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.
...do Superman some justice... Superman Returns just felt a bit pedestrian... Why bother with another Lex Luthor story? Why bother with the kid (that was soooo stupid) and why not give Superman something more 'super' to deal with than falling spaceships and some loony story line about krytonite islands... Give us a good baddy... Metallio or Doomsday or something meaty. WHY make it so serious? ... Read More
Thank you. Glad to know I'm not alone. In fact, I enjoyed Superman Returns very much. I do, however, believe that Superman deserves a grander, more epic depiction. I just hope that this is not the route they would take. I agree with you that Superman should not end as bleakly as this.
The last words on Superman should always be "hope" and "hero." ... Read More
I loved SR but I'd love to see a Mark Millar trilogy as well.
Just like the 1930's the world needs the hope Superman provides at the moment !!!
To the execs at Warner and DC we need your best efforts, including director, writer, story, cast and crew and we need them now (or as soon a humanly possible).
... Read More
L: KeithM
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
You're absolutely right, so why did it receive five star reviews and have everyone single person working in the cinema i was working in at the time think it was the second coming???????
ou'll have to ask the reviewers that. Did you know they gave Indy IV 4 stars, even after the backlash of the 5 star SR review. No shame. No ethics.
As for people liking it - re popular than e Go figure.
sp;
Oh and I like IndyIV as well !! ... Read More
L: Just Another Guy
I'm aware that Superman is potentially immortal. But he shouldn't live forever. Canon doesn't matter, considering it changes regularly. It's senseless, IMO. Superman grew up normally. He should age. He should eventually die. If that's the total opposite of what DC has established, I blame DC.
I know this is a matter of opinion, but expecting me to change my mind is pointless. This "super-evolved human race" nonsense would make the story even more ridiculous. Jor-El... Read More
I'm aware that Superman is potentially immortal. But he shouldn't live forever. Canon doesn't matter, considering it changes regularly. It's senseless, IMO. Superman grew up normally. He should age. He should eventually die. If that's the total opposite of what DC has established, I blame DC.
I know this is a matter of opinion, but expecting me to change my mind is pointless. This "super-evolved human race" nonsense would make the story even more ridiculous. Jor-El's "great peo... Read More
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
You're absolutely right, so why did it receive five star reviews and have everyone single person working in the cinema i was working in at the time think it was the second coming???????
ou'll have to ask the reviewers that. Did you know they gave Indy IV 4 stars, even after the backlash of the 5 star SR review. No shame. No ethics.
As for people liking it - re popular than e Go figure.
... Read More
L: Mason Verger
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
L: Mason Verger
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
We don't really need another Superman movie, i mean, we've had 5 already!
We do because he's only been done well twice (in Superman 1 and 2). man film that combines ideas from the comic books with modern film technology has the potential to be something really special.
]
hat what returns was supposed to be? Look how that turned out! like that character has had its screen d... Read More
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
L: Mason Verger
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
We don't really need another Superman movie, i mean, we've had 5 already!
We do because he's only been done well twice (in Superman 1 and 2). man film that combines ideas from the comic books with modern film technology has the potential to be something really special.
]
hat what returns was supposed to be? Look how that turned out! like that character has had its screen due, like Batman, ENOU... Read More
L: Mason Verger
L: DONOVAN KURTWOOD
We don't really need another Superman movie, i mean, we've had 5 already!
sp;
We do because he's only been done well twice (in Superman 1 and 2). man film that combines ideas from the comic books with modern film technology has the potential to be something really special.
]
isn't that what returns was supposed to be? Look how that turned out! I feel like that character has had its screen due, like Batman, ENO... Read More
