Distributors
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)

Special Effects
Digital Sandbox
Neil Corbould Special Effects Ltd.
Photon VFX (miniature visual effects)
Pixel Liberation Front (pre-visualization services)
Rhythm & Hues (visual effects)
Rising Sun Pictures (pre-visualization services)
Sony Pictures Imageworks (visual effects)
The Orphanage (visual effects)

Other Companies
Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Inc. ... dollies

Taglines
Look To The Sky.

Plot Summary
Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world's most beloved superheroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman's bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.

Comic-Con falls in love with new Man of Steel
SAN DIEGO -- Superman is back. On Saturday morning, some 6,500 sci-fi, fantasy and comic book fans jammed the frigid Hall H at the airport-scale San Diego Convention Center as director Bryan Singer introduced the first footage anyone has seen from Superman Returns, the latest attempt to revive the DC Comics franchise. "It's one of the largest films Warner Bros. has ever made," Singer told the crowd. The fans at the 36th annual Comic-Con International gave the early assemblage -- for which Singer flew in from the set in Sydney -- a rousing standing ovation. "This is Comic-Con, and it is 'Superman, ' " the director said. "If there was ever a time to make the long flight for a short visit, this was it." According to producer Chris Lee, Singer hasn't decided whether to post the teaser on the Internet, but the filmmakers will put it up swiftly if a bootleg version is posted. Superman Returns is scheduled for release June 30.

'Superman' debuts Genesis
Warner Bros. Pictures' Superman Returns is taking a historic flight as the first movie to shoot with the Panavision Genesis digital cinematography cameras. Director Bryan Singer is filming with a fleet of the latest digital cinema cameras developed over a three-year period as a collaborative effort between Panavision and Sony. In creating the Genesis, Panavision, the storied Hollywood camera house, took some of the best attributes of its professional film cameras and adapted them for the digital world. At the heart of the Genesis is a Sony high-definition digital imaging device that allows use of all existing Panavision 35mm lenses with which most Hollywood motion picture film crews are very familiar.

Spacey Enrages Fans with 'Superman' Departure
Screen star Kevin Spacey has angered fans who bought tickets for his theatre company's production of The Philadelphia Story - as he is no longer performing in it. Spacey, who is artistic director at London's Old Vic, has added an injection of Hollywood glamour to London's theaterland, and fans were keen to see him in the production, which opened last month. But the star leaves the play this week to work on the new Superman Returns movie. And theatre-goers, who paid over $70 per ticket to see Spacey, are seething that they were not warned of the star's departure, as news of his replacement Adrian Lukis came too late for details to be publicized on the posters.

Superman Stays the Same
Bryan Singer has snubbed the temptation to alter Superman's costume, choosing instead to stick religiously to the look made famous by Christopher Reeve and the original comic books. Pictures of new Superman actor Brandon Routh in the traditional blue body suit, red tights and cape have been released to widespread applause, following fears director Singer would tamper with the superhero's wardrobe - like he did with the X-Men characters. But Singer - who replaced the X-Men comic book creations' fluorescent spandex suits with dark leather uniforms - insists there would be no point in changing Superman's appearance in Superman Returns. He says, "I always had the general idea of the suit. With X-Men, although they had extraordinary powers, they also had physical weaknesses. The suits were for protection as well as costume. Superman is the Man of Steel. Bullets bounce off him, not the suit."

Jackman Flies In for Secret 'Superman' Filming?
Hugh Jackman is in his native Australia secretly shooting scenes for pal Bryan Singer's upcoming Superman movie. Website IESB.Net reports Jackman will play Clark Kent's adoptive father Jonathan Kent in flashback scenes in the much anticipated Superman Returns. Newcomer Brandon Routh will play Superman/Clark Kent in the new film, while movie veteran Eva Marie Saint will play his adoptive mother Martha Kent. The film also features Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Parker Posey, James Marsden, Frank Langella and Kal Penn, as well as archive footage of the late Marlon Brando, who played Superman's father Jor-El in the first Superman film in 1978.

WB's 'Superman' taps Langella as new Planet editor
Frank Langella has stepped into the role of Perry White in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns for Warner Bros. Pictures. Hugh Laurie originally was cast in the role but bowed out because of a scheduling conflict with his TV series, House, MD. The series, on which Singer is executive producer, has proved a surprise hit and was just picked up for a second season. Laurie had not yet shot any scenes on the movie, which began production March 21 in Australia. In the Superman canon, White is the editor of the Daily Planet, the newspaper where Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, works as a journalist. In Singer's version, White has a son named Richard, played by James Marsden, who is Lois Lane's love interest. Langella played Count Dracula in Universal Pictures' 1979 Dracula. His other credits include TV's Unscripted and the features Sweet November and the upcoming House of D. Langella is repped by Peter Strain and Associates.

