Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has helmed one too many masterpieces throughout his five and a half decades old star-studded career. And for one who brought the dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park novel series from Michael Crichton to life in one of the most remarkable ways possible, he once intended to make a film on the superhero Superman as well.
Steven Spielberg. Credit: Elena Ternovaja | Wikimedia Commons.
This happened back in the late 1970s, when he was still one of the relatively unknown directors. But despite being one of the most brilliant up-and-coming masterminds of the time, his film on Clark Kent never came to be. And, well, thankfully so, for the brutally wild pitch for the fan-favorite character would’ve quite literally killed the Man of Steel forever!
Steven Spielberg Wanted to Helm 1978’s Superman
Superman (1978)
After Mario Puzo was done writing a 500-plus page script for Clark Kent in live-action,...
Steven Spielberg. Credit: Elena Ternovaja | Wikimedia Commons.
This happened back in the late 1970s, when he was still one of the relatively unknown directors. But despite being one of the most brilliant up-and-coming masterminds of the time, his film on Clark Kent never came to be. And, well, thankfully so, for the brutally wild pitch for the fan-favorite character would’ve quite literally killed the Man of Steel forever!
Steven Spielberg Wanted to Helm 1978’s Superman
Superman (1978)
After Mario Puzo was done writing a 500-plus page script for Clark Kent in live-action,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire
It took a lot to bring "Superman" and "Superman II" to the big screen. Director Richard Donner and producer Alexander Salkind didn't get off to the best start, with Donner having to salvage a truly disastrous script that Salkind evidently felt was "perfect." But once "Superman" debuted in 1978, things started looking up. Or so it seemed.
With "Superman," Donner helped invent the modern blockbuster, setting a blueprint for every superhero movie that would follow and breaking box office records in the process. What made "Superman" an even more impressive feat was that during production, Donner had simultaneously shot most of the sequel. "Superman" and "Superman II" were filmed simultaneously, which meant the crew worked from a hefty script that required Donner to film scenes for both movies alongside one another.
Unfortunately, in order to make the "Superman" release date, Donner and co. had to stop filming "Superman II" before it was finished.
With "Superman," Donner helped invent the modern blockbuster, setting a blueprint for every superhero movie that would follow and breaking box office records in the process. What made "Superman" an even more impressive feat was that during production, Donner had simultaneously shot most of the sequel. "Superman" and "Superman II" were filmed simultaneously, which meant the crew worked from a hefty script that required Donner to film scenes for both movies alongside one another.
Unfortunately, in order to make the "Superman" release date, Donner and co. had to stop filming "Superman II" before it was finished.
- 3/25/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Burbank, Calif., March 1, 2023 – As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, five films featuring the iconic DC Super Hero Superman – Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III, and Superman IV – will be available for purchase in a five-film collection on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital on April 18.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Superman films star Christopher Reeve as the legendary “Man of Steel.”
On April 18, the Superman 1978 – 1987 5-Film Collection will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.
The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature films in 4K with Hdr, a Blu-ray disc with the feature...
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Superman films star Christopher Reeve as the legendary “Man of Steel.”
On April 18, the Superman 1978 – 1987 5-Film Collection will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.
The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature films in 4K with Hdr, a Blu-ray disc with the feature...
- 3/1/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
1978's "Superman" has always been revered, but over successive sequels, the franchise slowly made a joke out of its source material. And even though star Christopher Reeve wasn't too happy with the way the saga developed, his one and only "Saturday Night Live" appearance in 1985 proved he not only had a sense of humor but that he remained a star even as his career-making franchise deteriorated.
Richard Donner's original Superman film feels just as relevant today as it did back in the late '70s. James Gunn is currently working on his upcoming Superman movie, which, in the post-Snyderverse era, will hopefully re-establish the character as an upstanding paragon of morality, just as Donner's movie did back in the '70s. Back when the director was first contacted by producer Alexander Salkind, he would have to salvage a truly disastrous first script before coming on board. Forty-five years later,...
