Superman: Legacy First Look

[Techwright]

On 6/25/2024 at 7:05 PM, Excraft said:

Can't say the new costume looks good at all. 

 

On 6/26/2024 at 10:22 AM, Glacier Peak said:

Dang, did he get that from the Halloween store? It's like an amalgamation of the Silver Age and New 52 costume, but it doesn't look like it fits right in the chest and he's got his underwear on the outside. 

 

Actually, when I saw the chest shield, it rang a bell.  I finally traced that memory to the Kingdom Come Superman suit.  While the live action one uses yellow, rather than black, the shield is practically identical.  I wonder if this is a hint for a direction they're taking with this one's story?  And yea, KC Superman wore the briefs.

 

 

On 6/27/2024 at 5:31 AM, Excraft said:

Looking at this some more, I agree it looks like rubber muscle suit underneath.  This looks terrible in my opinion.

 

Which is puzzling because if one knows the story of Christopher Reeves, they'd know that Chris was healthy but thin, and went on a mad workout spree to bulk up to get the role.  I'm surprised Gunn apparently didn't require the same for this one.

[Excraft]

On 6/28/2024 at 9:48 PM, Techwright said:

Which is puzzling because if one knows the story of Christopher Reeves, they'd know that Chris was healthy but thin, and went on a mad workout spree to bulk up to get the role.  I'm surprised Gunn apparently didn't require the same for this one.

 

It makes him look even more fake and ridiculous.  Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill both are in great shape too.  Why this guy couldn't be bothered to hit the gym is anyone's guess. 

[Ghost]

36 minutes ago, Excraft said:

 

It makes him look even more fake and ridiculous.  Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill both are in great shape too.  Why this guy couldn't be bothered to hit the gym is anyone's guess. 

Hey, quit skinny shaming him!!

 

sorry, couldn’t resist.

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

I'm also aware that Clark is supposed to look like a bit of an adorable nerd compared to Kal-El.

These things can be taken too far, because... um.

 

More set photos via JustJared...:

 

...and I don't know how built or not David is, but... man, that outfit is not doing the guy any favours at all.

[Excraft]

Some more set photos.  These look really bad.  Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner honestly looks like an overweight guy cosplaying to me.  I'm wondering if there is going to be extensive post-production on costumes?  If not, this is shaping up to be terrible. 

 

 

[Techwright]

On 7/1/2024 at 9:55 AM, ThaOGDreamWeaver said:

I'm also aware that Clark is supposed to look like a bit of an adorable nerd compared to Kal-El.

These things can be taken too far, because... um.

 

More set photos via JustJared...:

 

...and I don't know how built or not David is, but... man, that outfit is not doing the guy any favours at all.

 

Regarding Clark:  I'm actually intrigued.  They've combed his hair a different way, enough so that a quick inspection might have me looking elsewhere rather than see Superman in glasses.  I've long said the story should be retconned to say that Clark got the glasses from his dad's AI who designed them with some holo tech or some such to subtly confuse people as to Cal-El's look with the glasses on.  That way, someone like Lex would look at him, say they're of similar build and hair color, but that's it.

 

Regarding the Superman outfit:   I can't condemn.  Even if he's not so muscular, he's in way better shape than me.  😌

 

4 hours ago, Excraft said:

Some more set photos.  These look really bad.  Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner honestly looks like an overweight guy cosplaying to me.  I'm wondering if there is going to be extensive post-production on costumes?  If not, this is shaping up to be terrible. 

 

 

 

I'm wondering who Blue Man is supposed to be?  Martian Manhunter? Elongated Man? Blue Beetle?

 

 

Edited July 9 by Techwright

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

Oh dear sweet Freya in Asgard, they really did inflict the bowl cut on Fillion... 🤣

[Hyperstrike]

On 7/8/2024 at 7:19 PM, Techwright said:

Regarding the Superman outfit:   I can't condemn.  Even if he's not so muscular, he's in way better shape than me.  😌

 

 

 

 

How many time do I have to say it?

ROUND IS A SHAPE!

 

 

 

[Techwright]

11 hours ago, Hyperstrike said:

On 7/8/2024 at 8:19 PM, Techwright said:

Regarding the Superman outfit:   I can't condemn.  Even if he's not so muscular, he's in way better shape than me.  😌

 

 

 

 

How many time do I have to say it?

