Is Routh Out As Superman?

Remember when Brandon Routh was supposed to be Superman for the next generation? Yeah, maybe not so much.

Will we ever see this again? I mean, we can see this picture anytime, but I mean a new pictures, with Brandon Routh in similar clothes/pose.

Routh’s high-profile debut as the Man of Steel in Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” didn’t quite fail, but it didn’t lead to box office or critical ecstasy either. As a result, a follow-up movie has lingered on Warner Brothers’ backburner while it concentrated on Batman. Occasional half-hearted mumbles about a Superman sequel or even (the dreaded) reboot have risen to the surface, but the WB doesn’t seem to be in a hurry.

So does Routh know anything about this? Well, Think McFly Think posted  a translation of an interview Routh did with Omelete from the set of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The original translation from Portuguese to English is here. The translation was done by Google translator, so it is perhaps missing some nuances, but it’s also pretty funny sometimes. When Routh discusses his disappointment with WB for concentrating on the Batman movies, despite ”Batman Begins” lower box office than “Superman Returns,” the site has it translated as “Man-Bat.” (Note to Mr. Routh: ”Batman Begins” had much better reviews.) And his admission that “Superman” could have used more action comes out like this:

“I think missing some beating. You know, it is curious, but in the middle of the show I realized it - I just noticed that caught the whole movie and had no chance to retaliate.”

Don’t worry, Brandon, the critics provided some beating.

In the end, he says two important things (if they’re correctly translated): that while he says he’s sure Warner Brothers is getting going on a sequel, he knows nothing about it. He also said that he is not under contract to play Superman; I don’t know whether he was never under contract for a sequel, or if WB had an option and let it run out. This could mean that WB is actually  passing on a sequel and have signalled this by letting his contract run out, OR they are planning on a sequel, but are recasting and just quietly letting Routh go without any discussion. Either make for fun speculation.