'Superman Returns' - the future of the franchise

Singer, Spacey and Routh discuss what's next for the Man of Steel.

Jul 13 2006

'Superman Returns' is without doubt the best blockbuster of the summer thus far, and yesterday I caught up with the director and cast to discuss the potential for a sequel (with slight spoilers).

Superman himself, Brandon Routh, said: 'I want the story to continue where it's going. I think that Superman in another film would be happy at the start, so that would make a nice change. He'd be feeling good about himself, centred, and feel like he belongs, which is important and will make him even more powerful and strong.

'Also now, because of his current state of affairs, he's more connected to the earth, which could also make him more powerful. I don't know how you'd show that, but he has a deeper respect for earth and humanity because of his connection to humanity through blood.

'And I'm an eternal optimist, so I think Superman and Lois should be together at some point. The dramatic way to do that is to wait a while, but I think it might be interesting to find a way for them to get together quickly and still make it interesting to keep it going. It would be a challenge but it would be a breakthrough for films of this nature.'

Sounds like Mr Routh is keen, but what of dastardly villain Lex Luthor, aka Kevin Spacey.

'You have to look at this as chapter one' he told Time Out. 'So if in fact there will be a second one, and they haven't actually told us yet but one would hope, you know it's going to go somewhere – I know Bryan and the writers that we worked with are so clear about things they want to introduce.'

Singer wouldn't be drawn on what those 'things' might be, simply stating: 'I'd be very judicious about bringing in lots of other characters…but I'm very story oriented, so whatever serves the story.'

He was more forthcoming about the current flick however, describing a 2hour 45minute version of 'Superman Returns' that will be released on DVD with several extended scenes and a touching sequence revolving around Clark and his mother Martha on the Kent farm.

More exciting still, the director revealed that he shot a spectacular return to Krypton sequence that was cut form the film, but may end up on a 3D IMAX version of 'Superman Returns' somewhere down the line (for more details of this scene, head to our Brandon Routh interview).

So it sounds like the celluloid future is bright for the Man of Steel. Check back to The TOMB for extended interviews with Singer, Spacey and Routh later this week, and look out for 'Superman Returns' in cinemas from tomorrow. 

• 
•