The Pitch - Superman Versus The Elite

So this is how the new version of The Pitch is going to work; rather than breaking down every element of the film and even going so far as to "fan-cast" it, I'm going to be approaching this from more of a Production standpoint. How is the film going to work, what are the major plot points and what themes are we trying to translate into the film? Not only will these be quicker for me to write, but they should also be more to the point and, hopefully a more interesting read.


Superman Versus The Elite

I've written a bit about Superman films and how I believe they should work before, but part of what makes Superman Versus The Elite such an engaging story is how it challenges several questions that people often ask of the character of Superman. I think it's pretty telling when people ask "if Superman is so powerful, why doesn't he just fly the problem into the sun?" that the person asking isn't really all that familiar with Superman beyond perhaps a couple of the films. Superman is intended as a symbol of hope, which is where we want to take him over the next three films, raising him to the level of secular saint. Before we get there though, we need to shake the idea that Superman punching people is the most interesting part of the character. 

The film will pretty much follow the same basic structure as the Superman Versus The Elite animated film, with the first act introducing The Elite and having some political commentators challenge Superman's approach, the second act starting the conflict with the escalation into the final act. Because this film will be part of a series, the extra sections to bulk out the run-time to around 90mins will be world-building, introducing the new Lex Luthor, name-drops for Keystone City and Booster Gold, that sort of thing. This is a Superman film, however, so that's our focus, no cameos of characters outside his mythos, but we lay in the Fortess of Solitude, Luthor, Parasite, Metallo and the Phantom Zone to pay off in later films. They're not fully explained, just mentioned or shown briefly so that people know that they're there.

Superman Versus The Elite will be the most action-heavy of the films we're doing, with plenty of special effects and big fight scenes, especially the blow-out between Superman and Manchester Black in the last act. This is not only to put butts into seats, but the story of Superman Versus The Elite challenges the idea that Superman needs to fight to affect change, which will form the narrative through-line of the trilogy. 

Adaptation 

Naturally, some things need to change with adaptation, such is the nature of the beast and also of SWG rules. Honestly, in terms of scripting, it's not that big a deal, as the only part of the animated film that really needs to be quoted verbatim is Superman's big speech at the end, the one with the "How does it feel to be deconstructed?" bit, but maybe for fun put part of the "I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard" speech from Justice League Unlimited. Give Lois more dialogue, even if she's just talking to Supes or Jimmy, don't shoot Jimmy in the face and keep the red trunks on the costume even if it looks dumb because some traditions are important, damn it. 

The Fortress of Solitude looks like it does in the Donner films, Metropolis is retro-futuristic in a sleek 1950s style, the brief appearance of the Phantom Zone is closest to how it appears in Justice League Unlimited, but if a designer on the staff can come up with something better, that's good too. Unlike Supergirl, Manchester Black will have a full chest tattoo, not a shirt, but his race isn't super relevant. Coldcast, Menagerie and Hat need some changes, not simply to round them out to full characters, but each of them is a little not PC in their own way. Sure, Menagerie can be more sexual than Lois, but slut-shaming her has to go, as does Hat's consequence-free alcoholism and the examined slavery references around Coldcast. 

Oh, and we're doing the post-credits stuff, I don't care if it's copying Marvel Studios, it's a fun device and works for the serial storytelling of this genre. In this instance, we reveal the new Zod, who really needs to be in a Terrance Stamp style costume rather than the dumb Man of Steel power armour.