Chapter 672： no retro

"Superman Returns" is actually not a bad movie, and the actors are well selected. Its failure is a typical high-budget risk out of control and a creative concept that deviates from mainstream audiences.

Watching the whole movie, you will find that the main creator is very conscientious, there are many scenes that pay tribute to the old classics, and the soundtrack is the kind that will sell out a single soundtrack album alone. Director Brian Singer also spared no effort to shoot seriously, otherwise Nor will he dismiss "X Record 3" from filming and serve as the director of Superman.

However, the storyline is too old-fashioned.

The new version of Superman still feels like the last century. How can a new generation of audiences accept a similar aesthetic?

Originally, the setting of "Superman left the earth for 5 years and came back with a sense of right and wrong" is a good focus, but why is the role relationship so prominent? Do ethical dramas?

The new version of Supergirl has a new family and children, and the villain Lex Luthor will be released because Superman did not testify in court. Is this a satire of American justice?

What's even more bizarre is that Louis's child's biological father became Superman again. It turned out that Richard was the spare tire, and Luthor stole Superman's Krypton technology. to make money - is this a satire of real estate developers and rising house prices?

In the end, Superman once again defeated the bad guys and saved the earth, but left Louis and his mother and continued to let them and Charlie start a family - is this true love?

If the Superman background was removed, the audience thought it was a story of a scumbag man who abandoned his wife and children for 5 years, but his wife still loves the scumbag man after he married, and in the end they still didn't get together. Really, the nine o'clock bitterness dramas are all similar routines. Can't Superman be exempted from the custom?

Also, Superman's setting is a mess, and the progress in special effects has brought the possibility of those hot scenes being filmed. As a result, Superman is still playing weightlifting.

Lift a plane, lift a car, lift a giant billboard that fell down, the final boss battle, lift an island...

This kind of scene is not exactly the same as the old version of Superman. You can fly when others fly, and you can maintain it when you lift weights. However, in the past, it was limited by technology and it was difficult to shoot. Now the times have improved, and you still play the same old ways, which makes you used to seeing it. How can mainstream audiences appreciate blockbusters?

Therefore, this film is only recognized by fans, because this is a kind of inheritance, a good memory, but innovation is not enough.

To be precise, Warner's retro style is off...

And why "The Mystery of Xia Ying" succeeded, it was also because the subject matter was badly filmed and refrigerated. Nolan relied on the distinction between the original version and the old version, and came up with new ideas, opened up a new world view, and a new character context - not seeking There are many changes, but not the same.

It is the difference of this thought, and Superman is doomed to a bad fate.

By now, Barry Mayonne executives may have figured it out, but it's too late.

It can be said that with Superman's strong appeal and dominance on the American comics side for more than 60 years and the brand of the times as a symbol of youth, as long as he manages it well, he is definitely no worse than Spider-Man, let alone any mutants.

However, many decisions made by Warner's executives on the Superman project are pitted one by one, and the audience now has more entertainment and rich means than the previous people - in other words, it is more difficult for poor films to survive. . Who is still used to you?

Facts have proved that no matter how large the traffic base or the huge family business is, it can't stand the toss of a series of mistakes.

In other words, "Superman Returns" just added a huge scar to the idol of Superman and prevented it from healing.

Warner headquarters, inside the chief office.

Barry-Mayer once again brought in several executives to discuss the development of DC's adaptation plan.

This plan is the product of conforming to the trend of Chaoying, and no one can be more convenient than DC. After all, all DC's character copyrights are in the hands of Warner and have never been released.

Unfortunately, Superman is paralyzed...

This is a huge blow to the entire DC. Before the release, they also fantasized about the template that set off the trend of superhuman feelings, but the reality and the plan are often inconsistent.

Everyone also knows the importance of this plan, but in fact, it is not particularly important.

In other words, with the "Harry Potter" series in hand, Warner does not worry about projects in terms of attracting money for blockbusters. Sometimes, it is inevitable that the energy will be scattered, and all resources will not be invested in DC. Of course, such a plan is still the first. Just wait.

"The failure of "Superman Returns" will require Superman to be refrigerated for a period of time, and wait for these bad reviews to pass, but in terms of fans' word-of-mouth, we can continue to guide."

"Maybe you can try to adapt a TV series, and this aspect can also be linked to bring up the topic of the characters."

"Don't we still have Batman? If we prepare now, it will be released next summer."

"..."

Batman?

Production manager Jonathan Campbell looked at Barry Mayer's expression and found that he wasn't angry, just a little relaxed.

The marketing executives still didn't know about Nolan's refusal and Firefly's delay, and they still talked about the benefits of adapting Batman to themselves.

After all, the achievements of "Mystery of the Shadow" are there, it is impossible not to make a sequel, and it can also drive the continued implementation of DC's adaptation plan, why not make it?

In fact, Johnson is also very depressed.

When he sent someone to find Nolan, the conditions were not bad, and he also promised to give him editing rights and very good directing treatment and participate in the box office share.

Are you digging people, what if you don't have any sincerity?

But anyway, people just refuse, what else can we do.

This made him even more cautious when talking to the executive, Mr. Mayer, for fear of being blamed.

Of course, Barry Mayer is actually not happy, but when he is not happy, he is not happy. The expression management must be in place, and he is still a calm face that is neither sad nor happy.

After everyone finished speaking, he lowered his face and said, "The sequel to Batman will take time. Jonson, what did Firefly give? Tell me."

"They said that to renegotiate North American distribution interests, Firefly must be involved in distribution this time..."

"impossible."

As soon as Qiao Sen's voice fell, someone retorted: "How can they put forward such excessive conditions. We have given enough."

"Yes, yes, absolutely can't agree."

There was a lot of discussion below, but Qiao Sen half-closed his eyes and pretended not to hear, showing the appearance of a narrator.

If "Superman Returns" hadn't been as embarrassing as it is now, Firefly wouldn't have dared to ask for anything, but now the initiative has changed. It was Warner who wanted to shoot Batman, and Firefly was in no hurry.

Of course, it can also be delayed until the end of next year, when the agreement limit expires, Firefly will be automatically out, and there will be no investment rights for subsequent projects.

But the question is, is Warner willing to wait?

Slowly, everyone felt that the atmosphere was not right, and became silent again.

Barry Mayer was silent, and the people below were not good at making decisions.

In the end, it was Jonson who broke the silence, "Now...the project has been frustrated, there must be a direction. If you don't shoot Batman, what would be better?"

It's a good question for the production manager to ask.

There are two big mountains in DC, Superman can't keep up for the time being, Batman is on the rise, and the achievements he started don't work. Do you take the risk to start other characters?

What's more Even the Superman audience may not buy it. If it fails again, it will be even more embarrassing.

Speaking of which, Warner's concerns are not wrong, because at this time they never thought about linking the universe and the direction of B-level film shooting. The policy has always been to go back to the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on Batman and Superman. , to recreate DC's glory, as for other characters, it is rarely considered, or in other words, there is no clear adaptation idea at all.

What's more, because of the strategic adjustment of the board of directors, and the fact that Warner's production business is not going well this year, the entire Warner Films is a little hesitant...

The executive of the marketing department also squeaked on the side, "Or, talk to Lehman directly. There is no contradiction between us, and a little misunderstanding can be explained clearly."

This idea is not bad. As long as the relationship with Lehman eases, not only can the film business continue to cooperate, but the TV series will also benefit.

However, it is not very enforceable.

Because Lehman and Warner can't go back to the way they used to be, one wants to keep going up and the other wants to maintain the status quo.