Is the recently relaunched "Superman" series over before it's even begun? Maybe. Variety has an interesting article up today, suggesting that the Man of Steel might have flown by his cloud.

Anything you hear about the “Superman Returns” sequel – for instance, those rumours about Jude Law playing General Zod – is premature. A “Superman Returns” sequel isn’t a sure-thing, because the first film has lost a trough of money, says the trade. If the studio does greenlight a second chapter, it will have to be much, much cheaper.

Warners and co-financing partner Legendary Pictures have a shot at breaking even on "Superman" once all the revenue streams are accounted for, but it's going to be a long, tough haul.

According to the trade, Warners and Legendary -- which splits all profits with the studio down the middle -- are counting on strong home entertainment sales to make up for slower-than-expected box office.

If the DVD does – excuse the pun – take off, then a “Superman Returns” sequel is possible – Bryan Singer has hinted that he’d be keen to get it in theatres in 2009 - but it’s not going to be the uber-expensive venture that the first film was.

Don’t know what quite to make of this one, but according to Sky News, Kate Bosworth isn’t only returning for a “Superman” sequel – no surprise, really, they do need Lois – but also, a Lois Lane spin-off.

"Lois will be back bigger and better in the next movie, and with more of her own storyline”, Bosworth tells SKY’s Neal Sean.

Sean goes on to say that there are plans to give Lois Lane her very own investigation spin off, too.

Now considering Warner are even feeling a tad shaky about doing a “Superman Returns” sequel, do you really think they’re going to commit to a ‘Lois Lane’ spin-off, too?

Look… Over there… it’s a flying Pig!

Ever the Optimist.

Seems the guy in the red underoos will get a second outing after all.

Recent reports suggested that “Superman Returns” didn’t make enough bank to spur Warner Bros’ interest in a sequel, and as a consequence they were going to put the franchise on hold again. Not so, according to IESB.

The site reports that Bryan Singer has just carved a deal to get going on the next “Superman” movie. The ink is literally still wet, with the director having just signed the deal last weekend. It’s believed the movie will be underway next Fall (around September).

The compromise apparently exists with the budget – Warner isn’t giving Singer another $260 million to play with, but a significantly less $140-175 million. Still enough to entice Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Frank Langella back to the Daily Planet.

Even with its lesser budget, the “Returns” sequel is said to be more action-packed than the first film, with IESB reporting that it will centre on Superman going nose to nose with one of the most popular villains in the comic’s history (rumoured to be Zod).

At the San Diego Comic Con in July, Singer promised fans an even better sequel to its predecessor, comparing it to “Star Trek II : The Wrath of Kahn”.

“What I was referring to was the fact that, when you do a first film like X-Men, for example, you're introducing a world and a set of characters”, he later today USA Today. "Once those characters are introduced, once we've lived with them for awhile and we know them, when you get into a second film like an Empire Strikes Back (sequel to Star Wars: A New Hope) or a Wrath of Khan, you can make an action-adventure film and you don't have to bank all that time getting to know the characters. Now you can raise the stakes, raise the jeopardy and make a leaner, meaner movie."

Following up on that IESB report from last week suggesting that Bryan Singer has inked a deal to do a “Superman Returns” sequel, Variety added putty to the brick today by confirming the news.

The pic is tentatively intended for release in summer 2009, although the studio stressed that there's not even a script or budget yet.

The new film is apparently at the very beginning of the development process and, as with any other project, there are any number of factors that must be addressed before it is greenlit.

The pact with Singer signals that Warners isn't ready to walk away from the iconic franchise -- or Singer --even though "Superman Returns," while grossing more than $390 million worldwide, wasn't the performer studio had hoped for. Warners and Legendary say they will still turn a profit from "Superman Returns," with Singer inking his deal just as the film crossed $200 million at the domestic box office.

Insiders say Warners and Legendary are sure to insist that the sequel's production budget comes in under $200 million.

