The Official Brandon Routh Thread

[thepariah]

*steps up and clears throat*

I checked the boards here, and although my fellow Planet member lana2k8 has joined up, I haven't seen a thread for this yet--my deepest apologies if she's already mentioned it in detail elsewhere that I haven't been able to find yet. If that's the case, please feel free to merge/delete this little redundant effort of mine.

Upon the release of WB President Jeff Robinov's statement to the Wall Street Journal that the studio would prefer to start all over again with the Superman franchise, rather than sitting at home crying into her beer, Planet member clairecheaux decided to rally a postcard/letter/fax/email campaign, starting with the support of the BR.C board and then spreading the word as far and wide as possible. It might seem unlikely that we fans can stir WB into considering continuing with a sequel to Superman Returns or, at the very least, allowing Brandon Routh to retain his role as the Man of Steel--but we certainly can't hope for any change whatsoever if we don't even try. However, Claire is far more eloquent with words than I am, and she can explain it best. The headquarters of our effort is located here:

www.bluetights.net/theplanet/showthread.php?t=28166

**If anyone can't view the image in the first post, please let me know; it's a Photobucket image, so hopefully there shouldn't be any problems, but if there are, I can provide a transcription.

Every possible avenue of contact has been added to the opening post, and is updated whenever new information is acquired. (There are international addresses and contact info for WB, including the UK, Australia, and Germany.) Several of us help maintain the thread by taking daily compilations of contributions for campaign reports (article/blog/website links, videos, artwork, heartfelt messages of support, etc.); currently Claire's experiencing a little downtime as she just moved. For anyone who wants to contribute art, we've opened a DeviantArt gallery (link in opening post of thread). You can contact me or absoluteimp if you'd like us to place something in the gallery.

Emails are quick and easy to send, but also quick and easy to filter away or delete without reading. Physical mail goes a long way in making a greater impact. Many letters and postcards have already been submitted, and so far 264 people have tallied up on the thread "poll" (not a poll at all, but a simple head count). We'd like to keep it growing! So far we have supporters from the following countries:

Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China, Republic of (Taiwan)
Colombia
Costa Rica
France
Germany
Greece
Guatemala
India
Italy
Japan
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
UK
USA

If any of you are willing to help, please tell your friends who love SR and Brandon Routh, and send in your thoughts, be they long or short. We want WB to know exactly how we feel before it's too late--apparently we only have a few weeks left before an official announcement of their intentions.

As another of our members stated, "He worked hard for us. Now it's time to return the favor."

For letters and postcards from/within the US, we recommend this address title:

Mr. Jeff Robinov
President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group
c/o Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

with "Private and Confidential" on envelopes.

We'd also love to hear from you! We're a friendly bunch over on BR.C. Come and say hecko if you'd like and leave your thoughts and support on the thread and tally poll.

We thank you in advance, for your time in reading this. Sometimes even heroes need saving. Help us BRB--Bring Routh Back!

[Legsy]

;D

[thepariah]

Sept 5, 2008 11:13:00 GMT -5 Legsy said:

;D

;D back at'cha.

I know this all seems a mite silly, but we're completely serious about it. It's a small sacrifice for me to set some time aside each day to check the thread and buy some postage stamps. If we don't make a difference, I won't have any regrets, since I tried. And if by some miracle it works...well, hey, awesomesauce.

It's like playing the lottery, lol.

[Legsy]

I have a feeling Routh and Singer will be back. If not Singer, at least Routh will. We just need a little patience.

[Luke]

Posts I made in other threads would have made a lot more sense being posted in here now to show support but needless to say I want Routh to return.

The world needs Routh.

[thepariah]

Sept 5, 2008 11:46:30 GMT -5 Legsy said:

I have a feeling Routh and Singer will be back. If not Singer, at least Routh will. We just need a little patience.

I hope so. But like I've told others, this is one of those things I don't mind jumping the gun on at all, because it certainly won't hurt. We don't know enough about the situation--our campaign might be completely unnecessary, and it might be warranted. So, eh, err on the side of caution and all that. There have been rumblings that Singer still has his foot in the door, but he needs to cough up a script that will impress WB very soon...or else.

