Returns with a bang
S. R. ASHOK KUMAR
|
Right from the script to star cast, the making of `Superman Returns' has interesting details.
|
AFTER A HIATUS, WITH HYPE AND HOOPLA: Superman Returns
"Superman Returns," will include original footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, which was to be used in `Superman II.' In "Superman Returns" the Man of Steel returns to earth after a mysterious absence of several years where people thought he has died. In reality he returned to Krypton (his home planet) to look for survivors.
This will be the first Superman movie to be distributed domestically and globally by Warner Bros and also the first Superman movie to be released simultaneously in conventional movie and IMAX theatres. It will also be the first Hollywood live-action film to be shown (in part) in IMAX 3D and it will also be the first Superman movie to receive a PG-13 rating (All other previous films were only PG.)
One of the many candidates considered for the role of the Superman was James Caviezel, who expressed great interest in the role of Superman/Clark Kent. He campaigned long and hard to win the coveted part, but despite his best efforts was rejected by director Bryan Singer in favour of newcomer Brandon Routh.
Many aspirants
Nearly half a dozen people were considered and rejected. The list includes Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker, Matthew Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Ashton Kutcher, David Boreanaz, Ian Somerhalder, Henry Cavill and Jerry O'Connell. Singer felt Caviezel was too famous and recognizable after playing Jesus in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" (2004). Brandon Routh, incidentally, put on 20 pounds of muscle especially for the movie. Superman's costume is shiny because it is made up of shiny little superman symbols all over the blue.
Another tough job was choosing the heroine. Before Kate Bosworth was cast as Lois Lane, Elisha Cuthbert, Claire Danes, and Keri Russell were considered. Johnny Depp was considered for the roles of Lex Luthor and Jor-El.
`Superman Returns' introduces Lex Luthor's sidekick Kitty Kowalski. Kitty is Lex Luthor's new Girl Friday, replacing Eve Tessmacher from `Superman: The Movie,' and `Superman II.' Stanford, played by Indian actor Kal Penn, is Lex Luthor's accomplice who uses Superman's technological secrets for his own personal gain and glory.
As far as the script is concerned, Kevin Smith was joined by Tim Burton who was connected with the D.C. Comics' 1993 series in which Superman was killed by a creature named Doomsday and then brought back to life more powerful than before. After a lengthy process, Warner Bros. chose not to go with Smith's script and hired other writers, such as Alias creator J.J. Abrams to revive the series. It took 10 years and three vastly different directors to finally get the project off the ground.
Titbits aplenty
Tim Burton's `Superman Lives' was far enough into pre-production at the time it was cancelled that the studio had already designed a teaser poster to be displayed in theatres. It consisted of a stylised silver `S' shield set against a black background, with the phrase `Coming 1998' displayed across the bottom third of the poster.
The shooting location for the film was mainly in Australia. The Kent farm was originally built on a sound stage and was then disassembled and moved to Tamworth, Australia, where it was reconstructed. The movie was filmed in Sydney, Australia, at Fox Studios. The Kent family home was filmed in Tamworth, Australia.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
