Superman writer says ‘Man of Steel’ approached as ‘if were real’
Writer/director David S. Goyer has been building a lengthy resume of projects which include work on “Batman Begins,” producer on the “Blade” series and now the writer of the “Man of Steel” Superman reboot.
In the latest issue of Empire magazine, Goyer explains conceiving the story of “Man of Steel” with Christopher Nolan.
“We’re approaching Superman as if it weren’t a comic book movie, as if it were real.”
The writer praised the Richard Donner films, but added how today’s audience may not accept that style and approach.
“I adore the Donner films. Absolutely adore them. It just struck me that there was an idealist quality to them that may or may not work with today’s audience. It just struck me that if Superman really existed in the world, first of all this story would be a story about first contact.”
Goyer then detailed more specifics of handling Superman, literally the ‘Man of Steel.’
“He’s an alien. You can easily imagine a scenario in which we’d be doing a film like E.T., as opposed to him running around in tights. If the world found out he existed, it would be the biggest thing that ever happened in human history. It falls into that idea of trying to humanize the inhuman. He’s made out of steel, he’s not made out of flesh, metaphorically speaking. We are portraying him as a man, yet he’s not a man.”
Making Superman realistic was a huge challenge.
“It is obviously a much longer process with a character like Superman. It is much easier to do a realistic take on Batman. You know nothing can hurt Superman, presumably other than Kryptonite. The challenge was simply: can we figure out a way to make those elements work, quote unquote, in the real world? It’s very much a story of a man with two fathers.”
The March issue of Empire will be on newsstands this Thursday. You can also get hold of it on your iPad here and in the US.
“Man of Steel” is slated for release on June 14, 2013
