Thoughts on 'Superman' reboot, '24' as a movie, and the 2010 blockbuster

Today has turned a lot of movie rumors into facts.  Especially with the Superman franchise and the popular television show 24.  Just about everyone on the planet knew that Superman would eventually be brought back to the screen.  24 has been in talks to go on the big screen for the last year and it now looks like FOX is ready to put that plan into motion.  If these two properties are going to do this, they better do it fast.

24 is currently in its eighth season and has been one of the top television shows in the last decade.  It has a loyal following and a great cast.  The concept is that every season represents 24 hours of real time on the show.  It's an angle that has worked very well and ratings have steadily increased since the first season and continue to hold strong.  However, this season is dipping just a bit.  Which may be why the movie topic has crept back into the conversation.

Recent history shows that around the eighth season, the most popular television shows start to lose their audience.  Even the almighty X-Files had to deal with a big drop from its seventh to eighth season.  Which eventually led to the series ending.  Now the X-Files did go the movie route as well, but did it right in the middle of their great television run.  That movie was well-received and increased viewership for the next couple seasons.  24 is in a position where perhaps the movie platform could attract new audiences and further its shelf-life.

Can this unique storytelling format work on the big screen?  Most likely.  Plus, the theme of dealing with anti-terrorism seems to be a popular choice with audiences lately.  Just look at the recent success of The Hurt Locker.  Now the plot isn't exactly the same, but the genre is something audiences want to see played out on screen.  Every product needs a shot-in-the-arm so stop the talks about a ninth season and develop the movie.  FOX has already seen a screenplay from State of Play writer Billy Ray and have asked him to continue to work the script. 

Did you ever think that a movie that made over $200 million at the domestic box office would ever be in jeopardy of having future installments?  Even the man-of-steel couldn't overcome the power of studio execs.  The most recent Superman flick, Superman Returns, cost about $215 million to produce for the big screen back in 2006.  It's domestic run barely covered the cost and the overall response was luke-warm from critics and audiences.  So what's the popular move by a studio?  Reboot of a reboot!

The last solid Superman flick was Superman II back in 1980.  Yeah, when technology was worthless (go figure).  So how could 2006's version be so off with all the "toys" directors and producers have to play with?  It comes down to story, story, story!  Brandon Routh was a great casting choice for Superman.  Even the rest of the cast was serviceable.  The problem...Bryan Singer.  Keep this guy away from this newest creation.  He focused on all the wrong elements in 2006.  So as of today, Christopher Nolan is playing the mentor role for Warner Bros. with the next Superman adaptation.

if one hasn't heard of Nolan, he's responsible for the resurrection of the Batman franchise.  Which is another DC comic property.  He probably won't be directing, but he will be "overseeing."  Similar to the role Steven Spielberg did with George Lucas over the years and/or currently what Peter Jackson is doing with Guillermo del Toro on The Hobbit.  With Nolan at the helm, perhaps fanboys will get the realism and darker approach that just about everyone loved in The Dark Knight.  If they do go that route, then a complete re-imagining of the Superman persona will be necessary.  Batman is naturally a dark character, so it was an easy transition.  Superman won't be that easy to transform but perhaps this goes back to that shot-in-the-arm strategy that this franchise needs.

(End of geek rant).

Final thoughts revolve around what will be 2010's big blockbuster.  Every year usually has two flicks that standout and make a ton of money at the box office.  2009 was the obvious Avatar and Transformers 2.  This year it's kind of wide open.  My early predictions is that Iron Man 2 will be in the role of last year's Transformers.  It will gross a ton of money but won't be as well-received as the first one.  For the movie that everyone will love and also make a ton of money at the box office, that is still open for discussion.  So discuss Tampa...