A source at Warner Bros. was anxious to respond to the quotes we ran last week from Superman producer Jon Peters. According to the Warner insider, “The comments were the speculation of a producer based on an enthusiastic reaction to a new script that everybody likes but agrees still needs work.” The source stressed that Tim Burton is not necessarily off the project, as Peters had indicated. “We’re still talking to everyone involved in the project, including Tim Burton and Nicolas Cage. No decisions have been made about anything. All the pieces are not in place yet. It’s very premature, but this movie will be made.”

According to the source, rumors about director Brett Ratner — suddenly white-hot thanks to the success of Rush Hour — having been approached about helming the Supermovie are not true. And in a move sure to break many fanboys’ hearts, the source also said that Kevin Smith will definitely NOT be brought back in to brush up Dan Gilroy’s screenplay.

You thought the “Superman” movie was dead. It’s not, as Warner Bros. continues to push it through development hell.

By : Miss Information

All right movie buffs, Never let it be said that I don’t work hard for you. After much digging and cajoling and pulling of strings, I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of the latest draft of “Superman Lives” (SPRMN). I had previously read Kevin Smith’s (KSMIT) draft, and while I’m a big fan of the indie filmmaker, his “Superman” rewrite was plain awful. (Smith received $300,000 for three weeks work and later admitted that he procrastinated and wrote the whole script in the last five days.)

This latest draft, which had the date 9/20/98 on its cover page, was written by Dan Gilroy, a well-known script doctor. Gilroy’s produced credits include “Chasers” and “Freejack,” and he currently has several high profile projects set up around town.

Whatever Warner Bros. (WBDX) is paying Gilroy to work on “Superman,” it’s well worth it because the script has greatly improved since the Smith version. Here are some details about the script. Then I’ll update you on what’s happening with its eventual production. I should warn you, there are some spoilers below…

Fade In on Metropolis

The script weighs in at 111 pages and begins not unlike the 1980 Christopher Reeve version of “Superman,” with Jorel rocketing his son off the doomed planet of Krypton. However, in the yet-to-be-filmed version, it turns out Jorel had been working on a humanoid creation that went awry. It has taken on an evil life of its own and doesn’t like the fact that Jorel has given up on him in order to raise some puny little baby. Brainiac, who survives and feeds on electrical energy, destroys Krypton and vows to find Kal-el, Jorel’s son… Superman.

What’s interesting about the new script and what Gilroy has given the super-hero are some true character traits. You see, Clark Kent/Superman is unaware that he’s from another planet, nor is he certain why he has special powers, until Lex Luthor, a wealthy tycoon, announces that his satellites have discovered an alien spacecraft buried beneath the earth in a rural town named Smallville. The ship is literally buried in the backyard of the farm Kent grew up on. That’s when he realizes that he must be from another world.

It turns out Lois Lane and Superman are actually having an affair, though she wants more of a commitment from him while he is torn between his work and his personal life. (Sound familiar, girls?!) Clark Kent decides to tell Lois that he is really Superman over a Japanese dinner. It takes all the fun out of it if she is having an affair with Superman, and Clark has nothing to hide. How lame! That’s what was so touching about the previous Superman film.

Thanks to the unearthing of Superman’s escape pod, Braniac discovers his whereabouts in the galaxy and makes his way toward Earth. By the middle of the film, Braniac has taken over the body of Lex Luthor with the intent of finding and destroying Superman. In an amazing action sequence (often referred to as a set piece by industry types), Braniac actually succeeds in offing the super-hero, and he dies in Lois’ arms. Yes, Superman dies. I’ve given away so much by now, I don’t think I’m going to give away how he’s reborn and saves the world. I’ve gotta leave you in suspense until the movie is released. Just know that while the script may need a little work, it is in much better shape than any of the earlier drafts I’ve gotten my hands on.

The Story Behind the Story

Thankfully for all of us, it appears that Warner Bros. has figured out how to develop “Superman Lives” into a blockbuster film. (At least it looks that way after reading the script.) Many had reported the project dead, and indeed it was indefinitely postponed at one point. Remember, this is the same studio that released such summer hits as “The Avengers.” With all the bombs that have come out of Warner Bros., no executive was ready to sign off on any of the previous scripts.

With this new draft, Nicolas Cage (NCAGE) is said to have recommitted to the film. The film’s producer, Jon Peters (“Batman,” “The Color Purple,” “Rainman”), has confirmed this, claiming he didn’t want just a good-looking actor to play the role–he wanted an Academy Award winning actor. Now he’s got both. As for Tim Burton, the director is off shooting “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with Johnny Depp (JDEPP) and Christina Ricci (CRICC). He is definitely off the project. Instead, Peters and Warner Bros. are looking for an A-list action director to take his place. Last week, they submitted the script to Michael Bay (“Armageddon,” “The Rock”). Bay was said to be excited about reading it.

Finally, it appears “Superman Lives” may be on the right track to getting made. With Nicolas Cage in the lead and top-notch writers such as Dan Gilroy penning the script, it seems all the right moves are being made. Now, we just have to patiently await the news of a director signing on…