ROUND IS A SHAPE!

 

 

I never said it wasn't.  I only said he's got a "better shape".  😉

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

Small industry biz note: WB/D is now exploring breakup options. (FT sub required)

 

This includes wizard wheezes such as hiving off their cash cow but declining legacy TV businesses (and saddling them with most of WB/D's crippling debts), leaving studios (inc DC) and streaming (Max) free to run and grow.

 

Needless to say, this hasn't gone down well with investors and bondholders. But neither has their performance: their CFO wiped another 10% off their share price by admitting he couldn't predict free cash flow this year. (For non-financial wonks: that's not great.)

 

The likely impact on DC and WB is a budget crunch, slate cuts, and maybe even lawsuits as debt holders try to secure any prime assets.

Oh, and they need James Gunn's reboot and the Superman movie to be a win. Badly.

[Techwright]

11 hours ago, ThaOGDreamWeaver said:

Oh, and they need James Gunn's reboot and the Superman movie to be a win. Badly.

 

Doing another tentpole character movie is expensive and might not be the way to go, especially with audiences showing some fatigue for big name characters.

 

I'd tell them to take a page from the results of Guardians of the Galaxy, (James Gunn, see what I did there?) and make big-name characters from lesser-known characters.  Film The Question (the Vic Sage version).  With a solid script, there's not a huge need for CGI effects (I'm guessing they could even figure out a practical effect for the face), so low budget, high returns.  The character already has a bit of a built-in following after appearing in Justice League Unlimited, and his knock-off from Watchmen only heightens the curiosity of others.

 

 

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

12 hours ago, Techwright said:

Doing another tentpole character movie is expensive and might not be the way to go, especially with audiences showing some fatigue for big name characters.

You say that, but Blue Beetle had:

• a new-to-movies character played by a talented brand new young lead
• largely positive reviews and 91% audience score
• a (relatively) small budget at $115m-ish
• abuelas with laser machine guns

And... nope. People didn't turn out for it. It didn't help that there was a small hurricane that hit SoCal, or that WB had already announced the death of the DCU. Which is a shame, as it's a very decent, fun little popcorn-munching cape flick with a sense of its own silliness. Check it out if you fancy some light entertainment. 

 

So... while a lower-ranked character allows you to introduce something new and fresh, it is a little harder to market. And much as I loathe the need for it, and/or my personal opinion of marketing crews and some of their ideas, I'll admit dragging folks out to the multiplex is a lot harder than it used to be.

 

On that note... I'd quite like to see The Question get a TV series instead, though, to let the character breathe a bit more. I was trying to think about who could play him... what kind of Question are we going for - the early Angry/Greyhat/Loner/Eccentric/Terrifying/Sinister, the later Zen/Whimsical, or the Renée Montoya handover...?

 

 

Edited July 19 by ThaOGDreamWeaver

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

So James Gunn has released a teaser for tomorrow’s actual teaser.

 

And if there’s a reason I’m just a tiny bit happy about it - other than Metropolis looking GOOD…

 

…it’s the music. It’s just very gently hummed and ethereal, but that’s John Williams. Just that handful of notes at the end. I mean, I’m okay with Zimmer,  but the five-year-old in me that first believed a man could fly accepts no substitutes.

 

And if Gunn can update the Donner-era vibe to 2024… we good.

Edited Wednesday at 07:59 PM by ThaOGDreamWeaver

[Excraft]

Here is the "teaser" for the "teaser".

 

 

I can't say I'm seeing anything in here to get me excited for this film.  I'll remain cautiously optimistic, but from what I've seen so far, the costuming looks more like bad cosplay than film quality.  Hopefully the story doesn't suck.

 

25 minutes ago, ThaOGDreamWeaver said:

I mean, I’m okay with Zimmer

 

Hans Zimmer just okay???  I'm going to vehemently disagree with you on that.  The man is a modern day Mozart in my opinion.  He has written some of the best film scores of the last 30 plus years.   The man has a seriously impressive body of work.  Everything from Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, Man of Steel... even his work on Megamind is classic.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the John Williams work on the Donner Superman.  It's a timeless classic.