"Superman Returns" fell under endless scrutiny for its production budget, which the studio puts at $209 million after tax rebates and incentives. The number is much higher when factoring in more than $40 million in development costs -- "Superman Returns" was in the works for years --even though those costs were previously absorbed.

Critically, "Superman Returns" was disparaged for lacking in action. Singer has said he would address this concern in the follow-up.

In terms of casting, Warners has an option on "Superman Returns" star Brandon Routh.

Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris penned the script for "Superman Returns" based on a story they created with Singer. It's not clear whether Dougherty and Harris will return for the sequel.

Legendary's involvement is key for the studio. Under the co-financing and co-production deal between the two, Legendary puts up half the money for films on which it's partnering.

Rotten Tomatoes chatted with Brandon Routh about the Superman Returns sequel, to which Bryan Singer is now attached to direct:

"Bryan [Singer] said at Comic-Con they were going to add some more fighting elements and stuff like that," said Routh. "That might be kind of interesting to throw some punches or throw something, I don't know, a little more active."

Routh is going to have to hit the gym again to get back into fighting shape, but not just yet. "I think I've got a while. We probably won't start for another at least six months. They've got to get things written so I'm still in the gym. I still work out a little bit but certainly not as much as I had been."

According to IESB, the next ‘Superman’ movie has a tentative title: ‘Superman: The Man of Steel’.

Sounds like someone’s taking a page out of Chris Nolan’s “Dark Knight” book? (Which makes you wonder whether Warner Bros themselves haven’t decided on the title for the sequel).

Though Warner isn’t commenting at the moment, the site has apparently heard the news from someone towards the upper-end of the food chain – so likely to be some gas behind the rumour.

Superman Returns executive producer Chris Lee, director Bryan Singer and producer Jon Peters are in Honolulu this week to celebrate Lee's birthday, and to begin planning the next "Superman" film, which will likely begin production mid- to late next year in a location yet to be determined.

According to The Honolulu Advertiser, Singer acknowledged that he has also been approached to direct the fourth "X-Men" movie, but said he wouldn't have time to take on another large-scale project before the next "Superman" gets underway. He is interested, however, in seeing the script for the "X-Men" spinoff Wolverine.

If studios are still taking notice of their actors – or did that go out the door when “Waterworld” crossed the $200 mil mark in ’94? – then you’ll see Brainiac in the “Superman Returns” sequel.

Speaking about the recently-announced “Man of Steel” – that’s what they’re calling the next ‘Superman” pic – star Brandon Routh tells IESB that he’d love to see the evil alien get his due.

“There’s a lot of talk about Braniac – everyone wants to see [him]. But in the Superman Returns video game you get to play as Bizzaro [the imperfect Superman clone], and Bizzaro’s pretty fun – you could have some fun with that [too]”, says the actor, reportedly keen on getting involved in Legendary Pictures’ “World of Warcraft” movie next. “So I’m leaning towards one of those”.

Routh says there’s a “lot of possibilities” with the Brainiac character – recently played on Tvs “Smallville” by James Marsters – because he’s a “mastermind [and an] intelligent villain, so he could create any number of evil things”.

Brainiac – who was actually written into an unused draft of “Superman 5”, when the Salkinds were still involved in the property, and later, Kevin Smith wrote him into the abandoned “Superman Lives” – does seem to be the most requested villain for the sequel. For those not in the know, he’s an alien scientist from the planet Colu, intent on conquering Earth; pre-Crisis, Brainiac was portrayed as being an android. Post-Crisis, he was portrayed as a circus mentalist named Milton Fine who was possessed by a Coluan intelligence. During The Doomsday Wars storyline, however, Fine's body was destroyed and Brainiac once more inhabited a robotic body.

