Wolfgang Petersen ("The Perfect Storm") will direct "Batman vs. Superman," with the tentpole picture targeted for a 2004 release via Warner Bros., Variety reports.

In a script penned by Andrew Kevin Walker ("Seven"), the two superheroes are allies who come to mighty blows over what Petersen describes as differing philosophies.

"It is a clash of the titans," Petersen told Daily Variety. "They play off of each other so perfectly. (Superman) is clear, bright, all that is noble and good, and Batman represents the dark, obsessive and vengeful side. They are two sides of the same coin and that is material for great drama."

Warner Bros. is a division of AOL Time Warner, as is CNN.

Neither of Petersen's superheroes have been cast. However, just as Sam Raimi made the unlikely choice of Tobey Maguire for his hit "Spider-Man," Petersen said he is seeking actors who can offer complex emotions as well as six-pack abs.

"Everything after September 11 is different," he said. "You want to change the image of these superheroes."

In particular, Petersen pointed to "The Bourne Identity" star Matt Damon as "an interesting action man and a hell of an actor."

The filmmaker cited early 2003 as a realistic start date, with plans for five or six months of shooting.

Whatever battle the two superheroes face, it probably won't be as brutal as the one Warners has tackled in trying to revive its "Superman" franchise.

In April 1998, after spending millions on scripts and director attachments, studio worldwide production president Lorenzo di Bonaventura pulled the plug on "Superman Lives" during pre-production. Despite a prodigious investment of time and money, the project suffered from a bloated budget and less-than-airtight script.

However, Petersen emphasized that his film is not a continuation of the previous series, last brought to the big screen in 1987's "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace."

Similarly, development continues on a standalone "Superman" with "Charlie's Angels" director McG, writer J.J. Abrams and producer Jon Peters, as well as Darren Aronofsky and Frank Stack's "Batman: Year One."

Petersen is attached to a number of other projects at Warner Bros. These include the Orson Scott Card sci-fi series "Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow" as well as the epic "The Trojan War." He said his interest in those projects continues.

"It was just too exciting to me not to do 'Batman vs. Superman' now," he said. "It's good to have a handful of projects cooking in your drawer. Let's see what happens after this."
www.cnn.com

I love Superheroes, and I'll probably go see the movie for that, but I cannot sit through "A Perfect Storm". It's just too much space and the acting seems like it was crammed in, all the mood changes were to swift, and the director would pack like ten crucial things into ten minutes and then spend thirty on practically nothing. I fear the results of this.

Originally posted by DotCom
I love Superheroes, and I'll probably go see the movie for that, but I cannot sit through "A Perfect Storm". It's just too much space and the acting seems like it was crammed in, all the mood changes were to swift, and the director would pack like ten crucial things into ten minutes and then spend thirty on practically nothing. I fear the results of this.

Perfect Storm was EVIL! Ignore the standard genre narratives will you!

As for Batman v. Superman, even though it'll be comic action, does anyone else here question the authenticity of a man who could spin the entir globe backwards, is resistant to bullets, etc. vs. a normal guy in a heavy rubber suit?

Justin

That movie sounds dumb basically.......Id rather see Scooby Doo again...and I will.

Originally posted by Raynewitch
That movie sounds dumb basically.......Id rather see Scooby Doo again...and I will.
HEATHEN!:D

I dunno though, I never really liked Superman.. and I hated it when they started puttin their cartoons together an junk.. Just stick with Batman da-- oh wait, they.. oh godamnit I forgot they made like 30 billion movies for each hero. well crap, this movie is useless! Although I'd prolly end up watching it anyway.

MATT DAMON?!?! NO!

ugh. i can't even think of how they'd try to work him in, but i sure hope not.

this movie does sound dumb. any time they try to have batman vs superman, it's stupid. they're powerful in different ways, but ultimately batman is a human, superman is superhuman. he can pound the sh*t out of batman. they just need a few blows here and there and then they go fight mojojojo or something. that would be better.

