Superman Promises to Suck Come 2k13

It was brought to my attention by Pepsibones about a month ago that Warner Bros. was scrambling to get a Superman movie off the ground. This is because the rights to a bunch of Superman’s background, powers, and storylines are reverting back to the families of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel. I had forgotten about it until today, when Bleeding Cool posted a link to this article. Here’s the Sparknotes from the aforementioned and credited article:

In 2008, it was ruled that the Siegels had recaptured (as of 1999) copyright in Action Comics No1, giving them control of the Superman character, including his costume, his alter-ego as reporter Clark Kent, the feisty reporter Lois Lane, their jobs at the Daily Planet working for a gruff editor, and the love triangle among Clark/Superman and Lois.

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In the latest twist, as reported by Variety, Judge Stephen Larson has now ruled on August 12 that Siegel’s heirs also had rights to additional works, including the first two weeks of the daily Superman newspaper comic-strips, as well as portions of early Action Comics and Superman comic books.

This means the Siegels now also control depictions of Superman’s origins from the planet Krypton, his parents Jor-El and Lara, Superman as the infant Kal-El, the launching of the infant Superman into space by his parents as Krypton explodes and his landing on Earth in a fiery crash.

The sound you hearing is Warner Bros. shitting their pants. While WB still owns Superman’s ability to fly, his powers, as well as Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen, jesus sweet christ.

Let’s just think about this. Unless WB can negotiate to use the rights, they’re going to have to tell a Superman movie that doesn’t include Clark Kent. Or Lois Lane. Good luck with that one.

Personally, I’d be intrigued by the idea of telling this storyline. Who knows what they could do with it. But in the eye of the general public? The WWE-watching, Nascar-loving yokels who text into American Idol. Holy sweet Christ, there will be confusion and anger. They better film it as a fucking Focus Features film if they hope to recoup their money on this one. Either that, or swallow their pride, and realize if they want to turn a profit they’re going to need to work something out with the family of the creators.

Good luck with that one, boys.