The Daily Planet - Superman News and Speculation Thread

[Boy Scout]

Travis Knight is still my first choice, but I'd also like to see a woman take a crack at it. Don't have any ideas as to who just yet, though.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Travis Knight is still my first choice, but I'd also like to see a woman take a crack at it. Don't have any ideas as to who just yet, though.

I liked Kubo and Bumblebee on first view of each, loved Kubo and the two Strings on second view, so I can get behind wanting Travis Knight to direct Superman.

 

[Boy Scout]

I liked Kubo and Bumblebee on first view of each, loved Kubo and the two Strings on second view, so I can get behind wanting Travis Knight to direct Superman.

Bumblebee was very good. Never finished Kudo, but I think it got good reviews.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Bumblebee was very good. Never finished Kudo, but I think it got good reviews.

I definitely recommend giving Kubo & the Two Strings a second watch.

 

[Hurm...]

From solely a story perspective, the thematic potential of having a black Superman (feeling like an outsider especially in white-dominated Kansas, trying to assimilate into that world growing up, etc) would just hold even GREATER weight within the narrative — as opposed maintaining Superman’s original race. It’s actually a smart decision (even just on a story level) for creating a fresh take on this character, and I’m very excited to see their iteration.

 

[Prison Mike]

Wouldn’t it just be redundant because he already feels like an outsider for being an alien. So now he feels like an outsider for being black and being an alien. Even if he goes to a black community, he would still feel like an outsider because at the end of the day...he’s an alien.

 

[Hurm...]

Wouldn’t it just be redundant because he already feels like an outsider for being an alien. So now he feels like an outsider for being black and being an alien. Even if he goes to a black community, he would still feel like an outsider because at the end of the day...he’s an alien.

It would add greater social and political relevancy that wouldn’t be there if he was just a white character. Plus, on a story level, it adds further conflict to the character which is always a benefit when shaping a mythic-type figure. It grounds the character in present-day struggles as opposed to just conforming to the thematic broad strokes of an “alien feeling like an outsider” — which we’ve already seen done in previous iterations.

 

[writer0327]

Wouldn’t it just be redundant because he already feels like an outsider for being an alien. So now he feels like an outsider for being black and being an alien. Even if he goes to a black community, he would still feel like an outsider because at the end of the day...he’s an alien.

Right. The outsider alien was covered in Man of Steel, so its retreading old ground covered already. Not only that, but now it's just another black struggle movie, superhero edition.

 

[Boom]

This idea is interesting, but I confess I'm not a huge Superman fan in general so this doesn't hit as close to home for me personally.

Reading up in the two, I kinda feel like I'd prefer Val Zod over Calvin Ellis.

 

[Detective Conan]

I don’t ever want a black person cast as Batman, not because they couldn’t be right for the character, but because I find it hard to buy that he would be able to survive a single night fighting crime when you have all these trigger-happy cops out on the streets.

I’m afraid it would hurt my suspension of disbelief.

 

[Boom]

I don’t ever want a black person cast as Batman, not because they wouldn’t be right for the character, but because I find it hard to buy that he would be able the survive a single night fighting crime when you have all these trigger-happy cops out on the streets.

I’m afraid it would make hurt my suspension of disbelief.

I want to laugh at this but it's not wrong. :/

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Wouldn’t it just be redundant because he already feels like an outsider for being an alien. So now he feels like an outsider for being black and being an alien. Even if he goes to a black community, he would still feel like an outsider because at the end of the day...he’s an alien.

That... actually sounds really interesting? That doesn’t sound redundant, that sounds layered.

I just don’t see any aspect of this that’s a problem. If race is part of the story, great, it’s an interesting topic and a unique twist this one time 80+ years into the characters existence. If he’s black and it’s never referenced? Whatever, I’m sure the actor they pick will be the right person for the job on an artistic level.

What Superman looks like could not be less meaningful to me. As long as he’s a handsome, well-built charming man.

 

[dhandler01]

Thing is this decision (if it happens) will be like anything else...there will be a ton of uproar, then the film will come out, and if it is even halfway decent no one will care after. People fear change...but once it is even slightly normalized in their head it stops being a big deal.

If the film is well written and well made the majority won't care what race Superman is when it is all said and done.