But patience is something I've learned to cultivate as a fan in general, first for Star Wars and then for Superman.

Sept 5, 2008 11:53:59 GMT -5 Luke said:

Posts I made in other threads would have made a lot more sense being posted in here now to show support but needless to say I want Routh to return.

The world needs Routh.

It's okay. You've still made it known. Thanks to you both!

[Legsy]

Sept 5, 2008 12:08:59 GMT -5 thepariah said:

Sept 5, 2008 11:46:30 GMT -5 Legsy said:

I have a feeling Routh and Singer will be back. If not Singer, at least Routh will. We just need a little patience.

I hope so. But like I've told others, this is one of those things I don't mind jumping the gun on at all, because it certainly won't hurt. We don't know enough about the situation--our campaign might be completely unnecessary, and it might be warranted. So, eh, err on the side of caution and all that. There have been rumblings that Singer still has his foot in the door, but he needs to cough up a script that will impress WB very soon...or else.

But patience is something I've learned to cultivate as a fan in general, first for Star Wars and then for Superman.

Good, I'm not the only one that's heard the same about Routh and Singer still being attached. But you're right, we must support our fellas.

[thepariah]

Either way, I find Mr. Robinov's comments laughable (and yet worrisome) in the wake that the chief complaint about SR was that it was too dark and gloomy. And yet this is...what WB wants now? Just because TDK's making them figure a formula of "darkness" will work for every DC property? Come now. Everything needs the proper treatment as due their character, not trying to fit round pegs in square holes. Because really, if darkness is what they're interested in, I don't see how Bryan Singer couldn't deliver. This is the guy who brought us X2, after all.

But hey, we're just little people, not the big bean counters, eh?

[Luke]

Well finding a true star to fill the shoes is a hard thing to do. First they found Reeve for the big screen and he so embodied the role that anybody following would have to live up to him. Practically the whole Superman mythos revolved around Reeve's portrayal such was his impact.

Then they find Routh. Somebody who actually dared to step up to not only fill Supes shoes but now he had to fill Reeve's. He was in for a nigh on impossible job and practically everybody thought he'd be the weak link in the film. How wrong we were.

Now Reeve cannot be beaten as far as I'm concerned but Routh came about as close as I could have dreamed possible. Changing him now would be changing the one thing that did work practically flawlessly in Returns and therefore the biggest mistake they could make.

[thepariah]

Sept 5, 2008 14:14:20 GMT -5 Luke said:

Well finding a true star to fill the shoes is a hard thing to do. First they found Reeve for the big screen and he so embodied the role that anybody following would have to live up to him. Practically the whole Superman mythos revolved around Reeve's portrayal such was his impact.

Then they find Routh. Somebody who actually dared to step up to not only fill Supes shoes but now he had to fill Reeve's. He was in for a nigh on impossible job and practically everybody thought he'd be the weak link in the film. How wrong we were.

Now Reeve cannot be beaten as far as I'm concerned but Routh came about as close as I could have dreamed possible. Changing him now would be changing the one thing that did work practically flawlessly in Returns and therefore the biggest mistake they could make.

Exactly. The casting process was painstaking, and they struck gold with Brandon. It wouldn't be wise or cost-effective at all to go through the muck all over again. Even those who disliked the film generally agreed he was the best part, and wanted to see him flesh out the character further. All around, it would indeed be a huge mistake to toss him aside.

He had the utmost sincerity, determination, dedication, and humility in taking on such a mantle of a role. In less elegant terms, he busted his ass for it. And dealt with hype, idiotic press, and naysayers with maturity beyond his years. You don't come across a guy like this often. Personally, he blew me away with the nuanced subtlety of his performance, given that the first time I saw a photo of him as Clark (granted, it wasn't a great representation and wasn't even focused on him) I thought absolutely nothing of him. Now I can't imagine another Superman film without him.

