Extra so than it has in fairly a while, the movie aspect of the DC Universe is gaining optimistic momentum. Recent off the information that James Gunn and Peter Safran have been named the co-CEOs of the brand new DC Studios, followers are buzzing in regards to the future. This optimistic step comes after the electrifying information that Henry Cavill is certainly again as Superman. Mixed, these strikes signify a considerable shift within the DCU, and nobody can precisely predict the way it will all play out at this stage.
Nonetheless, with Cavill’s return, “The Final Son of Krypton” is seemingly set to regain his rightful place on the forefront of DC’s movie slate. It’s exhausting to imagine, however whereas Cavill has performed the hero for practically a decade, he hasn’t been considerably concerned with a brand new challenge that includes the character since Justice League got here out in 2017. (Zack Snyder’s Justice League doesn’t actually matter.) With that in thoughts, there’s a lot untapped potential for Superman within the DCU.
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Even when one components within the quartet of flicks the place Christopher Reeves delivered his iconic portrayal and Brandon Routh’s memorable flip in Superman Returns, these movies barely scratched the floor. Quite a few traditional comedian tales might function wonderful supply materials for Cavill’s Superman challenge(s), and looking at simply three of them gives a glimpse of this wealthy nicely of potentialities.
All-Star Superman
Maybe the most effective guess could be to return to the fundamentals. The Superman followers have seen since Man of Metal has been criticized for being too darkish and violent. Borrowing from one of the beloved Superman tales of all time might assist get the character again on monitor and remind followers why he’s such a legendary hero. Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman is centered round his dying days; after he’s overexposed to photo voltaic radiation, he’s left with a yr to stay. From there, the story performs all of the hits, from Superman revealing his secret identification to Lois Lane to teaming up together with her to battle an enormous monster.
The story additionally options loads of coronary heart, as Kal-El speaks along with his father and has a climactic showdown along with his nemesis, Lex Luthor, which incorporates the villain weeping after he sees Superman’s imaginative and prescient for Earth. There’s no glad ending right here; Superman dies, so an adaptation would probably must make loads of adjustments to be able to depart room for future movies. Nonetheless, borrowing from All-Star Superman may very well be a becoming approach to showcase the principle parts of the hero and his supporting solid whereas additionally re-establishing the brilliant tone he’s recognized for.
Superman: Brainiac
A brand new Superman film is an applicable time to start out recent, so it could be higher if it avoids going again to the identical nicely of villains followers have seen earlier than. Common Zod and Lex Luther have been featured earlier than, however “The Man of Metal” has loads of fascinating antagonists to select from. Within the fashionable world, Brainiac may very well be essentially the most compelling possibility. A cross between a superb alien and a chilly, unfeeling machine, Brainiac has modified quite a bit through the years, so there are a number of variations of the character to select from. In a nutshell, he’s sometimes a extremely superior supercomputer who, at instances, has ambitions of common conquest. He additionally seeks common information regardless of his characterization as a super-genius that simply outranks even the neatest people on the planet.
As considered one of Superman’s traditional villains, he has battled the hero many instances, however Superman: Brainiac definitely packs a punch. Kal-El learns that Brainiac shrank a Kryptonian metropolis and was at fault for the deaths of quite a few Kryptonians. After all, Brainiac targets Earth, and it’s as much as Superman and Supergirl to cease him. Regardless of being a typical hero vs. alien story, this one carries loads of weight, and it is also a logical approach to deliver Supergirl into the DCU.
Superman: President Luthor
As talked about, Luthor has been featured in a number of films, as Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, and Jesse Eisenberg have performed him through the years, to not point out Michael Rosenbaum’s televised portrayal on Smallville. However there’s a motive the villain has a lot endurance; he’s the right foil to Superman. The motives behind his hatred of the hero have diverse through the years, however most of the time, it boils all the way down to a battle of fine and evil.
This wrestle could be magnified if the following Superman film borrows from the “President Luthor” storyline. Because the identify suggests, Luthor turns into the president of the USA and makes use of his energy to make Superman’s life a dwelling hell. He additionally learns of Kal-El’s human identification and makes use of it towards him whereas additionally trying to leverage an alien invasion into an try and make himself appear to be an almighty chief. There are many choices with this story alone; the DCU might maintain it considerably grounded and deal with President Luthor’s misdeeds on the nationwide degree, or it might go so far as the aforementioned battle with aliens. Both manner, leaning on “President Luthor” could be a dynamic path ahead that would cement Luthor as a heinous villain and shine a lightweight on Superman’s patriotism.
These are only a few examples, and there are numerous different Superman tales that would function nice foundations for the hero’s return to the DCU. Whether or not it’s enjoying the hits, spotlighting a brand new villain, or revisiting Superman’s nemesis, the chances are limitless, and there’s good motive to assume that any variety of them might assist flip “The Man of Metal” again right into a beloved character.
