Variety has published a new update on Warner Bros.’ Superman movie, which the trade says is moving toward a late 2004 production start. The studio is negotiating with Neal Moritz (“The Fast and the Furious,” “XXX,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Stealth”) and Gilbert Adler (“Ghost Ship,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “Constantine”) to produce the film.
The picture has not been greenlit, adds the trade, nor is McG set to direct, although he did indeed test six actors last week for the role. It has not been decided which actor will be fitted for spandex and sent to Australia, where location scouting is about to begin. Among candidates said to have tested are Jason Behr (“Roswell”), Henry Cavill (“The Count of Monte Cristo”), Jared Padalecki (“New York Minute”) and Michael Cassidy.
Jon Peters, a co-producer of the original Batman film series who has been shepherding the Superman revival going back to the Burton-Cage incarnation of 1998, officially will remain involved as a producer but is not likely to be a fixture.
The current J.J. Abrams-scripted version of Superman has been somewhat streamlined to a budget that hovers around $200 million. The film still revolves around Superman’s battle with Lex Luthor and a mysterious killer from Krypton who has come to hunt down the Man of Steel.
Warner Bros. Entertainment chairman-CEO Alan Horn and production president Jeff Robinov are expected to decide soon on whether any of McG’s candidates will get the starring role.
Source: Variety
