Gunn's 'Super' Announced

The realisitic perspective on the superhero is becoming to be a bit of a new trend. Films like The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Special and the upcoming "Defendor" and "Kick-Ass" are a spin on the superhero genre that shifts from heroes with powers to more or less a poor man's Batman or Iron Man. News broke yesterday that writer/director James Gunn is making his next film titled "Super" and it will be a dark comedy that will be grounded and not a over-the-top comedy. For all of the details, scroll down...


Variety broke the story yesterday stating that Gunn's "Super" would take "aim at the superhero genre" leaving room to speculate that the film could be a spoof comedy on superhero films. James Gunn quickly fired back by announcing the news himself on his own blog. Gunn wrote, "This is not a wacky, over-the-top comedy. Super is a dark, comedic, gritty, very unusual, and grounded film." The movie is being produced by Ted Hope and his banner This Is That. "Super" intends to begin production in December. 300 and Watchmen composer Tyler Bates will do the score for "Super" and it will be the second time he's worked with Gunn having done the score to Gunn's 2006 film Slither.

Rainn Wilson will play the lead in "Super", Frank D'Arbo, who watches as his wife leaves him for a local drug dealer. Frank then decides to dress up as a superhero called the Crimson Bolt taking his anger to the streets. James Gunn describes the character as, "he’s got no superpowers other than a pipe wrench." Gunn also explained that Rainn and himself had been working on the project for a couple months now. This news instantly brings to memory Rainn Wilson and Nathan Fillion's tweets about taking a project to DC. Could Fillion be the drug dealer that persuades Frank's wife away from him? There's no confirmation of that, but I hope so!

Two other cast members were also confirmed in the report by Variety and Gunn's blog. First up, playing Frank's wife is Liv Tyler. Ellen Page will also join the cast of "Super" and will play as Gunn describes her, "a young sociopath who dons a costume and forces herself into Frank’s life as his "kid sidekick."" Gunn also expressed how excited he was landing both actresses (which he said) were his first choices. He said, "They’re both amazing actresses and awesome people and I can’t wait to work with them!!"

There's is no denying that "Super" sounds a lot like "Kick-Ass" but with Gunn's unique eye and Rainn Wilson's sense of humor, I think there is room for a film in same vein. There are tons of examples of films that came in two's in the past like Dante's Peak and Volcano, Armageddon and Deep Impact, The Truman Show and Edtv or The Illusionist and The Prestige, so there's no reason "Defendor", "Kick-Ass" and "Super" can't all cover the same themes. Furthermore, there a ton of fantasy based comic book movies made or in some form of development and a having a couple that are a bit more grounded in reality is fine with me. More news on "Super" as it develops...

What say you? Does Super sound like something you'll want to see? Strikeback...