The Delayed Supersuit: Why No Sequel to Man of Steel?

The absence of a Man of Steel sequel has been a point of contention among fans for quite some time. Contrary to persistent beliefs, a sequel did come to light in 2016, titled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, the absence of an expected Superman follow-up has led to numerous questions and debates. In this article, we'll explore the reasons behind the delay and the current state of Superman in the DC Extended Universe.

1. The Phantom Zone Sequel That Wasn’t

It’s worth noting that Zack Snyder had initially planned a 5-film arc that would have encompassed Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and a Justice League trilogy. The concept of this arc was to be self-contained and similar in structure to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, due to changes in DC and Warner Bros.' (WB) plans and the unfortunate departure of Zack Snyder from the project, the idea of a direct Superman sequel has been put on hold.

It is important to mention that some speculation revolves around another Superman movie, where Brainiac and the other Kryptonians would make a return from the Phantom Zone. With WB's current direction and focus on a black Superman movie, it seems unlikely that a traditional Superman follow-up in the near future will eventuate. For now, the conversation is best ignored, as attempts to pursue such a movie would likely face significant obstacles.

2. The Challenges of the Superman Genre

Superman movies, as a genre, present unique challenges. The character is beloved and powerful, yet his storyline and capabilities often seem unapproachable. In Man of Steel, producers faced the challenge of making the General Zod a compelling villain while addressing the issue of Superman's omnipotence. This problem echoes that of making Wrath of Khan into a meaningful follow-up to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Additionally, DC and WB moved towards modern superhero movies that take place in the present day and desired a distinct visual aesthetic. The result was a film that was both flawed and divisive. Some of the critique includes:

($"{r "Mr Kent's death felt both heroic and foolish;r "The interpretation of Kryptonian technology was clunky and just plain ugly;r "Some of the effects looked like future technology was based on bad 3D printing;r "}")

Despite the line-up of actors, including Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Amy Adams, the end product was disappointingly poor.

3. The Influence of Kevin Tsujihara

The reasons why there wasn’t a Man of Steel sequel can be attributed to the business decisions of Kevin Tsujihara, the president and CEO of Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Tsujihara's focus on high box office numbers has been a significant factor. In a Google search, under the query “tsujihara man of steel interview billion dollars,” Tsujihara's interviews before the release of Man of Steel can be found where he stated that anything short of $1 billion would be considered a failure. When the film didn’t hit that mark, Tsujihara immediately began to meddle with the plans, pressurizing Zack Snyder to produce Batman v Superman at an accelerated pace.

The rapid changes led to a disjointed and rushed film. Tsujihara's demands for quick outcomes and his own bonus due to perceived mediocrity resulted in the disastrously rushed second Batman v Superman film. Further emphasizing the need for a supervisor like Kevin Feige, who can reign in a visionary director's ambitions, Snyder's ideas would likely have been refined under better project management.

In conclusion, the delayed Man of Steel sequel can be largely attributed to business-driven decisions and the creative pressures faced by director Zack Snyder. As the DC Universe continues to evolve, fans can only hope for a return to more thoughtful and well-executed Superman stories.

Keywords

Man of Steel Superman sequel Batman v Superman