Yesterday, Brandon Routh spoke to Empire Online and mentioned that the “Superman” sequel is going to be flat-out more action-packed than the first film (which though I liked, many didn't) – and seems General Zod isn’t going to be the villain, after all - but his enthusiasm-meter probably dipped today, having read that the sequel won’t be happening anytime soon.
The reason? Director Bryan Singer has opted to do a new thriller with the newly reformed United Artists (now headed up Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner), which he plans to shoot first. Initially, he’d planned to get the next “Superman” film off the ground next.
According to Variety, the untitled film re-teams Singer with "The Usual Suspects" screenwriter Chris McQuarrie. Set in WWII, the project is similar to "Suspects" in that it is a multi-character ensemble piece.
Singer and McQuarrie took the project directly to Wagner and Cruise, who agreed to finance it almost immediately.
"Bryan is one of the great filmmakers working today and Chris is an exceptional writer, and for Tom and me, this was an exciting opportunity for our second picture," Wagner said.
Compared with recent tentpoles "Superman Returns" and the first two "X-Men" pics, Singer's latest project carries a moderate pricetag.
"This was something Chris showed me late last year, and we worked on it quietly during the holidays," Singer told the site "We brought it to UA and it was nice one-stop shopping. We decided it was the right place to make this movie, as opposed to shopping it around. It's a period in history that has always fascinated me, and we found a very interesting story that materialized into a pretty wonderful script."
It’ll be great to see a new Bryan Singer thriller… but bad luck for Supes.
I know what you’re all thinking… that series is dead, right?
Wrong. Far from it.
I think it’s too hasty to say Warner Bros aren’t keen on doing another “Superman” film. They are. Yeah, OK, “Returns” didn’t do anywhere near the business they had hoped it would… but this is till one of their stable characters… a bit more action, a good villain, and he’ll draw them in. So, it’ll happen – probably just not for a couple of years yet.
I think the guy this affects the most is Brandon Routh. The guy doesn’t seem to have much else going on – OK, so he could be taking his time in picking his next project, but I personally don’t believe he’s had any real good offers – and will need to no doubt eat in-between then and now.

SupermanHomepage Update : Superman Homepage has debunked the claims that the "Superman" sequel has been postponed; according to their sources it is still set for a March 2008 start.

Seems there’s still life in the “Superman” sequel after all (not that I'd take the Variety item as a debunk... they couldn’t even get our ‘url’ right; don’t know how much stock you’d put into their investigative reporting – in fact, ‘Stax’ at IGN Movies had the best retort) which – despite rumours here earlier this week suggesting that wasn’t the case – suits me just fine.
As I said, I’m dead-keen for the “Superman” series to be given a go. My contacts at the Water Tower insisted that those Superman/Justice League rumours was/is a real possibility... but, like, whatever. Just make it – either “Superman 2” or “JLA” – good.
Anyway, Superman Homepage received word that the “Superman” sequel is still on track for a March 2008 start date.
They’ve also received a rumour of their own – note to trades : ‘Rumour’ not ‘Fact’ – on who are playing the villains in the sequel.
“The script has not yet been written, but discussions are being bounced around in regards to the major villains being Metallo and Brainiac.
“Apparently the "Bank Gunner" from Superman Returns (the guy who shot Superman in the eye) will be the man who becomes/gets turned in to Metallo. It's unknown if he'll be referred to as John Corben or not.
“The rumor goes on to state that Metallo does something pretty major in his huge battle with Superman which catches the attention of an alien orb in space (aka Brainiac), directing its attention towards Earth”.
So no Lex? Hmmm.

According to Just Jared, via Slashfilm.com, Orlando Bloom is in talks for a role in the upcoming “Superman Returns” sequel.

Apparently the “Pirates of the Caribbean” stud was spotted talking to rector Bryan Singer and producers Mindy and Jon Peters.

The latter site says, “Bloom’s ex-girlfriend Kate Bosworth played Lois Lane in the first film. So speculation has already begun over Bloom playing the Man of Steel.”

A source for Warner Bros tells us that Bloom will “definitely not” be taking over the role of Superman.

As for whether he’s in the mix to play another of the roles? Say Zod or Brainiac? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Legendary Pics/Bryan Singer’s crowd don’t even know whether they’re going to make the movie yet – don’t believe the ‘we’re still on schedule’ spiel; it isn’t true, Warner Bros is still a little cautious to continue the series so it’s on indefinite hold– so its rash in the least to be talking “Superman Returns 2” casting rumors, but this is a fun bit of gossip, so lets throw it out there.