Originally posted by mrWr0ng
MATT DAMON?!?! NO!

ugh. i can't even think of how they'd try to work him in, but i sure hope not.



He could be Robin, the Easy-to-hit Boy Wonder. Especially if he ends up the Jason Todd boy wonder.

http://www.sykospark.net/goth/rats/ratattack_sm.gif

-AE (Vampire Rat Ownz Joo)

The only good thing about this is Andrew Kevin Walker, he's good, but I'm not sure he can even make a good script for this. Superman's ONLY weakness is kryptonite, and I can't see batman using that against him, so the battle would be over in about 2 minutes. And once again, studios don't see a backlash against superhero movies coming? Someone told me they're working on submariner or something like that. Manu, was that you talking about that?

Spiderman beats both of them!

I like Superman but I am a HUGE Batman fan!

I would like to see Tim Burton do Batman again,he had what the comic books were about before the tv show came along.

The orignnal Batman comics were dark and full of agnst,Burton got it right.

If they choose Matt Damon as one of the superheroes, I will be forced to stage an international boycott of the film.

Other than that, I'd like to see where it goes.

I would like to see Tim Burton do Batman again,he had what the comic books were about before the tv show came along.

I loved the first two Batman movies. Like you said, dark, brooding, and gothic. The latter two just got silly.

igofast-

I dont' think it was me...but there WILL be a backlash soon...

We got XMEN sequel, Daredevil (Ben Afleck, yuck), The Hulk, and like 3 or 4 other ones coming out...

I think some of the more obscure comic book ones are going to tank...

The HULK?!?! Who's playing him?

Is Christopher Reeve playing Superman??? I think he'd be the perfect Professor X in the next X-men... can't quite put a finger on why though....

Originally posted by DotCom
The HULK?!?! Who's playing him?

I've heard this Hulk will be done by computer graphics,in other words:Animated.

Originally posted by Truth Teller


I've heard this Hulk will be done by computer graphics,in other words:Animated.

they shoulda just put me up on screen and used the computer to turn my skin green. close enough.

The Hulk is being played by an Australian comedian turned actor named Eric Bana...he was in Black Hawk Down, Chopper and a few other things...hes pretty good :)

Well if you read comics, Superman himself will tell you the only human he's afraid of is Batman. Batman is smarter, craftier, and meaner. And Batman has kryptonite in his aresenal.

Also, if you ever read The Dark Knight Returns, Batman had an amped up suit and krytonite and was kicking Superman's butt.

Remember Superman was raised by a farm family, and Clark Kent is an optimist, assumes the best in people, etc, and is rather naive in many ways when compared to the hardened and jaded obsessive Bruce Wayne. That gives Batman an edge.

Plus Superman has a tendency to rely on his powers too much, it's not a cockiness as much as it's that he usually has to hold back in many situations. Batman always is stretched to his limits to overcome obstacles, hence he's always more prepared than Supes in a fight, cuz he has to be.

Batman would not fight "fair" in fighting Superman, that would be foolish, he's smarter than that, and as such, I'd put my money on Batman...

Originally posted by mayaneagle
Spiderman beats both of them!

Bwa ha ha ha ha haaaa!


Yeah, and Peewee Herman could defeat Green Lantern. Or Urkel could overpower Thor.

:rolleyes:

They did pit them against each other in a comic book once, and Batman owned his ass.

Originally posted by Raynewitch
The Hulk is being played by an Australian comedian turned actor named Eric Bana...he was in Black Hawk Down, Chopper and a few other things...hes pretty good :)
OOO! O! O! Are they letting him use his Aussie accent?!?!?! I love Aussies for their accents....it's great stuff....

Not much accent will show up in lines like, HULK SMASH!!! so I don’t think it’ll matter.

Nope he will be Americanised as all Super Heroes are....*sigh* Besides Eric Bana isnt overly good looking so even his accent (for you his accent anyway - not to me ;)) cant help him there....but GREAT actor :)

Good analysis Dave.

