[Solar]

original link: http://www.empireonl...y.asp?NID=23521

Exclusive: Mark Millar Talks Superman
Pitches his 'Magnum Opus' to Empire
Mark Millar wants to create an epic 8-hour screen story which will follow the entire life of Kal-El from his birth on Krypton a thousand years ago, until he is the last being left on Earth.


Empire sat down for a chat with comic book writer and creator Millar, the man behind Wanted and the upcoming Kick-Ass, and he filled us in on his pitch for the follow-up to Superman Returns.

Mark has been working closely with a ‘big-Hollywood action director’ – who he refuses to name at this stage – on a pitch for what he is calling the Magnum Opus of Superman stories. His idea is for an 8-hour saga, split into 3 films to be released a year apart, in a Lord of the Rings fashion. Although several other sources have reported similar conversations with Mark, he went into further detail, fleshing out the story arc a little more.

“It’s gonna be like Michael Corleone in the Godfather films, the entire story from beginning to end, you see where he starts, how he becomes who he becomes, and where that takes him. The Dark Knight showed you can take a comic book property and make a serious film, and I think the studios are ready to listen to bigger ideas now.”

“The problem with Superman Returns was like releasing Star Wars in ’77, The Empire Strikes Back in ’80 and then waiting 28 years to release Return of the Jedi, it wasn’t relevant. I understand what Bryan Singer was trying to do, to pay homage to Richard Donner’s original vision, but I think you should pay homage by doing something completely different.”

“I want to start on Krypton, a thousand years ago, and end with Superman alone on Planet Earth, the last being left on the planet, as the yellow sun turns red and starts to supernova, and he loses his powers."

Certainly no-one can ever say that Millar lacks vision and if he and his ‘bigHollywoodaction director’ friend get backing for the project, and we certainly hope they do, it might just prove to be the Godfather of superhero films.

Wanted is out now on DVD, and is relased on Blu-Ray December 1.

Dan Goodswen

[Waycos]

That actually sounds awesome.

[Malone]

I think it would be pretty darn good, and with the fact that most things Miller touches turns to amazing, I am all for it.

I also think I should play Superman.

*Puts his hands on his hips and puffs out his chest*

[Solar]

If this came to fruition I would give it every benefit of the doubt and prepay for the trioligy.

[Waycos]

you think just 3 movies? I'm thinking 4. Each movie at least 2 hours, and probably a bit over.

[Solar]

he said in the article he wanted 3 movies so that's where I got that from.

[Farangu]

Certainly an epic-sounding project.

If this actually happens though, I really have to wonder how much further the "comic-to-movie" market can stretch.

[Cybercat]

Superman is the most boring superhero of them all. If they make this I'll wait until it's on tv, I won't spend money on it.

[Joe Dalton]

Superman is the most boring superhero of them all. If they make this I'll wait until it's on tv, I won't spend money on it.

Clearly you don't know enough superhero's.
This sounds pretty cool, I'd watch it. I didn't enjoy superman returns though. It felt more like a movie of "shots" than a story.

[Waycos]

I think one of the coolest things they ever did with Superman was have him fight Darkseid. And how he talks about finally being able to cut loose cause Darkseid could take it.. they did a great slow motion punch where you see him breaking the sound barrier with his fist and then the shockwave aftermath.

[Paddy0]

I think one of the coolest things they ever did with Superman was have him fight Darkseid. And how he talks about finally being able to cut loose cause Darkseid could take it.. they did a great slow motion punch where you see him breaking the sound barrier with his fist and then the shockwave aftermath.

Agreed, also the scenes where he punches Darkseid through buildings only to be waiting around the other side to slam him into the pavement, thats damn cool.

[Katesickle]

I'm not a big superman fan, but this sounds like its made of epic win.

