DC'S GREGORY NOVECK, PART 2: "MAN OF STEEL" & "JUSTICE LEAGUE"

by Edward Gross

With an announcement of casting reportedly coming within the next couple of weeks, director George Miller’s take on Justice League should be in front of the cameras in Australia early next year for a 2009 release. In the second part of our interview with DC’s Gregory Noveck, we discuss the power of the Justice League script written by Kiernan and Michele Mulroney, as well as the fate of Bryan Singer’s sequel to Superman Returns, Man of Steel. Look for Noveck’s views of the new line of made-for-DVD DC animated movies, particularly Justice League: New Frontier, in the next issue of Movie Magic magazine (on sale December 17^th) and, at about the same time, on this site.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: There are so many rumors on the Internet, including that Bryan Singer’s Man of Steel is not happening. Is that film still on the table?

GREGORY NOVECK: Oh, yeah, absolutely.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: Well, the word is that it’s been put on “indefinite hold” because of Justice League.

GREGORY NOVECK: That’s not true. The reason that Justice League is powering forward first is because the script came in and it was phenomenal.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: It’s really that good?

GREGORY NOVECK: It is, and that very rarely happens in Hollywood on a movie of this scale, and when it does you have no choice but to say, “We’d better catch lightning in a bottle and go!” All of a sudden, six months later, who knows what’s going to happen? You want to hold on to those writers, you’ve got massive interest from directors, you land someone like George Miller, so you go. And in the middle of it all, you’ve got Bryan going off to make another movie, which was a passion project of his. When he comes back, we’ll dive right in to Man of Steel. We’re scripting and it’s going to happen. We’re not going to make it until the script is great, but we’ll get there one way or the other and it’s not going to take nine years.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: I think Bryan has said this himself, but the difference between Superman Returns and Man of Steel needs to be the difference between Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Wrath of Khan.

GREGORY NOVECK: I think that’s accurate, absolutely. But I think what Superman Returns did was that, at the very least, it brought the character back to the forefront and got people talking about him. The thing with Batman is that Batman will always be cool because he’s an iteration of your Id. He a cool, dark character who has the cool toys, has no remorse and yet there’s a moral line that he won’t cross. Plus he’s got a great, tragic back story. You never have to worry about Batman going out of style because of those elements. With Superman there’s always that thing that he’s not cool anymore, he’s got the blue suit and the red cape and he’s such a product of his era. How do you update it? But I think one of the things that Bryan was really successful at conveying in the movie, is that you don’t need to update that. It’s iconography that’s so universal at this point, that you just have to maintain it. Now does that mean you can have a more action-packed story and play up the relationships? Of course, but it doesn’t mean let’s have Versace design the cape.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: And you don’t have to, as Jon Peters tried to do for 10 years, get him out of the costume or depower him.

GREGORY NOVECK: No, because I think the minute you do that, you’ve screwed up and it’s no longer Superman. That was the problem with so much of the development of the project for years.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: I liked Superman Returns, but like I said, I should have loved it and I couldn’t.

GREGORY NOVECK: Look, I totally understand the criticism. For me, it was such a struggle to get to that point and I thank God every day that Bryan said, “I want to do it,” because he at least came in with a respect for the character.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: Earlier you mentioned how strong the Justice League script was, which I’m glad to hear, because, again, the Internet is alive with people screaming that given the speed at which it’s coming together, there’s no way it can be good.

GREGORY NOVECK: No, we’re rushing it because the script came in so good. There was no mandate that we had to go and make this movie. What created the mandate was you had a strong script with all of these characters and there’s a window, so you go and do it.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: I was just surprised because these writers seemed to come out of nowhere.

GREGORY NOVECK: To the greater populatce the Mulroneys seemed to come out of nowhere, but they were fairly accomplished within Hollywood and they were responsible for a lot of great stuff in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. What’s great about Kiernan and Michele is that they came in – Kiernan was a comic reader as a kid, but hadn’t followed it for a long time – and approached it with an understanding that the characters are characters that deserve some reverence. They are very much character writers. All of the conflict and everything else has to come from a place of character, and the action is second. The movie is action-packed, there’s a ton of stuff, but it’s not like the typical Hollywood blockbuster where it’s, like, “Oh, big action sequence. And why do we care?” I think part of the reason that so many responded so strongly to the script is because you just have these wonderful interactions between the characters. And this apart from the plot, which is strong and makes sense and tracks and people, when they see the movie, will be able to say, “Okay, I totally understand how all this can happen within this world.” I think part of the reason you go is that you want to see Superman and Batman have a conversation. And what is that conversation? You want to see how all of these men react when Wonder Woman first walks on screen. If you’re a normal, red-blooded male or even a Martian-blooded mail, what does it mean to be confronted by this goddess?

VOICES FROM KRYPTON It’s like Ursula Andress coming out of the water in Dr. No.

GREGORY NOVECK: Exactly. And the Mulroneys really understood that each one of these characters automatically changes the dynamic of the room as soon as they walk in, because they all have such different powers and back stories. They approached each one of these characters as an individual and as a unique character that influences everything else around them.

FOR PART ONE OF THIS INTERVIEW, JUST CLICK HERE.

CHECK OUT OUR SISTER SITE JUSTICE LEAGUE ON FILM, BY CLICKING HERE.