Richard Donner's original Superman film feels just as relevant today as it did back in the late '70s. James Gunn is currently working on his upcoming Superman movie, which, in the post-Snyderverse era, will hopefully re-establish the character as an upstanding paragon of morality, just as Donner's movie did back in the '70s. Back when the director was first contacted by producer Alexander Salkind, he would have to salvage a truly disastrous first script before coming on board. Forty-five years later,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
When we talk about movies, screenwriters don't get enough credit. Their names are often overlooked while directors are treated as the true auteurs. Maybe part of that stems from the system of Hollywood itself, which tends to leave screenwriters low on the totem pole, with "Mank" even likening Herman J. Mankiewicz — the co-writer of "Citizen Kane" — to a mere "organ grinder's monkey."
Superhero films and other big studio tentpoles with a lot riding on their success can sometimes involve a revolving door of screenwriters, and this has been the case for decades. "Superman: The Movie" had four credited writers, three of whom carried over to the sequel, "Superman II." But one name you won't see credited as a screenwriter in either movie, despite his important writing contributions, is that of Mank's nephew, Tom Mankiewicz.
There's a rather complicated reason for that. For both "Superman" and "Superman II," Tom Mankiewicz did...
Superhero films and other big studio tentpoles with a lot riding on their success can sometimes involve a revolving door of screenwriters, and this has been the case for decades. "Superman: The Movie" had four credited writers, three of whom carried over to the sequel, "Superman II." But one name you won't see credited as a screenwriter in either movie, despite his important writing contributions, is that of Mank's nephew, Tom Mankiewicz.
There's a rather complicated reason for that. For both "Superman" and "Superman II," Tom Mankiewicz did...
- 1/23/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Who doesn't want to play Superman? The DC Comics character has been depicted numerous times on the big and small screen, with nearly a dozen actors donning the cape. It is a role that many covet — there's nothing quite like the glory the character brings to you, so naturally, there has always been stiff competition surrounding the part.
Christopher Reeve debuted as Clark Kent and his superhero alter ego in Richard Donner's 1978 film "Superman," continuing to reprise the role in the four-part film franchise. While the actor's performance set a precedent — earning him much love from fans and cementing his interpretation of Superman as the best on-screen Superman — the actor had much competition before bagging the role.
Before Christopher Reeve, There Was Sylvester Stallone
In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker Richard Donner (who passed away in July of 2021) recounted the experience of casting the lead for his "Superman" movie,...
Christopher Reeve debuted as Clark Kent and his superhero alter ego in Richard Donner's 1978 film "Superman," continuing to reprise the role in the four-part film franchise. While the actor's performance set a precedent — earning him much love from fans and cementing his interpretation of Superman as the best on-screen Superman — the actor had much competition before bagging the role.
Before Christopher Reeve, There Was Sylvester Stallone
In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker Richard Donner (who passed away in July of 2021) recounted the experience of casting the lead for his "Superman" movie,...
- 9/4/2022
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
Established during the early heyday of motion pictures, the "star system" is an informal rule of thumb that most movie producers still swear by, even though the elements of a film's package deal in order to get a green light and raise funds have changed in the last 20-odd years. Nowadays, while having an actor with an established fanbase or persona is still a boon to getting a project off the ground, Hollywood is awash with risk-averse producers using an IP to get a movie made — and that IP is usually comic-book superhero material.
Arguably the film that started Hollywood on this superhero-saturated path, 1978's "Superman," was ironically far from a sure-fire hit when producers Pierre Spengler, Alexander Salkind, and Ilya Salkind were attempting to put it together. Since the Superman character himself wasn't enough to raise the money, the production needed an established star and a seasoned director.
As...
Arguably the film that started Hollywood on this superhero-saturated path, 1978's "Superman," was ironically far from a sure-fire hit when producers Pierre Spengler, Alexander Salkind, and Ilya Salkind were attempting to put it together. Since the Superman character himself wasn't enough to raise the money, the production needed an established star and a seasoned director.
As...
- 8/15/2022
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
While production on DC sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has been underway in the UK for about a month now, the plot of the Jason Momoa-starrer mostly remains obscured under deep water. However, returning director James Wan has provided an intriguing tidbit that somewhat clarifies the plot issue, citing—of all things—cult classic 1960s Italian horror film Planet of the Vampires as its main source of inspiration. While Wan came into the trident-towing hero’s first solo film having helmed drastically different modern horror classics, the reference nevertheless indicates his genre-hybrid intentions.