Like I said in my own letter to WB, he gave all of himself and more to bring Superman to life--an unforgivingly strict diet, 20-hour workdays, painful harnesses, and most of all, overwhelmingly intense scrutiny. As a fan, I feel I owe it to him to try to keep him flying.

Do I think there's NO ONE else out there who's up to the task? Out of 3-4 billion guys on this planet? No. If he was floating out there in the ether of actordom, there's probably someone else who's also good. But frankly, I'm not interested in looking elsewhere unless I have no other choice. Brandon is my Superman now, and until we get official word, I'll do whatever little bit I can to keep him that way.

And I apologize for not having branched out much into the rest of the forum yet--I'm juggling work during the day and currently don't have internet at home. Bear with me and I'll get to settling in a bit more. I don't mean to monopolize!

[Legsy]

You know what I hate? When people grip about Rouths' age. That grinds my gears. He's older than Reeve when he got the part. BAH!

[Jimbo]

Welling is as old as Reeve was in Superman III. ;D

[Legsy]

And he doesn't look a day past 31. Wait....

[thepariah]

Sept 5, 2008 15:50:07 GMT -5 Legsy said:

You know what I hate? When people grip about Rouths' age. That grinds my gears. He's older than Reeve when he got the part. BAH!

Dude, I just read a few days ago on some blog post that he's being considered too old at 29. Abwah? Isn't Superman perpetually 29 anyway? ;D

[Legsy]

30 is the universal age for Supes. Methinks.

[ye5man]

As much as I like Routh, I'd rather see a new film with a new lead over more dredgery of Superman Returns with him in it.


With any luck, SR will be considered an anomoly in years to come when Supes is flying high again.

[EvilSupes]

Well at least Routh isn't like Tobey Maguire...

[crazy_asian_man]

As much as I like Routh, I'd rather see a new film with a new lead over more dredgery of Superman Returns with him in it.

With any luck, SR will be considered an anomoly in years to come when Supes is flying high again.

You certainly have a lot of faith in Robinov. (which is your right, of course).
But that's one heckuva gamble. If it bombs, then it's doubtful there'll be another Superman movie for YEARS on end.... as they'll be scratching their heads as to where they went wrong.

Just like the (almost universally) loathed JLA project, to me- a reboot/recast is more about timing. It's certainaly a giant gamble, but what irks is that it's bad timing. If Routh/Singer didn't want any part of Superman, that would be different. If Routh were 20 years older, it would be appropriate....but not now.

A recast/reboot will be needed maybe a decade or so from now--- but it's absolutely a gamble as bad as what WB went through for the last 20 plus years (?) of the time of development heck with endless scripts and directors before they came to Singer.

A recast/reboot could end up with grosses like the $100 million dollar Catwoman disaster that WB was so confident about. Does WB really want to gamble everything on a new director/actor rather than stick with what's a safer bet by staying with Singer and Routh -who already have stated for awhile they want to make an action-packed sequel?

It's like going back to the old arguments I'd gotten into---

When I've asked who SHOULD direct/star instead of Singer, people who dont' want Singer/Routh have no answer at all. (*with the exception of the Welling supporters, they do know who they want)

Be careful what you wish for.... you may get something far far worse than what you expect, if it's not specific. I'm fine with a reboot.....but 15-20 years from now, not under the current circumstances.

[indo77]

I don't agree with the argument against a recast/reboot decision. It may not be that big of a disaster - look what happened with the Hulk. A recast is simply not just about Routh, Kate Bosworth was horribly miscast in the role and looked extremely young. Her performance was deary and boring and I could care little for the character. How would they solve the abomination that was the "Kid" idea? They can't simply ignore it with the same cast.

[crazy_asian_man]

I don't agree with the argument against a recast/reboot decision. It may not be that big of a disaster - look what happened with the Hulk.

That's certainly your right to disagree.
But...do you have any better ideas on who to direct/recast instead?
You don't have to have a better idea...but....

A lot of that is colored by both of us probably by how we felt about SR--- I thought both Bosworth and the kid were great, you hated them- so, I know if I hated a film, I'd be for a reboot- if I absolutely hated it, I'd be fine with anything else....