Comments

[john]

I am glad that they are still going to make Superman sequels and they are also kicking JLA with Superman. I am never tired of watching Superman but they really need to bring good story and good Supervillains in Singer's MOS and as Singer don't have understanding of Superman comics, he should be given help from DC' CREATIVE staff for MOS. Singer is talented but he have too much Donner influence. SR was slow and boring at times. Get rid of Richard and get in big action with a meaningful story. Singer needs to write a new history with Superman for the new generation. There are so many elements in Superman comics for inspiration which masses would love to see on the big screen.And yes i don't agree with Gregory on one ponit that Superman isn't as cool anymore.
Superman is as cool today as he was yesterday and he will remain the most coolest Superhero with his unique mythology provided the director understands the mythology.

Movies only work when they provide mass-entertainment. Only mass-entertainment makes big money in this business. Superhero genre is a global hot market and Superman being the most unique Superhero have immense draw. Movies of this genre (Spiderman series) did so well at Box-office because they provided satisfactory entertainment to the audience. And that’s what the audience wants in this gritty harsh world to forget their miseries for at least 2 hours by watching a good entertainer with family. Quality and quantity of entertainment is changing at a rapid pace. Unless a director or movie gives new experience of entertainment to the audience, it won’t thrill them anymore. Quality of movies has taken back seat and it’s the technology and special effects that are the driving force in the entertainment today.

Bryan Singer didn’t give any new experience to the audience and fans. The story was repetitive, gloomy and sad. There wasn’t any entertaining spirit in the story to thrill the mass audience and that is why the movie failed to make big cash. It saddens me, when some friends’ here think a Superman movie wouldn’t have done big money even if it was more fun and entertaining. No it would have worked very well if it delivered satisfaction to the mass audience. Transformer’s box office success is an example of this. Many of comic fans have much better imagination than what Bryan Singer gave us in SR.

Bryan Singer is a very talented director and I hope he works hard to make a quality mass-pleasing movie this time.

[marveling]

"Script so awesome, we had to run with it!" "We were blown away!" LOL

http://www.moviehole.net/news/20071020_caffeinated_clint_201007.html

[marveling]

"THE SCRIPT THAT HAD TO BE MADE!" lol

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=286916&page=10

[Howdy Doody]

Yes, I agree, keep the Superman/JLA movies coming ... there will always be interest if they make a damn good movie. Should be very interesting to see a different take on Batman and Superman ... perhaps they can make Batman look more like the comicbook, like Raimi's Spiderman. And perhaps they can make Superman more like an inspiring leader (Reeves), not the wimpiness of Routh ... dunno if it's the writing, directing, or the actor.

Brian Singer has talent, but he needs help ... lots of help with action sequences (watch T2, Spiderman 2, Lord of the Rings, Die Hard, Transformers, etc.). He also needs help in the story and screenwriting dept (watch Batman Begins, Spiderman 2, Gladiator, any great character driven movie). Replace the actress who plays Lois. Get rid of the kid. Get a real Superman consultant like Jeph Loeb or something ... Singer doesn't seem to get Superman ...

[George]

I agree with howdy, john, and brown's posting. Superman can certainly draw a big crowd if done right. Even with a good director like Raimi, you need a really good story, i.e. Spidey 3 sucked hard, but Spidey 2 was tre cool. Please, please do it right ... Oh and Begins RULES! Woot!

[Mya]

JLA Movie? YESSSS! Check out JLA Unlimited Animated ... best stories ever!

[Lucas]

How can u say that hiring different actors means only different versions ???.. that's by far the stuppidiest thing i've ever heard..

you dont see xmen producers changing wolverine "version" in every movie?.. and if you.... STUPID GREGORY NOVECK ... if you are tryin to convince us that this is just a different approach i can tell you that u might and are as well the owner of the franchize.. but francly you are mr. digging your own grave because you are not playing with some character of your invention.. you mr. are playing with every man and woman's heart...

Superman and batman are not yours you arrogant bast***... they're the keepers of every man and woman's hope..

imagine growing in a reallity where u turn un the tv and first you see a ch. Reeves playing the role, the next day u find a tom welling and the very next day a stiff actor as brandon tryin to say his lines while he walks without even triping.

U my friend.. or the owners of the franchize are thinking with your bottoms..

noone likes the idea of watching 5 or 6 batmans .. take 007 as an example.. they let the roll to get mature and to growp up.. many comments will arise because of a new 007 but... eventually the calm will come..pay close attention to your decisions because this could mean something really bad for the industry.

SUPERMAN IS NOT JUST A PRODUCT.. ITS A LIGHT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN SOMETHING ..

[SuperFan]

The Man of Steel will happen it just WONT be with Bryan Singer or his horrible cast, and crew.

It will be a total reboot which will feature I believe who ever ends up in the JLA movie as Superman.

I honestly think that person will be given a better look if he gets the public to accept him which Brandon failed so badly at.

My gutt feeling still tells me Tom Welling will be in the suit.

If not then there is no use for this movie as far as I go because he is this Generations Superman! Period!

[Lt Robert T Jeffcoat Sr]

I have followed "Superman" in the comics since 1959 and have seen every Superman show and movie made. I own and watch every "SMALLVILLE" show and I believe and will always believe that Tom Welling is Superman. When the show ends it will be very sad. Superman Returns was a disappointment. Brandon Roth is a good actor but made Superman seem like a wimp. Tom Welling can say more with his facial expressions than most actors can ever say with their mouths or body reactions. I wish Smallville could continue for many more seasons and I would love to see Tom as the Superman on the big screen. Well, my Superman clock says it is time for Smallville to come on so I'll close. Thanks for listening. Robert