Superman

Nolan Meeting With Potential Superman Directors

Posted on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 2:07 am by George

Deadline‘s Mike Flemming is reporting that Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are meeting with a short list of potential directors to helm the upcoming Superman reboot, supposedly titled The Man of Steel. Rumored prospects include Tony Scott (Unstoppable, Man On Fire), Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Cloverfield), Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning), Duncan Jones (Source Code, Moon), and Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Watchmen). That list is a tad uninspired, although most seem to have intriguing projects yet to be released. My pick of the lot is Matt Reeves, based on the very strong early word for Let Me In. Perhaps Duncan Jones, but I was not much impressed with his debut film, Moon.

Meetings with the shortlist have reportedly already started up, and Nolan will submit his choice(s) to Warner Bros. in the coming weeks. Deadline also mentions a major DC characters announcement is just four weeks away (Batman 3, finally?). And with that 2012 deadline for The Man of Steel‘s release looming (or WB will lose the rights to creator Jerry Siegel), some official word should be out soon.

Tags: Christopher Nolan, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Liebesman, Matt Reeves, Superman, Tony Scott, Zack Snyder
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Chee

Moon was a great debut film.
Jay Dave

Yes, Man who made Moon would be awesome! ;D
http://www.nolanfans.com TeddyBlass

I agree with ya George, Matt Reeves is the front-runner on that list for me – far and away. Moon had the markings of a debut filmmaker all over it, and I don’t think Jones is worthy of such an important franchise.
psykomyko

I completely disagree, Duncan Jones would be my pick for it. And, not worthy??? Come on. So was Christopher Nolan at the time worthy of taking the Batman franchise? In my book, he would be great for it. WB needs to take the risk, just like they did when they gave the Batman franchise to Nolan.
GC

Duncan Jones! or Darren Aronofsky!
http://www.nolanfans.com TeddyBlass

Nolan had already directed 3 feature films by then, all of which critically acclaimed, one of which was nominated for multiple Oscars.

Let’s not say giving Superman to Jones is the same as giving Batman to Nolan.

Anyways, Reeves is clearly the stronger choice. At least that’s how I see it.
Sama-El Prime

Two words: Zack Snyder
If he directed it, it would be hell of an amazing new Superman! Are you listening Mr. Nolan? Zack Snyder
Jackson

Does this mean his brother won’t be doing it?
http://www.nolanfans.com George

@Sama-El Prime
Until Snyder can learn to direct actors and craft more organic scenes, I don’t want to see him tackle something this revered. Perhaps it stemmed from him sticking so closely to source material in both structure and shot composition for Watchmen and 300. But Sucker Punch’s trailer isn’t convincing me otherwise.
Miranda Fox

I think George has adequately covered by Snyder should not be allowed anywhere near Man of Steel. Unless he goes back to the style he used in Dawn of the Dead, which doesn’t seem very likely.

Either Jones or Reeves would be fine choices.
http://www.nolanfans.com TeddyBlass

I don’t see why Snyder wouldn’t go back to his DOTD/pre-hyper-real days. Especially if it was something Nolan and WB wanted him to do.
http://christophernolan.forumfree.it/ Slask

Gosh, i really do hope Zack Snyder is not on that list… Watchmen is the clear signal he CANNOT direct adaptations of serious comic books.. let him make 300 and sequels, he already ruined Watchmen.
Is this list truly provided by Nolan himself? I think Duncan Jones is the best among those names.
Dagn96

Matt Reeves or Duncan Jones. But Jones is my first choice. No doubt about it
Matt

Duncan Jones please. Not that I would have anything against Matt Reeves but what does he have over Duncan Jones? Some people make it sound like he has directed a ton of great movies. We will see if Let Me In gets as great of feedback from moviegoers as it is getting so far from critics.
http://www.nolanfans.com TeddyBlass

Reeves has experience. Whether you agree that experience was on good projects or not, it counts for something. The Pallbearer is better than it gets credit for, and his work on TV shows is a benefit when it comes to something like this, which is going to have a lot of producers and creative input from various sources. This isn’t like working on an indie movie written and directed by yourself – there are a lot of people to deal with. Not saying that Jones can’t handle it, but I’m sure it’s something WB considers when handing over a $200m franchise.
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rbevanx

Only two good filmmakers on that list Matt Reeves and Duncan Jones aka Zowie Bowie lol, both would be very good choices.

Think Darren Aronofsky is a good shout out by a previous poster on here.

Rian Johnson, Shane Carruth, Carl Erik Rinsch, John Hillcoat, Tom Tykwer would be others that would be on my list with Paul Andrew Williams.

But if it had to be someone on that list then it should be Duncan Jones. If you watch Moon and see how well made that was with a limited budget and great use of miniture in his film, then you would see why they are thinking about him after just one film.
He’s not in the business because of his father, he’s there because he’s talented a talented filmmaker in his own right.
Christophmac

It has to be Duncan Jones in my opinion.
lew

Bring on David Fincher
Sterling

Tony Scott looks exactly like Michael Caine in that picture
Miles

David Fincher would be interesting. Plus hes probably going to need to rebound creatively from how horrible the social network looks. Id go with anyone on the list except Snyder. Watchman was no where near as good as it should have been, nor was Dawn of the Dead.
http://nolanfans.com aravindha

I think that Duncan Jones should get the job. I thought moon was brilliant he might be able to pull it off.
Matt

How horrible The Social Network looks? I wasn’t impressed but it will get nominated for Best Picture and if it gets nominated does he really have to rebound from it?
http://www.nolanfans.com George

Hmm… I was looking through Duncan Jones’s Twitter account and look what he posted a week ago:

“So excited right now. Sitting in newly finished office, writing top, top secret project. Got everything crossed this is the next film.”

It’s most likely the Mute project, but intriguing nonetheless.
rbevanx

@George

It’s funny you should say that

From Joblo.com

The first Reeves said he heard of his attachment to SUPERMAN was when a fan came up to him at Fantastic Fest and told him about it. “I was surprised,” he told us in an interview that will air next week on the AITH Podcast. “I really have no idea if any of that is true. It’s certainly an amazing project, but I would be surprised…”

Didn’t deny it though and I think this story is true now lol

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=34014
sinception

http://www.collider.com/2010/09/27/darren-aronofsky-director-superman-the-man-of-steel/
SouthofSideways

Moon was a fantastic and powerful film! I was pissed when it didn’t get any nominations at the Academy Awards.

Zack Snyder – the guy has great vision, but he’ll want Superman to be R-rated and every action scene will have that overdone slow motion signature of his with that sepia overlay.

People have mentioned Aronofsky – and I’m all for that, he’s one of my favourites! Truly under-rated talent right there.
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