[Scarlet Speedster]

Millar has had some fantastic ideas in the past, and as far as constructing the big picture for a Superman epic I bet he'd be great. He would however need either a co-writer, or to pass the screenplay off to someone else to write it. Dialogue has always been a weakness for him as a writer, and he tends to make everyone a smug arrogant prick (cue pot-kettle retort).

This is hardly the first time he's attempted to win the job though, and he's been rejected in the past. Perhaps after the success of Wanted (even though it varied heavily from the source material actually written by Millar), and seeing how Kick-Ass performs, he may have a little more clout. Honestly though, I just don't see it happening.

[The Literary]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

I'm sorry, I just thought I heard someone say they could chronicle Supermans life in 3 movies.

The Doomsday battle would take at least one movie, two if you wanted to give a real focus on the False Superman's who appeared afterwards. Darkseid and Brainiac 13 would each need one movie, and Lex Luthor has the potential for at least 2, one as his usual businessman, and a sequel involving the time he became an actual Supervillian. Then there's his more recent dealings with the Phantom Krypton.

In all, I think it would take 20 movies to capture the true essence of Supes' life. And that's not counting the Justice League.

[Waycos]

You wouldn't need the JLA if you just wanted to capture his essence. And you wouldn't need every big story since you'd just be wanting his essence, and not every single detail.

[redtangerine]

Millar has had some fantastic ideas in the past, and as far as constructing the big picture for a Superman epic I bet he'd be great. He would however need either a co-writer, or to pass the screenplay off to someone else to write it. Dialogue has always been a weakness for him as a writer, and he tends to make everyone a smug arrogant prick (cue pot-kettle retort).

This is hardly the first time he's attempted to win the job though, and he's been rejected in the past. Perhaps after the success of Wanted (even though it varied heavily from the source material actually written by Millar), and seeing how Kick-Ass performs, he may have a little more clout. Honestly though, I just don't see it happening.

Everytime I think of Mark Millar I think of the Hulk threatening to rape Freddie Prinze Jr. So I agree with SS there when he says that dialogue is Millar's weakness.

[ForgottenCode]

Wanted was a terrible movie, even if it did well. But I've been told it was nothing like the graphic novel. Still, I'm weary.

[Malcontent]

Hmmmm. I've always been a fan of Superman, since I was a little kid. But at the same time, I have to agree he can seem a little bland if not done right.

I'd definitely see Millar's pitch on it, but I'd not expect it to follow comics continuity particularly (read: at all), nor view his work as canon any more than I view Donner or Singer's work as canon. It would simply be fun to watch him fly around doing stuff. Only PLEASE make that stuff more interesting than just lifting things. I would definitely want to see a real, proper battle with another being of comparable power, including the attendant collateral damage. THAT would make the film(s) worth seeing.

[redtangerine]

Hmmmm. I've always been a fan of Superman, since I was a little kid. But at the same time, I have to agree he can seem a little bland if not done right.

I'd definitely see Millar's pitch on it, but I'd not expect it to follow comics continuity particularly (read: at all), nor view his work as canon any more than I view Donner or Singer's work as canon. It would simply be fun to watch him fly around doing stuff. Only PLEASE make that stuff more interesting than just lifting things. I would definitely want to see a real, proper battle with another being of comparable power, including the attendant collateral damage. THAT would make the film(s) worth seeing.

Of course, knowing Millar, he would make Superman a racist, because hey, why wouldn't Superman be racist? And his Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen would swear constantly and talk like 14 year olds before Lois sleeps with Jimmy because, hey, why not? People have lots of indiscriminate sex, right? Also, Perry White is now a wifebeater alcoholic who Superman will have to beat up, then call him names and take cheap shots at White once he's down.

However, in Millar's defense, he can write some epic battle sequences (though if he actually writes them or they're his artist's interpretations are unknown) so if it promises to have some fights with Darkseid or Doomsday or the like, I'd still probably give it a shot.

This post has been edited by redtangerine: 06 January 2009 - 03:52 PM

[Waycos]

Actually, if he really did that, I'd totally watch it.