James Wan seems to be signaling that his once-unlikely comic book movie franchise, Aquaman, is getting an injection of genre themes that only a directorial maestro of movie scares such as himself can administer. Indeed, while little to nothing is known about the 2022-scheduled sequel outside of its titular reference to a “Lost Kingdom” (more...
James Wan seems to be signaling that his once-unlikely comic book movie franchise, Aquaman, is getting an injection of genre themes that only a directorial maestro of movie scares such as himself can administer. Indeed, while little to nothing is known about the 2022-scheduled sequel outside of its titular reference to a “Lost Kingdom” (more...
- 8/18/2021
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Director Richard Donner, who died on Monday at age 91, was once compared to Victor Fleming (“Gone with the Wind”) and Michael Curtiz (“Casablanca”), old-school filmmakers who worked hard to give their studio bosses what they wanted (and to give the public what they thought it wanted).
Donner may have come into his own as a hit-maker during the New Hollywood of the 1970s, but no one ever accused him of being an auteur. He made accessible entertainments — and if that were an easy task, everyone would have done it — and helped usher in the modern era of superhero cinema with 1978’s “Superman,” a thrilling and utterly unironic take on the comic-book icon that feels more influential to contemporary moviemaking with each passing year.
Born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in the Bronx, Donner moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s with hopes of becoming an actor. He was soon mentored by director Martin Ritt,...
Donner may have come into his own as a hit-maker during the New Hollywood of the 1970s, but no one ever accused him of being an auteur. He made accessible entertainments — and if that were an easy task, everyone would have done it — and helped usher in the modern era of superhero cinema with 1978’s “Superman,” a thrilling and utterly unironic take on the comic-book icon that feels more influential to contemporary moviemaking with each passing year.
Born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in the Bronx, Donner moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s with hopes of becoming an actor. He was soon mentored by director Martin Ritt,...
- 7/5/2021
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Updated with latest: Richard Donner, the director that launched Superman on the big screen and elevated the buddy movie to blockbuster status with Lethal Weapon as part of a five-decade film and TV directing and producing career, died Monday at age 91. His credits included helming such iconic movies across several genres from the horror pic The Omen to the kids adventure tale The Goonies to a Christmas classic Scrooged.
He was remembered in industry circles today for his booming laugh and kindness, with his Goonies co-star Sean Astin saying, “What I perceived in him, as a 12 year old kid, is that he cared. I love that he cared.”
Said Steven Spielberg: “Dick had such a powerful command of his movies, and was so gifted across so many genres. Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favorite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally,...
He was remembered in industry circles today for his booming laugh and kindness, with his Goonies co-star Sean Astin saying, “What I perceived in him, as a 12 year old kid, is that he cared. I love that he cared.”
Said Steven Spielberg: “Dick had such a powerful command of his movies, and was so gifted across so many genres. Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favorite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally,...
- 7/5/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Jules Verne’s version of ‘Die Hard’ takes place not on Christmas Eve in Century City, but 160 years ago at a lonely lighthouse in Tierra Del Fuego. The mini-moguls the Salkinds rounded up a great cast — Kirk Douglas! Samantha Eggar! Yul Brynner! — but let them down severely in production details and particularly the edit. Most everything is here for a classic adventure-suspense picture, but somebody thought it had to be ultra-violent and nihilistic. The new Blu-ray restores it to good color and an uncut state.
The Light at the Edge of the World
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1971 / Color / 2:35 anamorphic 16:9 / 126 min. / La Luz del fin del mundo / 129 min. / Street Date February 18, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner, Samantha Eggar, Jean-Claude Drouot,
Fernando Rey, Renato Salvatori.
Cinematography: Henri Decae
Film Editor: Bert Bates
Original Music: Piero Piccioni
Written by Tom Rowe, Rachel Billington from a book by...
