Superman: What A Movie Reboot Needs To Get Right | Screen Rant
If the rumors are true that DC Films and Warner Bros. are thinking of starting over with Superman, there are certain things that a Superman movie reboot needs to get right. The Man of Steel has been a pop culture icon for decades, so there are a number of things that fan expect to see in all adaptations of the hero.
The most recent big-screen Superman is, of course, Henry Cavill, who played Clark Kent in three DCEU films. Cavill famously donned the red cape and blue tights in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. Released in 2013, Man of Steel set the foundations for the DCEU and introduced a new take on Superman, while also following the traditions set by previous versions of the character. Henry Cavill reprised the role to battle the Caped Crusader (and Doomsday) in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Superman was killed in the movie, but his third and possibly final appearance in the DCEU, which occurred in Justice League, brought him back to life for a team-up with Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and the Flash.
Unfortunately for DC Films and Warner Bros., Justice League was a box office disaster that failed to live up to expectations, both critically and commercially. This could be what led to reports that DC is moving on from Cavill's Superman, even though Cavill stresses that he's still Superman. DC already has a new Batman, and the same may soon be true for Superman, considering DC has reportedly met with actor Michael B. Jordan about potentially playing the next version of the character. Though nothing has been confirmed, a Superman reboot with a new actor playing the Last Son of Krypton could be on the way. Here's what DC needs to do if it wants to start from scratch with Superman.
It's been said that DC wants to find a way to make sure Superman is relevant to modern audiences, which raises questions about what exactly DC thinks it needs to change about Superman. An argument can be made that Man of Steel already made Superman relevant. Regardless, the comic book version of Superman has qualities that need to be present in all live-action adaptations, whether they be on the small or big screen. One thing that should never change about Superman is what he symbolizes to the people of Metropolis and the world. Superman is a force for good who represents hope.
Superman isn't a character who operates in morally gray areas. Superman should be relatable to a degree, but most importantly, he needs to embody the best parts of humanity so that he can serve as an inspiration to the people around him. Previous live-action Supermen, such as Superman Returns' Brandon Routh, Christopher Reeve, Henry Cavill, and Smallville's Tom Welling were able to capture these qualities to varying degrees, and it should be one of the biggest priorities for the next Superman to stand for these ideals as well.
One thing that Man of Steel did differently than Superman Returns and Richard Donner's 1978 Superman was pit the titular hero against someone that wasn't Lex Luthor. Since Shannon's Zod was a compelling villain and a great foil to Cavill's Superman, Man of Steel proved that a Superman story doesn't need Lex Luthor. The same is true for a Superman reboot. Superman fighting Lex Luthor is a story that's been told so many times, and Superman - much like Marvel's Spider-Man - has too rich of a rogues' gallery for the movies to be stuck on one villain. It's well past time for Brainiac, one of Superman's biggest foes in the comics, to fight the Man of Steel on the big screen for the first time.
In the comics, Brainiac is an alien android from the distant planet of Colu with a supercomputer for a brain. Known as the "Collector of Worlds", Brainiac has a reputation for traveling across the galaxy, looking for civilizations to shrink and add to his collection, including the Kryptonian city of Kandor. As one of the most intelligent beings in the DC Universe and a character linked with Krypton's destruction, Brainiac is a major recurring antagonist of Superman who has posed a significant challenge for both Superman and the Justice League on multiple occasions. He's also someone that the DCEU had on its radar in the first place, so the interest has always been there. Krypton's Blake Ritson has already shown how great of a villain Brainiac can be, if handled correctly.
While a Superman reboot doesn't have to include Lex Luthor, it does need Lois Lane, Superman's main love interest in DC Comics. Lois Lane has a strong presence in nearly every live-action adaptation of Superman, and this doesn't need to change anytime soon. Superman is typically paired with the ambitious Daily Planet reporter because of what she brings to the story. Lois Lane, who has long been considered one of DC's strongest female characters, has a sense of fearlessness to her that makes her more than just a superhero's love interest, or a damsel in distress for Superman to save. Lois is often credited with being the person who grounds Superman, as she's able to see the world from the perspective of a human living in a world with superheroes.
When developing their plan for the next Lois, DC should look to how past movies have adapted the character. Margot Kidder's portrayal of the iconic DC Comics journalist is viewed by many as the definitive Lois Lane, with the DCEU's Amy Adams also serving as a great example of how Lois Lane's story can still be at the core of a Superman story. In Man of Steel, Lois Lane's investigation into the Kryptonians and Superman's past was integral. So while it's necessary that a reboot of the franchise gives fans a proper Superman, it must also do justice to Lois Lane.