 

As far as ethereal, I mean, come on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of his masterpieces in my opinion.

 

 

 

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

Think I may have touched a nerve. I like Hans' stuff, don't get me wrong.

(Gladiator's Now We Are Free is what I think of when I think of Hans' most iconic works rather than Man Of Steel, or No Time For Caution from Interstellar.)

 

But the thing with Williams. That simple sequence of notes... it's like the critic in Ratatouille. 

G, GCG G, ^C G C.

That's all you need to see a guy in blue with a red cape, and be in the ABC on Prince Of Wales Road with dodgy, filthy squeaky velour seats and your brother hogging a bucket of popcorn.

Edited Thursday at 10:49 AM by ThaOGDreamWeaver

[Lunar Ronin]

 

[ZacKing]

Yup.  I'm out.  This is going to suck, calling it now.  Hard as they've tried over the last 46 years, Hollywood just can't beat Donner's film and Christopher Reeve as Superman.  Brandon Routh was great, but suffered from a shit script.  Henry Cavill was great too, but also suffered from a bad script.  I see nothing in this trailer here to make me want to see this.

Edited Thursday at 02:36 PM by ZacKing

[Excraft]

4 hours ago, ThaOGDreamWeaver said:

But the thing with Williams. That simple sequence of notes... it's like the critic in Ratatouille. 

G, GCG G, ^C G C.

That's all you need to see a guy in blue with a red cape, and be in the ABC on Prince Of Wales Road with dodgy, filthy squeaky velour seats and your brother hogging a bucket of popcorn.

 

If you'll forgive the pun, this music to James Gunn's ears.  Congratulations!  You've been successfully nostalgia baited. 

 

Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve were magic and the original Superman film in 1978 is a classic.  It should be treated as such in my opinion, and Hollywood should stop trying to copy it. 

 

What makes Zimmer great is that he did just that - created something all new for Superman and it's beautiful.  He did it all without nostalgia baiting you. 

 

29 minutes ago, ZacKing said:

Yup.  I'm out.  This is going to suck, calling it now.

 

Sad as it is to say, I think you're right.  Superman needing to be rescued by Krypto the super dog.  Yup, I'm out too.

[golstat2003]

1 hour ago, Excraft said:

 

Sad as it is to say, I think you're right.  Superman needing to be rescued by Krypto the super dog.  Yup, I'm out too.

 

Except I could have sworn this happened multiple times in DC comics history when Kal-El meets something that is indeed his match like magic, kryptonite, Zod and their crew, Brainaic, or something that is just as tough as nails and intergalactic in origin, like him.

 

I'm keeping an open mind for now. I like how other DC heroes are in the trailer also. I kinda knew we were never going to get a Superman only film, as the mandate here seems to be building up the DCCU like they was done for early MCU.

Edited Thursday at 04:49 PM by golstat2003

[ShardWarrior]

I purposefully avoided most of the leaked set photos and such because I wanted to be surprised by this.  Having now seen it, I am sad to say I am thoroughly disappointed.  The costuming looks awfully cheesy and something you would expect to see at a local comic con or Halloween shop.  I am very leery that James Gunn is going to go the humorous/silly GoTG route with this film.  I will keep an open mind too, but I am unimpressed and disappointed in what I am seeing so far. 

 

33 minutes ago, golstat2003 said:

I kinda knew we were never going to get a Superman only film, as the mandate here seems to be building up the DCCU like they was done for early MCU.

 

I think you are right and given the last several superhero flops from both DC and Marvel, I am not sure why they are trying again to create a whole extended universe.  Warner Brothers and DC have been trying to catch Marvel for a decade or so now with very limited, if any success at it.  I do not think this is going to work for them.

 

2 hours ago, Excraft said:

What makes Zimmer great is that he did just that - created something all new for Superman and it's beautiful. 

 

As a huge Hans Zimmer fan myself, I completely agree with this.  Zimmer's work for Man of Steel - as with his other work - is beautiful and inspiring.  Zimmer is a true genius.  I am delighted to be going to see him live in February.  I cannot wait for it!

 

Nothing at all against John Williams at all for his work on the 1978 Superman score.  It truly is a timeless classic.