The Light at the Edge of the World
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1971 / Color / 2:35 anamorphic 16:9 / 126 min. / La Luz del fin del mundo / 129 min. / Street Date February 18, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner, Samantha Eggar, Jean-Claude Drouot,
Fernando Rey, Renato Salvatori.
Cinematography: Henri Decae
Film Editor: Bert Bates
Original Music: Piero Piccioni
Written by Tom Rowe, Rachel Billington from a book by...
- 2/4/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
December marks the 40th anniversary of the “Superman” movie, which opened Dec. 15, 1978, and influenced generations of action films. In recent years, many people were distressed that Claire Foy was paid less than Matt Smith for Netflix’s “The Crown,” but pay gaps are not always about sexism. Blame the star system. Back on June 30, 1976,Variety reported that Marlon Brando agreed to play the title character’s father in “Superman” for a salary that was “unprecedented.” It was eventually revealed that the actor was paid $3.7 million and an amazing 11.75% backend to play Jor-El, for 13 days work and less than 20 minutes onscreen. In comparison, Christopher Reeve earned $250,000 in the title role, dominating most of the 143-minute running time.
Brando was at the height of his power, after “The Godfather” and “Last Tango in Paris.” In 1976, exec producers Ilya Salkind & Alexander Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler needed a star to get financing. “Star Wars” hadn’t opened.
Brando was at the height of his power, after “The Godfather” and “Last Tango in Paris.” In 1976, exec producers Ilya Salkind & Alexander Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler needed a star to get financing. “Star Wars” hadn’t opened.
- 11/16/2018
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The greatest superhero movie ever made is coming home on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
- 9/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
The greatest superhero movie ever made is coming home on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
- 9/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
The greatest superhero movie ever made is coming home on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing Superman the Movie for the first time in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr).
Here's the scoop, directly from Warner Brothers:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman the Movie, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo,...
- 9/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
Burbank, CA, September 25, 2018 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eva Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards,...
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eva Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards,...
- 9/26/2018
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Updated: With Wednesday, Thursday and Friday events. Captain Marvel, The Guardians of the Galaxy and whoever is alive from The Avengers won’t be showing up in San Diego, but there will be plenty of other big screen rivals to keep the temperature at a scorching level in Hall H.
At this point in time, many film screenings are oddly missing from the lineup, except for kiddie pic Teen Titans Go! To the Movies! on Friday. Perhaps there will be more as they’re often announced at the last minute or suddenly during the confab (Read Lionsgate’s Blair Witch). Comic-Con has traditionally been a successful launch pad for such fan faves as Sausage Party, Star Trek Beyond, The Visit, Annabelle: Creation and Don’t Breathe. Don’t worry, on the TV side there’s the AMC premiere of Better Call Saul season 4.
Also,...
At this point in time, many film screenings are oddly missing from the lineup, except for kiddie pic Teen Titans Go! To the Movies! on Friday. Perhaps there will be more as they’re often announced at the last minute or suddenly during the confab (Read Lionsgate’s Blair Witch). Comic-Con has traditionally been a successful launch pad for such fan faves as Sausage Party, Star Trek Beyond, The Visit, Annabelle: Creation and Don’t Breathe. Don’t worry, on the TV side there’s the AMC premiere of Better Call Saul season 4.
Also,...
- 7/6/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Collider is reporting that after much deliberation, Marvel Studios has decided to shoot The Avengers: Infinity War film and Avengers 4 separately. Initially, the plan was to film the two movies at the same time, with the intention of potentially filming scenes for both movies on the same day. The benefits of filming the two movies separately was addressed by Kevin Feige.
“We’re doing them one right after another… It became too complicated to cross-board them like that, and we found ourselves—again, something would always pay the price. We wanted to be able to focus and shoot one movie and then focus and shoot another movie.”
This isn't the first superhero movie with similar filming schedules that changed course to focus on the first film. The movies in question were Superman: The Movie and Superman 2. Produced by Illya and Alexander Salkind, they intended to film the movies simultaneously,...
“We’re doing them one right after another… It became too complicated to cross-board them like that, and we found ourselves—again, something would always pay the price. We wanted to be able to focus and shoot one movie and then focus and shoot another movie.”