....but I think that position opens the door for worse casting on director and actor choices--- (Remember that Burton, McG, Ratner and/or Nicolas Cage, Ashton Kucher or Brendan Fraser were all seriously considered in the past for Superman teams)--- so if you end up with any of these instead, having a vote of 'anyone but Routh/Singer'--- that's what you could get! (can that be disputed?)

The Hulk is not a good representation.
Why?

Because while SR might have mixed response with Supes fans, one is hard pressed to find ANYONE who liked Hulk #1--- Hulk and non-hulk fans alike. Also, very very few comic fans (if any) embraced Eric Bana (who would go on to play a muscular warrior for Troy) as the right pick for what was supposed to be a scrawny mild-mannered Bruce Banner (as in the original comics).... whereas Edward Norton 's always been of slight build and nobody seemed to dispute that he was a far better match.

So--- not a good representation for a reboot comparison.
It is, if you felt SR was a complete disaster--- (which some execs are apparently trying to paint SR as, even though it put more butts in seats at the theatre than Batman Begins)--and one felt that it was SUCH a complete disaster that Singer/Routh must go- but it's not if one looks at the bigger picture and sees how Singer's sequels have been superior to his first outings, even attracting people who may not have cared for the first one. (*Reviews on X2 by critics are leaps and bounds better than his first one, no reason to think that MOS wouldn't be leaps and bounds better than the first SR, too)

A better argument is to look at X2 to X1. Imagining MOS to SR with the same director/cast, rather than gamble from scratch.

Will millions and millions come out to see Ashton Kucher as Superman with Ratner directing? Is that really what's preferred?

[Deleted]

I'm sure for some here, it would be more interesting and entertaining than another awful Donner tribute.

[thepariah]

Sept 6, 2008 11:59:56 GMT -5 @ucfkevin said:

I'm sure for some here, it would be more interesting and entertaining than another awful Donner tribute.

Although with the initial film out of the way, there's less of a need--or rather, excuse--for homages. A sequel could more readily stand on its own as a unique story further away from the overt Donner influence.

[Deleted]

Exactly. Which is pretty much what Singer said is gonna happen, and was always what he said was gonna happen.

So what's the problem? If Singer's vision for Man of Steel is basically a story that has nothing to do with anything from a previous Superman movie and is starting over with it's cast, and going X2 on it, then that should be PLENTY fine for WB.

[thepariah]

Sept 6, 2008 12:52:09 GMT -5 @ucfkevin said:

Exactly. Which is pretty much what Singer said is gonna happen, and was always what he said was gonna happen.

So what's the problem? If Singer's vision for Man of Steel is basically a story that has nothing to do with anything from a previous Superman movie and is starting over with it's cast, and going X2 on it, then that should be PLENTY fine for WB.

Pretty much, lol. I'm always cracked up by his "unrelenting terror" quote.

I mean, I'm sure he'd be keeping the cast if it was up to him, since contracts for multiple films were probably signed--unless he was forced to start over by WB and was somehow placated to the point that he wouldn't walk away from it--but other than things like the crystal Fortress, which would be there for continuity's sake, throwback lines and winks to the previous films would be unnecessary, at least to the degree that they existed in SR. The character exploration and exposition have already happened--now it's time to go Empire Strikes Back on everything.

[crazy_asian_man]

Exactly. Which is pretty much what Singer said is gonna happen, and was always what he said was gonna happen.

So what's the problem? If Singer's vision for Man of Steel is basically a story that has nothing to do with anything from a previous Superman movie and is starting over with it's cast, and going X2 on it, then that should be PLENTY fine for WB.

I mean, I'm sure he'd be keeping the cast if it was up to him, since contracts for multiple films were probably signed--unless he was forced to start over by WB and was somehow placated to the point that he wouldn't walk away from it--but other than things like the crystal Fortress, which would be there for continuity's sake, throwback lines and winks to the previous films would be unnecessary, at least to the degree that they existed in SR. The character exploration and exposition have already happened--now it's time to go Empire Strikes Back on everything.

Excellent points, guys!