The Chronicle screenwriter pitches the hypothetical sequel on Screen Junkies’ “Movie Fights.”
Max Landis, screenwriter of American Ultra, Chronicle, and the upcoming Victor Frankenstein, has recently appeared on “Movie Fights,” a topic based show presented by the YouTube channel Screen Junkies.
There, Landis gave an eccentric and detailed pitch for what he would like to see in a Man of Steel sequel. The entire Movie Fight can be seen here, or you can just watch his pitch below:
Here’s the basic rundown of Max’s idea: Following the destruction of Metropolis at the end of the first film, Superman becomes a divisive figure in the eye of the public, hated by most. Superman himself, Clark Kent, is overcome with grief and despair for inadvertently destroying the city, and he resolves to stop being a superhero.
Before Kent can hang up his cape, he is assigned to interview Lex Luthor for The Daily Planet, where he is given an interesting proposition. Luthor, recast by Landis as Tom Hanks, knows of Kent’s secret identity, and gives him an opportunity to repair his public image; which involves going out on missions instructed by Luthor. Reluctantly, Kent agrees, and through numerous heroic acts, Superman becomes an icon.
However, something isn’t right. During a mission, Superman encounters Batman, who warns him about Luthor, and offers Kent to team up with him instead. Superman refuses, and it isn’t long before Luthor’s evil intentions are revealed.
Luthor begins to trick Superman into capturing other superheroes like Wonder Woman and Green Arrow (aka, future Justice League members), claiming that they are dangerous.
This is, obviously, part of a malicious scheme created by Luthor to gain power and create his own army.
Eventually, Superman realizes he is being manipulated, and teams up with the Dark Knight to free the imprisoned heroes and take down Luthor.
The heroes defeat Luthor, the Justice League has formed, and Superman has been reborn as a hero.
Following his epic pitch, Landis admitted he would change some things, and that he knows that his ideas would clearly contradict with the incoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
It is also important to note that Landis was not thrilled with the destruction of Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel, and his pitch for the sequel acts as a response to the violence Superman was involved with during that film. You can watch his thoughts on Man of Steel below.
While the pitch itself is a little all over the place, one cannot deny that Landis is a capable storyteller, and even though the last film he scripted, American Ultra, divided critics, perhaps Warner Bros. should consider giving him a shot at writing the next Superman flick.
