Starkville Wants Superman
By now you’ve all heard the story, the phenomenal writers of Superman Returns, Mike Dougherty and Dan Harris have left the project this past weekend. It makes you wonder what lies next for the Man of Steel, after a 20 year absence from the theater, he was revived last summer only to now face an unknown future.
Or is there more to this?
I loved Superman Returns because I went in wanting to see Superman, a lot of people were frustrated with the direction that the chracter was taken in Bryan Singer’s outing. Now Mike and Dan have left the project and it just got me thinking where do we lie with a new film?
I wasn’t finished with my thoughts when my phone rang, it was one of my buddies from LA asking if I’d heard the news. I knew precisely what he meant, almost as if there’d been a death in the family. “Yes,” I said. I asked him, “what happens now?”. Apparently Warner Bros. sent the call out for a pitch for a sequel to the film, to see where the next writers would come from. He tells me that established comic writer Mark Millar has decided to put out his interest in the project. “You should be the one to pitch it,” he said to me. “They’ll be interested.”
Ha. A laughable thought, yours truly at the writing helm of the next Superman film. Sure, I had my thoughts, I knew what I wanted to see happen next when I walked out of the theater on June 28th, 2006. Tucker and I had even discussed multiple times what the next logical step should be in this storyline. I don’t want to see this hero that I’ve grown up watching, reading about, writing about, and now through the magic of this show and you fans, talking about every week, changed yet again. I want a sequel to Returns.
It’s not so laughable. Tucker and I know precisely what should happen next from a true fan’s point of view, and we’re throwing our hats into the ring. We of course don’t know what’s going to happen with this but we’re very excited with the story we have and hope that others will find it interesting as well. The idea is there, the treatment is done, the story is epic, and I desperately want to do this for the fans and for the cast and crew of Superman Returns. Wish your SHoE crew luck and spread the word, it’s going to be a fun ride.
Leave your thoughts below!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Guys, that would be great! I know y’all can do this. Not only are y’all very true Superman fans, you know how to write. I’ve read scripts that you’ve written and they were good. This is something I really could see you doing. Best of luck!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Well, that is an amazing step for you, Derek. Here’s hoping the pitch hits a home run (see what I did there?). I know you know your Superman mythology and if everything goes well, the franchise would be in good hands.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
I can’t think of anyone more qualified. Let’s get this done. I’ll expect an invitation to the red carpet premiere. Also, I think you should re-cast superman, he needs a whiteboy ‘fro. I’ll start getting into shape.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Good luck guys. We’ll be rooting for you.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Congrats guys! That is really great. I’ve always said that I couldn’t understand why actual comic/Superman fans don’t write these movies. People like you know the character, know the mythology, and most of all know what you would love to see on the big screen. I wish you the best of luck, but I am sure you won’t need any.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
This is like a message from heaven, finally two fans of the superman franchise will take this american muscle machine for a ride. Write the hell out of it guys, dont be afraid to write the big bad VFX scenes that might end up being cut out. Impress the producers and studio execs and show them that the previous two writers were expendable
October 25th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with you, when I reported the news a couple of days ago that the writers had left the projec, my heart sunk because I knew what that would probably mean, a scrap to begin again and I loved Superman Returns, I hate that so many think it was not a good movie, I think there was so much there to build from and if you can get this going, the better for it, and I expect to be on set, composing the music with John Ottman and I would love a chair next to Brandon if you can arrange that, lol, I am just kidding, I had a feeling when you called Shane that this is what it was about, good luck and I will have this up on the site soon! We should start a petition, who knows how to do that? Let’s get it going!~Elle (From Redcapemusic.org):)
October 25th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I think Derek knows what he’s doing. I think Derek should write the script. Furthermore, I vote for the costume to go back to the Christopher Reeve style. That’s what I think.
October 25th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
sweeeeeeet!
Good luck!! and have fun!!
Keep all of us posted on the progress!!
;)
October 25th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
That would be cool! Somebody who really knows the mythology and will try to stay true to that. Good luck!
October 25th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Derek,
I just want to wish you good luck with this project. I have faith in you and Tucker and in your knowledge of the character. I too was a big fan of Superman Returns. Seeing Brandon as Supes for the first time after the plane rescue was a magical moment. I had waited a long time to see Superman back on the big screen. And I finally got it. I’m glad you are taking on the challenge, and I can only hope the best for you in this endeavour.
October 25th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
This is INSASNE!!! BIG-TIME CONGRATS can’t even say how awesome this is…
I know the movie will be in great hands if it’s yours. GOOD LUCK! Try to give exactly what you want, and superman lore will be forever indebted to you……..and make supes throw a freaking punch.
Congrats :)
October 25th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I miss Christopher Reeves as Superman. To me, he was the BEST and captured the character so well. I know that you will do the same to keep him alive. BLESSINGS and PEACE. “Long Live Superman!”
October 25th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
THAT’S BRILLIANT. The next best thing to Dan and Mike returning would be Derek and Tucker stepping in. I’m behind you guys. All the way! LET’S MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
October 25th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Like the rest of us geeks, Superman was the icon of everything good that could be. I thought returns was a good movie but left a bit to be desired. don’t get me wrong, seeing the Man of Steel fly again was a thrill but do me one favor, kill the PC behind the new Superman. Superman stands for TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND THE AMERICAN WAY, Not just truth and justice. Have the “Stones of Steel” to bring back Superman the way he was ment to be, a hero for kids (of all ages) to look up to.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Yes! This great guys! I wish you the best of luck for this. Please, please keep us posted!
October 25th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
You know where I stand with this. I hope it works out well. Go now my son…blow their minds.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Dude! That would be the best. I know you can do this. Take this character that we all love where he needs to go. Know that all of us are pulling for you. Go Derek & Tucker.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:41 am
This is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY awesome. Love superman.
October 26th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Hey guys sounds great. You guys would do a great job I know it 100%. More power to you guys and have fun with it. Good luck!!
October 26th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Don’t forget the giant spiders…… :)
October 26th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Excellent news!!! You know you can do this. We know you can do this. Enjoy and best of luck!!!
October 26th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Good Luck To You Guys
Just one question, how much screen time will the mole men be getting??
October 27th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Don’t forget to add your own flavor too, the moles, the carboloading before he saves Lois, and make sure he says at least once in the film, “Negative, ghost rider!” LOL, Mike is downstairs asleep so I had to throw that one in for him!~Elle
Redcapemusic.org
October 27th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Well I think you and Tucker really know Superman and know where the story should go in the sequel. I hate it when writers leave a project they started because really the whole story gets messed up and if the new writers arent as passionate as the first then that also creates a movie that wouldnt be as good as it could have been. To go off topic..I am glad the Transformers writers are coming back for their sequel but for all I know they could bail too. Anyway, good luck guys and you have plenty of support.
October 27th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Hey good going! I’m happy for you? why did the others bail by the way? I also agree that superman should get his cape/suit back to the way Chris Reeves had it. Does anyone besides me find it interesting that George Reeves played Superman many many years ago and then Christopher Reeves played him in all those movies. And yet I understand they weren’t even related. but they both did a great Job.. I miss Christopher though.Lets do him proud! God Bless
January 10th, 2008 at 3:22 am
I really hope you guys get to work on this. I love the character of Superman so much and I know that if you work on the project you’ll take the direction the movie in the right place. Good luck guys, I’m rooting for you!