This isn't the first superhero movie with similar filming schedules that changed course to focus on the first film. The movies in question were Superman: The Movie and Superman 2. Produced by Illya and Alexander Salkind, they intended to film the movies simultaneously,...
- 4/22/2017
- by Tim Jousma
- LRMonline.com
Warner Bros.
The late, great Christopher Reeve remains one of the most iconic performers in the history of comic book movies. His portrayal of Superman/Kal-El/Clark in Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie helped launch the superhero cinematic subgenre and cemented Reeve as a talent that generations of film fans could enjoy. For many, Reeve remains the Superman, with Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill paling in comparison to his magnetic portrayal of DC Comics’ flagship superhero.
It wasn’t an easy route to global adoration for Reeve, though. He faced stiff competition for the role and a collection of troubles on set. He also had to power through as the franchise that launched his career later suffered reduced budgets and dreadful reviews, when Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace came along and did their best to ruin what Reeve and Donner had started.
From these worrisome...
The late, great Christopher Reeve remains one of the most iconic performers in the history of comic book movies. His portrayal of Superman/Kal-El/Clark in Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie helped launch the superhero cinematic subgenre and cemented Reeve as a talent that generations of film fans could enjoy. For many, Reeve remains the Superman, with Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill paling in comparison to his magnetic portrayal of DC Comics’ flagship superhero.
It wasn’t an easy route to global adoration for Reeve, though. He faced stiff competition for the role and a collection of troubles on set. He also had to power through as the franchise that launched his career later suffered reduced budgets and dreadful reviews, when Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace came along and did their best to ruin what Reeve and Donner had started.
From these worrisome...
- 3/3/2016
- by Rob Leane
- Obsessed with Film
Did you know that June 12 every year is Superman Day? We're not sure how this particular day came to be dedicated to the Man of Steel, especially since he seems omnipresent in our lives every day. A pop cultural mainstay since 1938, the Krypton-born hero never seems far away, especially in the movies.
Yet while it seems every boy has dreamed of putting on the red cape and flying, the character has been remarkably hard to cast in movies. For every Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh or Henry Cavill who said yes, many more have said no. Here are 15 potential Kal-El's that never came to be.
1. Sylvester Stallone
"Yo, Lois!" After the success of "Rocky," it's no wonder that "Superman: The Movie" producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind considered Stallone to play the Last Son of Krypton. Reportedly, he was deemed too ethnic for the part, though other sources have said that Marlon Brando...
Yet while it seems every boy has dreamed of putting on the red cape and flying, the character has been remarkably hard to cast in movies. For every Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh or Henry Cavill who said yes, many more have said no. Here are 15 potential Kal-El's that never came to be.
1. Sylvester Stallone
"Yo, Lois!" After the success of "Rocky," it's no wonder that "Superman: The Movie" producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind considered Stallone to play the Last Son of Krypton. Reportedly, he was deemed too ethnic for the part, though other sources have said that Marlon Brando...
- 6/12/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
We may be in the golden age of superhero cinema, but here are some DC movies that never made it…
Naysayers would have you believe that Hollywood chucks bucket-loads of cash at any old comic book movie pitch that happens to float through their corner-office window, get stuck to their shoe or come to them miraculously as an on-the-toilet epiphany.
However, this is not the case, particularly with DC comics characters. While some films that do get made may seem like bog-fodder (oh hey, Green Lantern), there are plenty of comic adaptation pitches, in-development scripts and passion projects that have ended up not getting made for various reasons.
We had a rummage through the aeons of DC cinema history (also known as extensive Googling) and pulled together all the comic book movie projects we could find that ended up in the bin of crushed dreams for Batman, Superman and more.
Naysayers would have you believe that Hollywood chucks bucket-loads of cash at any old comic book movie pitch that happens to float through their corner-office window, get stuck to their shoe or come to them miraculously as an on-the-toilet epiphany.
However, this is not the case, particularly with DC comics characters. While some films that do get made may seem like bog-fodder (oh hey, Green Lantern), there are plenty of comic adaptation pitches, in-development scripts and passion projects that have ended up not getting made for various reasons.