I always thought the big 'X' Facotr was the fact that Batman is a craft devil.

But the fact remains that UNLESS he uses Kryptonite, there's no way Batman could win.

So really, this can't be a 'spur of the moment' issue, Batman needs to REALLY want to end Superman.

I think he could defeat him without killing him, by setting him up, a trap, controlling him, etc. Batman knows all of Superman's weaknesses, physical and mental, I don't think Supes knows any of Batman's weaknesses, other than the limits of the human physique and psyche, but let's face it, Batman is the ultimate human, in mind and body.

Recently, in an issue, Batman was breaking into the white house to steal back some kryptonite from Lex Luthor (yes, Lex is currently the President of the US in current continuity) and Batman had Lois Lane's help.

He set up so many elaborate traps for Superman, knowing Supes would attempt to stop him, and led Supes on a chase leaving clues, and ending up using his xray vision powers against him to trap him. He lured him into his trap almost like he could read Superman's mind and anticipate all his moves, cuz he's a Boy Scout, and as such, he's predictable.

I can't recall exactly what one trap was, but it was something like some super polymer that attached to him and other triggers, and if he used superspeed it would set off a bomb, or his heat vision would set off something else, and it was linked to a timer, etc. Basically Supes was trapped and had to wait for the polymer to dissolve on it's own time and Batman got in and out with no problems.

Stuff like that....

Superman's biggest disadvantage is that he doesn't let innocents get hurt.

If thigns came down to the wall, Batman would.

I remember the funeral comic when Supes supposedly died fighting Doomsday. Some nut decides he wants to make a statement with a bomb. Bats nabs him but in honor of Supe’s memory, he doesn’t mangle him. Leaves him trussed up, hanging upside down by his ankles on a light pole with a note that says ‘Arrest Me’ tied to him and the now-defused bomb.

Originally posted by Redfield
If they choose Matt Damon as one of the superheroes, I will be forced to stage an international boycott of the film.





It'll star Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, they put them in a bunch of movies

>I loved the first two Batman movies. Like you said, dark, brooding, and gothic. The latter two just got silly.<


yeah, what was up with putting rubber nipples on robins costume in the last movie?
Geez!

Originally posted by RightWingZealot
yeah, what was up with putting rubber nipples on robins costume in the last movie?
Geez! [/B]

I bet Clooney asked for them.

Not only were the latter two movies silly, but they lost something with the actor changes.

I thought Keaton did a great job playing the dark brooding and trobuled soul.

I think Joel Schumaker had something to do with the fall fo the dark Knight too... his claim to fame is coming in on time and under budget... the ice they usewd in Batman & Robin was OOooooohhhh so fake!!!

And... I like Arnold as much as the next guy, but he wasn't cut out to be Mr Freeze. I also think the teaming up of these various bad guys is kinda silly (started in Batman Forever).

Bring back Michael Keaten and Tim Burton dammitt!!!!!!!

this could be COOL :)

Originally posted by SilverStreak
Well if you read comics, Superman himself will tell you the only human he's afraid of is Batman. Batman is smarter, craftier, and meaner. And Batman has kryptonite in his aresenal.

Also, if you ever read The Dark Knight Returns, Batman had an amped up suit and krytonite and was kicking Superman's butt.

Remember Superman was raised by a farm family, and Clark Kent is an optimist, assumes the best in people, etc, and is rather naive in many ways when compared to the hardened and jaded obsessive Bruce Wayne. That gives Batman an edge.

Plus Superman has a tendency to rely on his powers too much, it's not a cockiness as much as it's that he usually has to hold back in many situations. Batman always is stretched to his limits to overcome obstacles, hence he's always more prepared than Supes in a fight, cuz he has to be.

Batman would not fight "fair" in fighting Superman, that would be foolish, he's smarter than that, and as such, I'd put my money on Batman...

I agree 100%.