According to an ‘untested’ source of Aint it Cool News, Terence Stamp, who played General Zod in the original “Superman” movies, may be reprising his role for the next movie – yep, all these years later. (Thankfully, the film isn’t a prequel to those original movies – or they’d need a hefty CGI budget). There has been talk of Zod appearing in the next film – Jude Law was mentioned at one stage – but it’s the first we’ve heard that Stamp might be asked to reprise the role.

There might be something to this – you see, Bryan Singer is currently working with Stamp on the movie “Valkyrie” and it wouldn’t at all be surprising to hear that Singer and Stamp have talked “Superman” on-set since it’s a property they’ve both been a part of. Still, it’d also be a pretty easy rumour for someone to make up….

Let’s see how this pans out.

Superman Returns screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have opted not to come back and pen a sequel to the 2006 summer film that would have reunited them with helmer Bryan Singer, reports Variety. The three also worked together on X2: X-Men United.

As a result, Warner Bros. is now taking pitches for The Man of Steel's next outing from other writers -- just as the studio is trying to figure out which actor will don the character's tights in Justice League.

Brandon Routh will likely wear the "S" on his chest again. Legendary Pictures is co-developing and co-financing the project, which is expected to up the action quotient.

The ‘’Superman Returns’’ sequel isn’t going to happen anytime soon – and you don’t need to work at Warner’s in-house Starbucks to know that – and you can probably [partly]blame the WGA strike on that.

Truth of the matter is, the strike is only one factor holding back said sequel at the moment - The brothers W are putting all their energy into “Justice League” of late – though it has been a little quiet on that one – and as far as they’re seemingly concerned, the only Man of Steel that’ll be commanding a screen in the next eighteen months or so will be whatever pre-pubescent youngster they choose to play Superman incarnation #466.

But those of us that actually liked – and yes, screw you, I liked it! – ‘’Superman Returns’’ can lay in hope that a) the film does get written b) the studio does finally decide they’re going to make it c ) that Lois Lane gets her kit of in the next one.

Latino Review caught up with Perry White himself, Frank Langella (I don’t know about you, but when I think Langella, I actually think ‘Skeletor’ from the campy but fun “Masters of the Universe” flick), to ask whether he’s heard anything on the seemingly idle “Superman” sequel.

''Yes. We're going to do another one next year. Not this year, but the next and with the writer's strike it could be into 2009. There's no script."

Seems Superman himself, Brandon Routh, has been given the same spiel as well – that they’ll film in 2008, for a 2009 release (sounds like a line of spin to me – ‘’um, we don’t have a script, and, ah, Warner aren’t too keen to do it, and well, Kevin Spacey won’t answer his phone but, well, yes… we’re filming next year!’’).

"[it’s] supposed to be happening”, Routh tells Thisisnorthscotland.co.uk. “They're going to be getting the script written here after the writer's strike, so we'll start next year some time."

Someone forgot to pass on the message to Kevin Spacey – who assumingly they’d want back to play Lex Luthor – though.

Spacey tells Movieweb.com, “There are no develops right now. I know as much as the rest of the world knows."

You know what? I don't think they really ever needed Spacey as Luthor - as good as he was, they could easily have gotten away with having Gene Hackman back in the role. The Luthor role shouldn't be restricted by age, and since Singer wanted to make his film an homage to Donner's films, it would've made sense. So, by chance, that Spacey doesn't return - - just go Gene, Bry.

I’m keen to see another Superman movie – I know the first one didn’t encompass the wall-to-wall action that many wanted, and might have spent more time with the characters than the cape, but I still enjoyed it. It was easily the best “Superman” film since Dick Donner’s original (or his ‘Director’s Cut of “Superman II”). Bryan Singer seems to know what folks want from a “Returns” sequel too and is constantly reminding the media that the next one will feature all the action and adventure that some thought was absent from the first film. Now… if only this strike could finish so someone could get to work on a script.