We had a rummage through the aeons of DC cinema history (also known as extensive Googling) and pulled together all the comic book movie projects we could find that ended up in the bin of crushed dreams for Batman, Superman and more.
- 8/27/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Man of Steel has been described as too similar to the Batman franchise by the producer of 1978's Superman.
Director Zack Snyder's movie establishes a new continuity away from the first four Superman films and Bryan Singer's Superman Returns.
Ilya Salkind produced the original Superman film with his father Alexander Salkind and family friend Pierre Spengler.
Salkind was asked to share his thoughts on the box office blockbuster Man of Steel while out in Los Angeles over the weekend.
"It's okay," he initially replied to TMZ.
Salkind was then prompted to speak more candidly by a member of his entourage, who said that the producer actually felt that Man of Steel was "too dark".
"I think it's a little Batman-ish," Salkind then declared.
Salkind's Superman films were largely lighter in tone than Man of Steel, with the third instalment even featuring comedian Richard Pryor in a prominent role.
Director Zack Snyder's movie establishes a new continuity away from the first four Superman films and Bryan Singer's Superman Returns.
Ilya Salkind produced the original Superman film with his father Alexander Salkind and family friend Pierre Spengler.
Salkind was asked to share his thoughts on the box office blockbuster Man of Steel while out in Los Angeles over the weekend.
"It's okay," he initially replied to TMZ.
Salkind was then prompted to speak more candidly by a member of his entourage, who said that the producer actually felt that Man of Steel was "too dark".
"I think it's a little Batman-ish," Salkind then declared.
Salkind's Superman films were largely lighter in tone than Man of Steel, with the third instalment even featuring comedian Richard Pryor in a prominent role.
- 7/30/2013
- Digital Spy
I came across this 1975 Polish poster for Richard Lester’s The Three Musketeers the other day and was struck by how contemporary it looks, seemingly playing off the aesthetic of Austin Radcliffe’s hugely influential Things Organized Neatly Tumblr. Things Organized Neatly curates photographs of, well, exactly what it says, and though it covers a broad field, the overriding look is a flat arrangement of objects as if on a table photographed from directly above, like these collections of video game ephemera or men’s fall accessories or things that are blue . The idea plays off old technical illustrations like this 19th century print of surgical instruments.
Often Ton features disassemblies in which things are broken down into their composite parts and carefully arranged—like this motorcycle or this inkjet printer—which is really what this poster is doing: distilling Richard Lester’s all-star swashbuckling romp into its salient inanimate objects.
Often Ton features disassemblies in which things are broken down into their composite parts and carefully arranged—like this motorcycle or this inkjet printer—which is really what this poster is doing: distilling Richard Lester’s all-star swashbuckling romp into its salient inanimate objects.
- 3/2/2013
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
Before we get to the art let's do a quick recap. In 1987, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, which starred Christopher Reeves and Gene Hackman, performed very poorly at the box office. So bad in fact, that the film's producer, Cannon Films, would end up going bankrupt not too long afterwards. The film rights reverted back to Ilya and Alexander Salkind. In the early 90's, they attempted to create a fifth Superman film starring Reeves, which actually told the death and rebirth of Superman. That story idea predates the comic books popular, "The Death of Superman" storyline. When "The Death of Superman" comic books were published, their popularity sparked an interest from Warner Bros., who quickly scooped up the film rights in 1993 from the Salkinds, but handed them over to Jon Peters (Barbra Streisand's ex-boyfriend & ex-hair stylist). Peters and Warner Bros. would push for a family friendly, and...
- 1/21/2013
- ComicBookMovie.com
Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane... No, it’s a cheesy TV show from the 1980s. In 1988, Superboy was brought to television audiences. It was a logical move made by executive producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind (producers of the first three Superman films and the dismal Supergirl. Superboy is pretty dismal in its own right but it’s still a curious thing. It’s basically a goofy version of Smallville and season two is now available on DVD. Diehard fans of the Superman mythos will either be very pleased... or very disappointed.
Read more...
Read more...
