In my last article, I discussed what was wrong with the Superman franchise and hinted that a reboot would be the next logical step for the franchise. I then finished by saying that talk is cheap and I’d take peoples suggestions to write a plot for a new movie; this is that plot:

This is an updated version of the Superman franchise, bringing Supes back to his original roots, and starting the character off right. This movie should borrow heavily from John Byrne’s run in the 1980's, where we meet the cast for the first time.

My suggestion is to show the Kryptonians as complete bastards who are interested in their own advancement rather than what is best for their people.

In fact, if it were up to me, we’d pull a Godfather: Part II narrative style, where one shows Superman’s parents and how they’re fighting against the insurrection of General Zod, and the other part about Superman being raised and appearing in the world.

The Movie Begins...

The Superman portion would start off with an image of Ma and Pa Kent seeing a meteor fall on their drive home. They’d realize the falling object was a ship that contained a child, and that the boy in it was different. They’d wonder where he came from.

We’d then get a flashback to Superman being born from his Kryptonian mother (Mara), as his father leaves council to see his son. It’s a good thing he does, because half the Kyptomian council is blown up by a terrorist attack. The boy is named after his grandfather, Kel-El.

Jor-El then hears from his advisor about the attack and how the supporters of Zod are gathering. Jor-El is one of the few council members not incapacitated at the moment. Jor-El meets up with some of the people who survived the blast and plans to peacefully take down the rioters.

Now there’s a Smallville homage, where Clark is watching a football game with Lana Lang and his parents. After the game, Lana wants to take it to the next level with Clark, but Clark hears a fire in the distance and has to ditch her to help. Clark goes at Super Speeds to rescue people from a flaming barn, and he later learn that someone has taken a picture, but its too blurry to make out. He goes back to Lana who is mad at being ditched. Superman has a talk with his parents about revealing his powers to Lana, but they warn him against it.

Cut to Superman’s father fighting for freedom in the council, telling them that Zod’s supporters must be taken down as peacefully as possible. But the council wants to wipe them all out before they become strong enough to challenge them. Tensions raise and eventually Zod and Jor-El meet each other and talk, Jor-El finds out that Zod is fighting against the council for the right reasons, that Krypton is about to explode and take everyone out with him, so he wants to start a dictatorship to evacuate the planet. Jor-El tells him that if he was reasonable, the council would have listened to him. Zod disagrees. One of Zod’s men tries to assassinate Jor-El, but Jor-El is saved by Zod, who immediately kills the man. Jor-El goes to his home and starts looking at the data Zod gave him.

Clark is in Metropolis, and everyone thinks he is too small and nerdy except for Jimmy. Jimmy is also awkward and nerdy, so he immediatly relates to Clark. Lois is cruel to him since Perry White gave Clark a high paying job and wanted him to meet Lex Luthor with her. They go to Lex Luthor’s business party, where Luthor introduces a new power source, called Kryptonite, this makes Clark feel sick and leave the conference. Lois is mad that Clark left, but we are introduced to John Corban, who is going to test pilot one of Lex-Corps new Soldier-Suits.

Superman is outside and hears a robbery, he flies to stop it, and saves some hostages. He then hears reports about a hijacked airliner. Superman saves it, but (as a throwaway twist) a few Muslims on board take down the hijackers and save some lives. Superman is revealed, Lex Luthor’s project makes the back page of the daily planet. Lex is mad that Superman stole his spotlight and that he’s become the city’s new hero.

Clark, Jimmy, and Lois go to Luthor’s demonstration. Meanwhile we realize that Lex is pushing the project forward too fast and that the result is John Corban is destroyed in the suit on its initial take off. Clark wants to fly and help him, but can’t save him because of the effects of Kryptonite.

Luthor’s men rescue John, and it turns out that the kryptonite is somehow keeping his body functioning.

Back to Krypton, an all out war has broken out between Zod (now calling himself General Zod) and what’s left of the council. Jor-El hates both sides, but sticks with the council and takes down Zod and his forces. Zod demands death, but Jor-El wants him and his forces exiles to the Phantom Zone.

Luthor visits what’s left of John Corban, (Metallo) in his lab, and tells him that they tried their best to save him. He then opens a paper and tells him that since this mysterious Superman appeared, Metropolis has had no major incidents, except his. He then says that he’s replaced part of Corban’s brain with a synthetic one which he controls. Luthor calls the brain piece “the Metallico project,” and that he thinks the kryptonite acts as a neutralizing device for the Man of Steel. Luthor is about to unleash Metallo onto Metropolis.

Clark and Lois are establishing their chemistry and the Chief looks over Olsen’s photo’s of Superman saving the day. Perry White says something, when they are intrupted by car screeches and a big explosion. Perry tells them to go out and see what’s happening. Lois and Jimmy see what’s going on, Lois notices that Clark disappears. Jimmy is getting some dangerous shots, when Metallo throws a car at him; which is stopped (with one hand) by Superman.

Superman then asks Metallo to stop, and when the cyborg refuses, Superman flies in for a fist fight and punches him around the city. It looks like Superman is going to win, when Metallo opens his chest and reveals a lump of Kryptonite. This weakens Superman and lets him get knocked around for a bit. Superman is about to be defeated when Lois tries to save him, she fails and is about to be killed, giving Superman the reason he needs to attack and take Metallo out.

Lex Luthor comes with some new device and neutralizes Metallo. He then quarantines the body for government study, so that he can look good for the Cameras. Superman flies away and Clark appears, saying that he got trapped under some rubble.

Superman is now a national hero and Metropolis’ favourite son. The stranger is named Superman by Lois and Perry runs with it. Clark does some research into Lexcorp and finds that Lex is connected to the attacks, but can’t prove it. Superman flies to Lex’ window to give him a warning about his actions.

We then see Jor-El talking to the council, saying how Zod was right about the planet being doomed. They don’t believe him and plan to silence him in favour of order. Jor-El says he won’t object or try and leave the planet. Then he goes home to prepare his rocket ship as the planet falls apart. His newborn son is shot out into space, as the planet explodes. The last shot is of the ship falling onto the farm field and ends a few seconds before the first one. Then the title SUPERMAN: BEGINS (or whatever the finished title is called) comes up and the credits role.

Bonus: After the credits, we see Lex Luthor cutting out a piece of Kyrptonite from Metallo’s body and sticking it into his ring.

The Movie Ends

The sequel, Superman: Doomsday, is now posted.


Well, that is how I (the mild mannered Mike M.) would write a rebooted Superman movie. It would probably be close to 2 or 2.5 hours long, and it is made to be a franchise, so this film is building up to greater conflicts in future installments. I got a lot of other ideas on what to do with this franchise; if you want to hear them, or if you have ideas of your own you’d like to see, or praise or scorn for this script, please leave a comment. I like hearing what you guys think.



All fictional images and characters mentioned in this article are the property of DC Comics.