 

[Boom]

The "outsider" aspect to Superman is usually more internalized. The racial angle externalizes things a bit, which is a new dynamic to the character. Especially if we are talking about a black Clark Kent raised in rural Kansas.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

From solely a story perspective, the thematic potential of having a black Superman (feeling like an outsider especially in white-dominated Kansas, trying to assimilate into that world growing up, etc) would just hold even GREATER weight within the narrative — as opposed maintaining Superman’s original race. It’s actually a smart decision (even just on a story level) for creating a fresh take on this character, and I’m very excited to see their iteration.

The question is will they tackle this subject? And not just something to gloss over whenever it's a plot convenience without managing it properly throughout the story, and could it possibly be so prominent it overshadows what's devised to be the main topic of the film?

I don’t ever want a black person cast as Batman, not because they wouldn’t be right for the character, but because I find it hard to buy that he would be able to survive a single night fighting crime when you have all these trigger-happy cops out on the streets.

I’m afraid it would hurt my suspension of disbelief.

Stan Lee made his version of Batman black and he survived, and made Batman vs Superman without having them battle each other and be a jarring confrontation.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

This idea is interesting, but I confess I'm not a huge Superman fan in general so this doesn't hit as close to home for me personally.

Reading up in the two, I kinda feel like I'd prefer Val Zod over Calvin Ellis.

Either would be disappointing (though I like both!) but Val Zod strikes me as the more dynamic character. President Superman feels... a bit weird to me, for a whole variety of reasons.

 

[Boom]

Either would be disappointing (though I like both!) but Val Zod strikes me as the more dynamic character. President Superman feels... a bit weird to me, for a whole variety of reasons.

If they're going for relatability that's where Calvin Ellis loses me a bit.

But I guess Black Panther navigated the concept of a superhero/world leader well enough that I shouldn't let that dissuade me.

 

[Hurm...]

I mean, imagine that scene in Man of Steel where young Clark is getting attacked by bullies and doesn’t stand up for himself. And then that talk with Pa Kent regarding that situation. Now, imagine that happening to a young, black Clark throughout his life in Kansas — someone who has the superhuman ability to combat the situation but can’t because of his social standing. He has to fold into his role as not just a human — but as a young black man. It just adds greater depth to the Superman story.

There’s a lot more dynamism thematically and plot-wise that can come out of making Clark into a black character.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

If they're going for relatability that's where Calvin Ellis loses me a bit.

But I guess Black Panther navigated the concept of a superhero/world leader well enough that I shouldn't let that dissuade me.

When dealing with the actual US and not a fictional kingdom it feels different to me. I’m just not massively interested in the whole concept. I’m perfectly fine with the movie being political, ‘divisive’ generally just means having something to say and filmmakers shouldn’t be afraid of it, but there’s a weird Obama era ultra romanticized power fantasy to the concept that doesn’t click with me beyond being a fun detail in Final Crisis.

I would specifically trust Coates with that element though.

 

[Boom]

In terms of what I'd like:

1. Val Zod
2. Clark Kent
3. Calvin Ellis

 

[Boy Scout]

Wouldn’t it just be redundant because he already feels like an outsider for being an alien. So now he feels like an outsider for being black and being an alien. Even if he goes to a black community, he would still feel like an outsider because at the end of the day...he’s an alien.

It wouldn’t be redundant at all. For one thing, film is a visual medium. An easy way to communicate the character’s feelings of isolation and otherness would be to cast a person of color and juxtapose him with the people of the historically white Smallville.

 

[Boom]

I mean, imagine that scene in Man of Steel where young Clark is getting attacked by bullies and doesn’t stand up for himself. And then that talk with Pa Kent regarding that situation. Now, imagine that happening to a young, black Clark throughout his life in Kansas — someone who has the superhuman ability to combat the situation but can’t because of his social standing. He has to fold into his role as not just a human — but as a young black man. It just adds greater depth to the Superman story.

There’s a lot more dynamism thematically and plot-wise that can come out of making Clark into a black character.

Said this better than I could.

 

[Hurm...]

It wouldn’t be redundant at all. For one thing, film is a visual medium. An easy way to communicate the character’s feelings of isolation and otherness would be to cast a person of color and juxtapose him with the people of the historically white Smallville.

Exactly

 

[Frodo]

Wouldn’t it just be redundant because he already feels like an outsider for being an alien. So now he feels like an outsider for being black and being an alien. Even if he goes to a black community, he would still feel like an outsider because at the end of the day...he’s an alien.

Which makes his struggle even more compelling not less. He's got two times the struggle, and it's hard for me to see how that makes him less interesting. If anything that only strengthens the narrative not weaken it.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Would you keep Ma and Pa Kent white? That would make for an interesting dynamic as well.