- 12/18/2012
- by Randall Unger
- JustPressPlay.net
(Orson Welles, 1962, Studio Canal, 12)
In 1962 Orson Welles's Citizen Kane was voted the best movie of all time in Sight & Sound's second poll of international critics, a widely publicised event that encouraged the canny producer Alexander Salkind, best known now for his Superman films, to invite him to adapt one of a roster of 15 classic novels. Welles, who hadn't directed a movie since A Touch of Evil in 1958, chose Franz Kafka's 1924 novel The Trial. The picture was shot on a modest budget in France, Italy and Yugoslavia with an excellent cast headed by Anthony Perkins, an inspired choice to play Josef K, the guilt-ridden everyman arrested for an unspecified crime in an unnamed authoritarian country.
Acclaimed in France, coolly received in the English-speaking world, this monochrome masterpiece is one of Welles's finest achievements, an imaginative adaptation that captures the novel's black humour and nightmarish ambience, using grim eastern European cityscapes and the wonderfully cluttered,...
In 1962 Orson Welles's Citizen Kane was voted the best movie of all time in Sight & Sound's second poll of international critics, a widely publicised event that encouraged the canny producer Alexander Salkind, best known now for his Superman films, to invite him to adapt one of a roster of 15 classic novels. Welles, who hadn't directed a movie since A Touch of Evil in 1958, chose Franz Kafka's 1924 novel The Trial. The picture was shot on a modest budget in France, Italy and Yugoslavia with an excellent cast headed by Anthony Perkins, an inspired choice to play Josef K, the guilt-ridden everyman arrested for an unspecified crime in an unnamed authoritarian country.
Acclaimed in France, coolly received in the English-speaking world, this monochrome masterpiece is one of Welles's finest achievements, an imaginative adaptation that captures the novel's black humour and nightmarish ambience, using grim eastern European cityscapes and the wonderfully cluttered,...
- 10/13/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
For moviegoers growing up in the last 20-30 years, big is the new normal. I’m talking about those big-budget, over-produced, effects/action-packed extravaganzas that are as expected and routine an arrival as a commuter bus, and never more so than during the summer months. Come a rise in temperatures, there’s an almost ceaseless parade of these megabuck behemoths through multiplexes starting in May and continuing until the kids go back to school, one rolling out almost every week.
Consider these May-August releases and their eye-popping price tags:
5/4: Marvel’s The Avengers — $220 million
5/11: Dark Shadows — $150 million
5/18: Battleship — $209 million
5/25: Men in Black 3 — $250 million
6/8: Prometheus — $120-130 million
7/3: The Amazing Spider-Man — $220 million
7/20: The Dark Knight Rises — $250 million
7/31: Total Recall — $200 million
8/5: The Expendables 2 — $100 million
For those of you who haven’t been keeping count, that’s a little over $1.7 billion in productions...
Consider these May-August releases and their eye-popping price tags:
5/4: Marvel’s The Avengers — $220 million
5/11: Dark Shadows — $150 million
5/18: Battleship — $209 million
5/25: Men in Black 3 — $250 million
6/8: Prometheus — $120-130 million
7/3: The Amazing Spider-Man — $220 million
7/20: The Dark Knight Rises — $250 million
7/31: Total Recall — $200 million
8/5: The Expendables 2 — $100 million
For those of you who haven’t been keeping count, that’s a little over $1.7 billion in productions...
- 6/29/2012
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
It’s interesting to watch how time and again, writers, artists, moviemakers, and studio executives struggle to find ways to adapt the very first comic book super-hero. Superman was something readers (and rival publishers) had never seen before, and he served as the template for the heroic fantasy that followed these last seven decades. When you have powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, you need visionaries to bring the character from the printed page to other media. Robert Maxwell figured out how to do that with the popular radio serial. In fact, Maxwell came up with various characters and concepts that seeped into the comics, a symbiosis that made both stronger.
I was given to considering Superman in his many forms when the eight-disc Superman The Complete Anthology Blu-ray set arrived for review. Warner Home Video has taken all the previous versions and spruced them up a bit,...
