It’s probably a safe bet to make that 11 months from now – June 14, 2013 – movie theaters will be packed for the latest incarnation of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) and produced by The Dark Knight Trilogy director Christopher Nolan, who also wrote the screenplay with David S. Goyer, the movie’s first public outing at Comic-Con earlier this month was well-received, bringing one life-long fan to tears, comforted by panel moderator Chris Hardwick, who pulled himself together to ask Snyder and star Henry Cavill about the movie’s villain, a question Synder dodged. (Incidentally, it’s been long-reported that General Zod is the villain, portrayed by Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon.)
While the footage Snyder showed only to those in the Warner Bros. Hall H Comic-Con presentation gave no solid answer about the villain, what played was very similar in style and tone with the two newly released trailers that played with The Dark Knight Rises.
Both set to the haunting and ethereal song “The Bridge of Khazad Dum” from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, one trailer includes narration from Clark Kent’s earthly father, Jonathan – played by Kevin Costner – telling his son that one day, he’s “going to have to make a choice,” a line very indicative of Clark’s journey this time around.
The second trailer includes the same exact footage as the first, only in this one, we hear Jor-El – played by Oscar® winner Russell Crowe – Superman’s biological, Kryptonian father. Telling his son that he will, in time, “help them accomplish wonders,” the trailer mirrors the first in its message that Clark has to accept his destiny.
At Comic-Con, the 29-year-old Cavill – best known for The Immortals and Showtime’s “The Tudors” – told the crowd of thousands that he has definitely felt the pressure wearing the famous cape. ”I just really really hope that I’ve done everything that I need to do to please you guys because this is entirely, 100 percent for you.”
Citing the three-issue comic book series “Red Son” as inspiration for its “different viewpoint,” Cavill says he also turned to “The Death of Superman” story and the “Returns” series. ”I felt that they really clarified what Superman is and what length he’s willing to go to, and then different aspects of the character and the perceptions of people on Superman.”
“I felt like Superman kind of needed to be reintroduced to a generation,” Snyder says, explaining their approach to the decades-old character first portrayed on the big screen in 1951 by George Reeves, then by Christopher Reeve in four movies from 1978-1987, and finally with Brandon Routh in 2006. ”Even though we love the films that have been made…when we approached it we had to say, ‘This is Superman for the first time.’”
That also means no John Williams music – “Hans [Zimmer] is going to do something awesome,” Snyder promises – and, if you listen to the director, this movie doesn’t follow one specific plot from the comic book, calling it a “mashing of stories.”
Man of Steel also stars Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Diane Lane as Martha Kent.