[ShardWarrior]

21 hours ago, ThaOGDreamWeaver said:

And if Gunn can update the Donner-era vibe to 2024… we good.

 

I think the Donner films should be left as the classics they are, and Hollywood should stop trying to recreate/re-imagine them.  They have never been successful at it and they never will be in my humble opinion.

[JKCarrier]

2 hours ago, Excraft said:

Sad as it is to say, I think you're right.  Superman needing to be rescued by Krypto the super dog.  Yup, I'm out too.

Aw, that's my favorite part! Everything else about the trailer is very by-the-numbers, But putting Krypto front-and-center seems like a sign that this movie might actually have some charm and whimsy to it. Can we finally be getting a Superman movie that's actually (God forbid!) fun?

[Excraft]

7 minutes ago, JKCarrier said:

But putting Krypto front-and-center seems like a sign that this movie might actually have some charm and whimsy to it.

 

Exactly and that's the problem.  Whimsical Superman film?  No thanks.  They tried that already and it didn't work.

 

 

And for those who love the John Williams piece, here's some whimsy for you!

 

 

[ThaOGDreamWeaver]

1 hour ago, ShardWarrior said:

The costuming looks awfully cheesy and something you would expect to see at a local comic con or Halloween shop.

Agree on that - the fit still looks weirdly wrong, more like pyjamas than the kind of muscle suit or Kevlar armour we've seen in recent flicks. I can get over that, though.

 

3 hours ago, Excraft said:

Congratulations!  You've been successfully nostalgia baited. 

Guilty as charged. Gunn has identified an audience, and it's clearly people who fell in love with the Donner/Reeve/Kidder/Hackman films.

Everything about that trailer screams homage to the OG version, including the fonts. I'm unashamedly good with that bit.

Taking the feel of the originals and making something new... is that achievable?

 

What worries me - and there is a BIG worry here - is another of Gunn's predilections...

...stuffing all his favourite things into a flick. More isn't always more.

 

Krypto? Yes please. He's clearly a very good boy ohyesheisWHOISSUCHAGOODBOYYESHEIS. 

Luthor? It's a classic, and Nic Hoult should rock this.

Hawkgirl? Oookay. Sidekicks are good. ONE sidekick is enough.

But then there's also Guy Gardner. Aside from inflicting the worst haircut in comic book history on his mate Nathan Fillion, which is entirely understandable, why is he here?

And then there's Simon Stagg too? 

Mister Terrific?

Metamorpho?

Kelex?

Knockoff Godzilla (or possibly Metamorpho cosplaying as him)?

The Aquabats' Floating Eyeball OF DEATH? (or something equally eeeeevil)

All this and actual world events like wars, earthquakes and such too.

And that's before we get to the as yet unseen Really Big Bad, The Engineer.

 

Then on top of all that, booking out time to tell the story of Clark's human side and struggles, in a world that no longer wants heroes.

 

Do all of these things and people fit into a cogent, coherent 120 minutes of screen time, and get the arcs they deserve?

There's almost enough for three flicks in here.

 

Hmm. Still positive. But it's gonna be a juggling act and a half.

Edited Thursday at 06:52 PM by ThaOGDreamWeaver

[ZacKing]

1 hour ago, ThaOGDreamWeaver said:

Guilty as charged. Gunn has identified an audience, and it's clearly people who fell in love with the Donner/Reeve/Kidder/Hackman films.

Everything about that trailer screams homage to the OG version, including the fonts.

 

Yeah but that hasn't worked for them in the past.  See Superman Returns.

 

3 hours ago, Excraft said:

Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve were magic and the original Superman film in 1978 is a classic.  It should be treated as such in my opinion, and Hollywood should stop trying to copy it. 

 

^This exactly!  They're never going to top Donner's original Superman.  Christopher Reeve wasn't only Superman on film, he was Superman in real life.  Hollywood isn't going to recapture that magic again. 

 

It looks like the story here is going to revolve around a world not wanting or hating Superman.  Why that's the route they chose to go I don't know yet, but it isn't what I think of when I think of Superman.  He's supposed to inspire us.  He's better than us.  He's the ideal to strive toward.  That's what I want to see, not people throwing cans at him and screaming at him.