I was given to considering Superman in his many forms when the eight-disc Superman The Complete Anthology Blu-ray set arrived for review. Warner Home Video has taken all the previous versions and spruced them up a bit,...
- 6/6/2011
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
#5 – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Directed by Edgar Wright
The Comic:
Creator Bryan Lee O’Malley was inspired to create the series and eponymous character of Scott Pilgrim after listening to Canadian band Plumtree’s 1998 single “Scott Pilgrim”, a song then-Plumtree singer Carla Gillis describes as “positive, but…also bitter sweet.” In particular, O’Malley was inspired by the lyric, “I’ve liked you for a thousand years”. The graphic novel consists of six digest size black-and-white volumes, released between August 2004 and July 2010, by Portland-based independent comic book publisher Oni Press. The series is about 23-year-old Canadian Scott Pilgrim, a slacker and part-time musician who lives in Toronto and plays bass guitar in the band Sex Bob-omb. He falls in love with American delivery girl Ramona Flowers, but must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her.
The Movie:
Director/producer/co-writer Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead,...
Directed by Edgar Wright
The Comic:
Creator Bryan Lee O’Malley was inspired to create the series and eponymous character of Scott Pilgrim after listening to Canadian band Plumtree’s 1998 single “Scott Pilgrim”, a song then-Plumtree singer Carla Gillis describes as “positive, but…also bitter sweet.” In particular, O’Malley was inspired by the lyric, “I’ve liked you for a thousand years”. The graphic novel consists of six digest size black-and-white volumes, released between August 2004 and July 2010, by Portland-based independent comic book publisher Oni Press. The series is about 23-year-old Canadian Scott Pilgrim, a slacker and part-time musician who lives in Toronto and plays bass guitar in the band Sex Bob-omb. He falls in love with American delivery girl Ramona Flowers, but must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her.
The Movie:
Director/producer/co-writer Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead,...
- 3/9/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
"What Could Have been", Part One, explored what might have happened if Bryan Singer had stayed on to direct X-Men: The Last Stand instead of leaving for Superman Returns. Singer's Superman was supposed to bring the beloved franchise back to the former glory it had achieved with Richard Donner's Superman and Superman II (the "Director's Cut," of course). Superman 5 is the subject of Part Two of "What Could Have Been," an unproduced sequel that would have brought Christopher Reeve back for one last turn as the Man of Steel.
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 6/30/2010 by Ryan
Alexander Salkind | Ilya Salkind | Christopher Nolan | Cary Bates | Superman Returns | Superman II | Superman | Superman IV: The Quest for Peace | Superman III...
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 6/30/2010 by Ryan
Alexander Salkind | Ilya Salkind | Christopher Nolan | Cary Bates | Superman Returns | Superman II | Superman | Superman IV: The Quest for Peace | Superman III...
- 6/30/2010
- by Ryan Gowland
- Reelzchannel.com
Now that the Robin Hood legend has been mined once more for the screen, attention has pivoted from England to France as director Paul W.S. Anderson has begun casting for The Three Musketeers, a 3-D extravaganza.
To date, he has envisioned Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief) as his D’Artagnan with Ray Stevenson (The Book of Eli), Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans) and Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood) as Porthos, Athos and Aramis, respectively.
For the villains, it’ll be Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) as Cardinal Richelieu and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Rochefort. Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings) has been offered the role of the Duke of Buckingham. Milla Jovovich, Anderson's wife, will portray Milady de Winter, Athos’ former lover.
The Alexander Dumas novel has been adapted for movies and television dating back to 1903 and was most recently seen in the crowd-pleasing 1993 Disney attempt.
To date, he has envisioned Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief) as his D’Artagnan with Ray Stevenson (The Book of Eli), Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans) and Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood) as Porthos, Athos and Aramis, respectively.
For the villains, it’ll be Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) as Cardinal Richelieu and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Rochefort. Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings) has been offered the role of the Duke of Buckingham. Milla Jovovich, Anderson's wife, will portray Milady de Winter, Athos’ former lover.
The Alexander Dumas novel has been adapted for movies and television dating back to 1903 and was most recently seen in the crowd-pleasing 1993 Disney attempt.
- 5/13/2010
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
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