That's why I'm a Batman affincinato,he knows how evil people can be,yet he does believe in things like rehabilitiation and redempton,he also knows they comes with a price tag with that and he also knows that some people are just no damn goood,no matter what .

And Batman does everyting [including the design of his car,utility belt etc.] with his superior intellect,no super powrs to take advantage of and his physical and mental health have been under attack at times,so he knows how fragile anyone can be.

Originally posted by SilverStreak
I think he could defeat him without killing him, by setting him up, a trap, controlling him, etc. Batman knows all of Superman's weaknesses, physical and mental, I don't think Supes knows any of Batman's weaknesses, other than the limits of the human physique and psyche, but let's face it, Batman is the ultimate human, in mind and body.

Recently, in an issue, Batman was breaking into the white house to steal back some kryptonite from Lex Luthor (yes, Lex is currently the President of the US in current continuity) and Batman had Lois Lane's help.

He set up so many elaborate traps for Superman, knowing Supes would attempt to stop him, and led Supes on a chase leaving clues, and ending up using his xray vision powers against him to trap him. He lured him into his trap almost like he could read Superman's mind and anticipate all his moves, cuz he's a Boy Scout, and as such, he's predictable.

I can't recall exactly what one trap was, but it was something like some super polymer that attached to him and other triggers, and if he used superspeed it would set off a bomb, or his heat vision would set off something else, and it was linked to a timer, etc. Basically Supes was trapped and had to wait for the polymer to dissolve on it's own time and Batman got in and out with no problems.

Stuff like that....

Batman is smart enough to figure out that Clark Kent is Superman,i doubt that Superman is smart enouygh to figure out that Bruce Wayne is Batman [though the money it takes to build such a car like the Batmobile etc. should be a big hint,that and the fact that Bruce Wayne's superior education gives Bruce the smarts to design these things].

Originally posted by Manu
Superman's biggest disadvantage is that he doesn't let innocents get hurt.

If thigns came down to the wall, Batman would.

I disagree,I don't think Batman would ever let innocents be hurt,I think he would even give guilty people the chance to back down.

Originally posted by Truth Teller


I disagree,I don't think Batman would ever let innocents be hurt,I think he would even give guilty people the chance to back down.


Yeah back on the 1960's movie, he ran around for the longest time trying to dispose of a bomb, keeping it away from a baby carriage, a band, some nuns and some baby ducks swimming in the water.

Originally posted by snacky



Yeah back on the 1960's movie, he ran around for the longest time trying to dispose of a bomb, keeping it away from a baby carriage, a band, some nuns and some baby ducks swimming in the water.

Well,I'm talking more the Batman of the classic comic books and even the "pulp fiction" comics and the Tim Burton movies.

But you're right.

Even the TV show and the 60's movie had the esseance of Batman they just camped it up.

Originally posted by Truth Teller


Batman is smart enough to figure out that Clark Kent is Superman,i doubt that Superman is smart enouygh to figure out that Bruce Wayne is Batman [though the money it takes to build such a car like the Batmobile etc. should be a big hint,that and the fact that Bruce Wayne's superior education gives Bruce the smarts to design these things].

Newsflash:

Supes knows who he is. I forget whether the modern version is that he deduced it (he may be altruistic, but he's not an idiot- he has a kryptonian brain folks: read high IQ) or if he just looked through Bats' mask.

I recall both a comic and a tv animated episode from the recent series where Supes helped Robin by donning Batman's threads when Bruce was being mind controlled by someone. Boy were Killer Croc and Bane surprised when 'Batman' beat the holy ¤¤¤¤ outta them.

Yes, currently Superman and Batman know one another's identity, in fact Clark and Lois are married and live in a building owned by Bruce Wayne in Metropolis.

Frog I remember that episode of the Animated Series, that was great! It was Brianiac who brainwashed Bruce Wayne with nanites. And Supes in the Batman costume and taking on some of Batman's "heavies" in his rogues gallery, like Croc and Bane was a riot.

