006 Comic-Con International that was dissatisfied with the marketing and promotion. "A lot of people did their job, and a lot didn't".^[50]

Box office

Bryan Singer convinced Warner Bros. not to experiment with test screenings. In addition, Singer took out 15 minutes of footage after showing Superman Returns to some of his "trusted associates". The final theatrical time length ran at 154 minutes.^[51] To avoid early competition from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Warner Bros. moved the release date from June 30, to June 28.^[52] Superman Returns was released on June 28, 2006 in the United States and Canada in 4,065 theaters. The film ranked at the top in its opening weekend, accumulating $52,535,096.^[53] Within five days, Superman Returns took in $84.2 million, a new record for Warner Bros., beating out The Matrix Revolutions (2003). This has since been beaten with The Dark Knight (2008).^[54]

Superman Returns: An IMAX 3D Experience was released simultaneously in 111 IMAX format theatres worldwide, which included 20 minutes of converted 3-D film material. It was the first Hollywood full length live-action film to be released in this combined format.^[55] One of the key scenes Singer took out was "the Return to Krypton sequence". $10 million was spent on this sequence alone, but it was deleted. Singer noted that it could not be released as part of a DVD featurette because it was converted to IMAX 3D. He hoped it could have appeared in a IMAX reissue.^[50] The film's second week gross rapidly declined from the first week, due to the presence of Dead Man's Chest and The Devil Wears Prada.^[54] Superman Returns went on to gross $200.08 million in North America and $191 million internationally, earning $391.08 worldwide.^[53] Domestically, the film was the sixth-highest grossing film of 2006.^[56] In worldwide totals, Superman Returns was ninth-highest.^[57]

Although Superman Returns received positive reviews, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures admitted in August 2006 that they were somewhat disappointed by the film's box office return.^[58] That same month, Warner Bros. President Alan F. Horn stated, "I thought it was a very successful movie, but I think it should have done $500 million worldwide. We should have had perhaps a little more action to satisfy the young male crowd."^[59] In August 2008, Warner Bros. officially announced their plans to reboot the Superman film series. Studio executive Jeff Robinov explained Superman Returns "didn't quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to. It didn't position the character the way he needed to be positioned. Had Superman worked in 2006, we would have had a sequel for Christmas of this year or 2009. Now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman."^[3]

Further information: Superman (film series)#Future

Critical analysis

Based on 249 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of the reviewers enjoyed the film.^[60] Superman Returns was slightly more balanced with 40 critics in Rotten Tomatoes' "Top Critics" poll, collecting a 74% approval rating.^[61] By comparison, Metacritic received an average score of 72/100, based on 40 reviews.^[62] Richard Corliss of Time praised Superman Returns, calling it one of the best superhero films. He was mostly impressed with Singer's direction and the storyline.^[63] Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal also gave a positive review, but observed Routh's and Bosworth's acting was "somewhat dead or super average. Nothing special." Morgenstern believed Lex Luthor's characterization was "well written by the writers and well played by Kevin Spacey". He also praised Newton Thomas Sigel's cinematography and Guy Hendrix Dyas's production design.^[64]

Peter Travers, writing in Rolling Stone, felt the film "perfectly updates Superman for the modern audience".^[65] J. Hoberman of The Village Voice called it "surprisingly well made. It's a summer blockbuster filled with mythology and sensitivity."^[66] James Berardinelli reacted positively to Singer's decision of setting the continuity after Superman II, and ignoring the critically-panned Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. He observed it was on par with Richard Donner's 1978 film, and felt Spacey was better than Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor. "Spacey is sinister and villainous, while Hackman was campy and yesterday's news. As for the rest of the cast, everyone is spot on. There was no miscasting." Berardinelli said. "Superman Returns is near the top, if not at the top of the superhero movie pile. It offers nearly everything: romance, action, humor, and plenty of goose bumps."^[67]

However, Roger Ebert argued the film was a "glum, lackluster movie in which even the big effects sequences seem dutiful instead of exhilarating. Brandon Routh lacks charisma as Superman, and was probably cast in the role because he only physically resembles Christopher Reeve. Proof of this is the fact that Routh hardly speaks when donning the costume."^[68] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle felt that Warner Bros. should have rebooted the series along the lines of Batman Begins. He also felt Bosworth, at 22-years-old, was too young to portray Lois Lane, and the climax did not "match the potential of the tiring 154 minute long film".^[69]

Superman Returns was nominated for both the Academy Award for Visual Effects and BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, but lost the nominations to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.^[70][71] The film was successful at the 33rd Saturn Awards, winning Best Fantasy Film, and categories for Direction (Bryan Singer), Best Actor (Brandon Routh), Writing (Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris) and Music (John Ottman). Kate Bosworth, Tristan Lake Leabu, James Marsden, Parker Posey, and the visual effects department were nominated for categories.^[72] However, Bosworth was also nominated a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress.^[73]

References

Further reading

• Marv Wolfman. Superman Returns. Novelization of the film. Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 0446606529. 
• Jimmy Palmiotti; Justin Gray; Marc Andreyko (October 2006). Superman Returns: The Prequels. Comic book prequel to the film. DC Comics. ISBN 1401211461. 
• Daniel Wallace. The Art of Superman Returns. Chronicle Books. ISBN 0811853446. 
• Daniel Wallace. Superman Returns: The Visual Guide. DK Children. ISBN 978-0756620660. 

External links

• Official website
• Bryan Singer's video journals
• Superman Returns at the Internet Movie Database
• Superman Returns at Allmovie
• Superman Returns at Rotten Tomatoes
• Superman Returns at Box Office Mojo
• Pictures of filming in Tamworth, Australia