The do-gooder, clean-imaged Superman is changing, and it's not only about the positioning of his conspicuous underwear. SHIBAJI ROYCHOUDHURY talks to makers of Man of Steel to explore why the most unblemished superhero is changing, mostly into shades of an edgy grey
As Zack Snyder's Man of Steel is gearing up to hit the theatre this Friday, critics, comic book fans, bloggers, and in fact the entire world is awaiting its mammoth release. From Internet gossip and expert projections and a darker Superman suit, to the nostalgia of General Zod and lieutenant Faora — a lot has kept the anticipation levels high.
For decades, a relentlessly flying Superman carried the hopes of America’s comic book readers, going so far as to lift Hitler up in the air and kidnap him. But, thanks to 9/11 and the never ending financial crisis, America changed and so did Superman as Man of Steel. Superman, always characterised as the boy-scout, ever ready to do good, unable to take a life in spite of his almost endless powers has changed. He is darker, grimmer and, perhaps, not so good looking anymore. Or, that’s what director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan would have you believe.
A fact co-producer Charles Roven doesn't deny. “It isn’t a regular Superman film. It’s Zack Snyder’s baby and he is preparing the world audience for a new version as opposed to the conventional one,” he says.
“It’s in the spirit of making Superman — a very contemporary character. We’ve approached the film from the standpoint of what it would be like if there was an individual who looked like us, but had the ability to do things we could never do. We have tried to make it as real as it can get emotionally & visually,” he says. For the first time, Superman will be vulnerable to shades of grey.
Snyder’s wife Deborah says, “The way Zack has set this film up and shot it, it almost feels like a kind of Western face-off where Superman’s on one end and the Kryptonians on the other. It’s pure mayhem, and then it just gets more elevated.”
Think Superman and Christopher Reeve comes in wearing a sky blue body suit and that legendary red underwear. Year after year, the basics of the uniform remained the same, expect the shade of blue got darker. However, in the latest edition, Man of Steel will be seen in a completely new avatar. The suit is cutting-edge and for the first time, Superman has no red underwear on top. Costume designers James Acheson and Michael Wilkinson, who had been working on re-imaging the superhero for a long time, wanted a fresh concept. “As per Krypton mythology in comic book, Superman’s suit is made of the cloth his parents wrapped him in while sending him off the planet. However, we have introduced this new suit as a protective layer that every Kryptonian wears under layers of robes and armour. So, the suit has a history of its own,” Wilkinson explains.
A similar shift is seen in other comic book films. Batman is darker than ever. Green lantern has his fair share of problems. Hulk is angrier than ever, and so on. But Superman, most memorably portrayed as by Reeve, has always seemed in control — never conflicted, his S-shaped-lock of overhanging hair never out place. Even in the 2006 Superman Returns, the man of steel is dutifully the same.
The problem with Superman, as opposed to other superheroes, is that he has always been steadfastly devoted to his duty and invulnerability. His incredible array of powers, combined with his good looks makes him a rather dull character in today’s perception. If Snyder’s vision and first-look is taken into consideration, that trend is set to change.