And that scene from the 60's movie was also a riot, I think the quote was something like, "Somedays you just can't get rid of a bomb." :D

If you want to read more about Superman and Batman's first meeting in comics, current continuity, read 1986's "Superman: Man of Steel" trade paperback, it's like a Year 1 catch all.

Supes was on the scene first, Batman came along and at first was considered nothing but a vigilante and as such, an outlaw. Superman played by all the rules/laws and helped out during the day in plain view of all to see. Batman skulked around at night, in the shadows and wears a mask- which doesn't inspire the masses with your intentions .

So Supes decides to make it his mission to go to Gotham City and bring in The Batman. Within about 24 hrs of them meeting, Batman figures out that Superman is Clark Kent. And Batman managed to elude Supes for quite some time with the aid of gadgets and tricks, and his superior knowledge of the lay of the land in Gotham City, and he even wears a lead-lined mask to conceal his identity from Supes.

It's a good story, Batman eventually wins Supes over with his actions, but along the way Batman dismisses Superman's attempts to help him, cuz he's a loner and sees Supes as nothing more than interference.

They end up working together to bring down the bad guys, eventually, and be-grudgingly admit they made a good team, although their approach to crime fighting is very different.

Batman needs to skulk about the shadows and intimidate and scare criminals, perpetuate his urban myth, cuz he's only human, with no powers, and he needs any edge/advantage he can gain in order to be effective.

Where Supes can win the will of the masses and gain their trust by playing the Boy Scout, he can rely on his powers to be effective, and actually use that trust to his advantage too.

2 polar opposite approaches to solve the same problem. If the movie focuses on that delicate/intricate balance and subtleties between the 2 characters, it could be quite good.

The banter between the 2 of them whenever they team up is usually priceless, very humorous, and sly. They respect one another a great deal, but don't always see eye-to-eye on how best to find a solution to a problem.

All very true, SS.


Of course Supes can be pretty intimidating. Anyone that you just launched an air-to-ground missle at and it did nothing but make him give you a very dirty frown...kinda makes you worry.

One of the coolest images of Supes I ever saw was him silhouetted against a fire in the water. He’s walking toward you and all you see is that he’s pretty danged angry. Just a red smoldering glow where his eyes are in the shadows.

But yeah, Bats is second only to Scarecrow for inspiring fear, and S’crow has to use chemicals and or tech to do it.

Oh I agree, Supes scares the hell out of the people who should fear him (Luthor is terrified of him, he's an alien, afterall). And yes the shots of him in the dark with the red smoking eyes would/should scare anyone.

But Supes is a known entity to people. Still scary cuz of his abilities, especially if you're a bad guy, but Batman scares everybody.

With Batman, most people don't even know if he really exists, if he's human, if he has any superpowers, and he uses that, he needs that edge, the rumors help make his job easier, that's why he purposefully uses intimidation and coercion as weapons in his arsenal, much more blantantly than does Superman.

But I think it safe to say, you wouldn't want to piss either one of them off. But it's well known fact Superman does not kill. Niethr does Batman, but not everyone knows that, it's not public knowledge, so a threat from him might carry with it more weight...

I always liked how Bats was the one guy with no powers that beat up Guy Gardener- the Jerk Greeen Lantern. Not one of the cool ones like Hal Jordan or John Stewart.

Of course it was largely due to Guy's ring really not liking him very much.

Guy mouths off
Bats punches him square in the nose
Guy wakes up a hour later with a busted nose and a fat lip.

Great stuff!

Yeah remember that in the old JLA, Guy's going on about how he should be the leader cuz he's the most powerful, etc, Bats knocks him out with 1 punch, and Guy wakes up and he's NICE for like 6 more issues.... :D

That was back when the JLA was funny....

I've been gone from Superman for a long time now,thanks for bringing me up to date.

Sure thing.

Heck most of my info is 6+ years out of date.

I'm current, I'm a geek, I admit it.... :D