'Superman' shoot means big bucks for New South Wales
SYDNEY -- The filming of Warner Bros.' Superman Returns will create over 10,000 jobs and generate more than AUS$100 million ($77.4 million) for the New South Wales economy, the state government announced Friday. "It's going to be one of the biggest film projects ever made in Australia -- bigger than each of the individual 'Matrix' films," NSW Treasurer Dr. Andrew Refshauge said of the prequel to the blockbusters that starred the late Christopher Reeve. The second and third installments of the Matrix franchise generated in excess of 800 full-time positions over 18 months, 2,500 part-time jobs and AUS$200 million for NSW, a government spokesperson said. The Joel Silver-produced sequels provided work for 60 actors and 10,000 days of work collectively for extras. Cast and crew required more than 20,000 hotel nights during their Sydney stay.

Australia Says 'Superman' Brings Super Rewards
Australian officials are waxing euphoric over the apparently limitless budget Warner Bros. has given Superman Returns, which began production in the state of New South Wales last month. The state's treasurer, Dr. Andrew Refshauge, told the Australian Associated Press, "It's going to be one of the biggest film projects ever made in Australia -- bigger than the Matrix trilogy." He said that it will generate A$100 million (US$77 million) for the state's economy and create more than 10,000 jobs.

Posey Joins 'Superman' Cast
Actress Parker Posey has joined the cast of the much-anticipated new Superman Returns movie. The House of Yes actress, currently co-starring onstage in Hurlyburly in New York with Ethan Hawke, will play Kitty Koslowski, Lex Luthor's villainous sidekick in the as-yet-untitled Bryan Singer film. Already set to appear in the picture are Brandon Routh as Superman, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, Hugh Laurie as Perry White, James Marsden as Richard White, Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor.

'Superman' Sets Down in Australia
Brandon Routh, cast as the next Superman, and Eva Marie Saint, who will play the superhero's mother, have arrived in Tamworth, Australia, about 250 miles north of Sydney, to begin filming Superman Returns. Producer Chris Lee told the Tamworth Northern Daily Leader that about two weeks of filming would take place in the area, which doubles for the Kansas farmland where Clark Kent grew up, while the main production is set for Sydney's Fox Studio. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. on Thursday dismissed as simply "a Web-based rumor" reports that director Bryan Singer plans to use footage that the late Marlon Brando shot for Superman II, but which was never included in the film. Brando played the Man of Steel's father, Jor-El, in the original Superman movie and shot a handful of scenes for the sequel at the same time. In his autobiography, he wrote that when producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind asked to use the footage in the second film, "I asked for my usual percentage, but they refused, and so did I." Ironically, if a deal with Brando's estate is indeed concluded, the new film would, for the first time, bring Brando together again in a movie with Saint, with whom he starred in On the Waterfront more than 50 years ago. Both won Oscars for their performances.

Penn turns evil for Superman role
Kal Penn has joined the cast of Bryan Singer's Superman Returns movie for Warner Bros. Pictures. Penn, who starred in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, will play Lex Luthor's right-hand man, a genius henchman named Stanford. Kevin Spacey is playing Luthor. Penn joins a cast that includes Brandon Routh as Superman, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, Hugh Laurie as Perry White, James Marsden as Richard White and Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen. Producing the film are Jon Peters, Singer and Gilbert Adler. Chris Lee is executive producing, and Stephen Jones is co-producing. Polly Cohen is overseeing for the studio. Penn also has landed the starring role in director Mira Nair's latest project, The Namesake, playing the son of Indian immigrants who wants to fit in with his fellow New Yorkers. He also just signed on to appear in the last six episodes of HBO's Six Feet Under as the boyfriend of Lauren Ambrose's character. Penn, repped by Gersh, Dan Spilo at Evolution Entertainment and attorney Michael Fuller, gained attention for his comedic performance in Van Wilder.

Writers
Characters
Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Story
Bryan Singer and
Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Screenplay
Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris

Producers
Gilbert Adler ... producer
Stephen Jones ... co-producer
Chris Lee ... executive producer
Jon Peters ... producer
Bryan Singer ... producer

Cast - in credits order
Brandon Routh ... Clark Kent/Superman
Other credited cast listed alphabetically
Stephan Bender ... Young Clark Kent
Kate Bosworth ... Lois Lane
Marlon Brando ... Jor-El (archive footage)
Sam Huntington ... Jimmy Olsen
James Karen ... Ben Hubbard
Frank Langella ... Perry White
James Marsden ... Richard White
Mike Massa ... 777 Pilot
Ted Maynard ... News Anchor
Noel Neill ... Previously Wealthy Woman
Kal Penn ... Stanford
Parker Posey ... Kitty Koslowski
Ian Roberts ... Riley
Eva Marie Saint ... Martha Kent
Kevin Spacey ... Lex Luthor
Vincent Stone ... Henchman
Peta Wilson ... Flight Attendant

Original Music
John Ottman
John Williams (original themes)

Cinematographers
Newton Thomas Sigel

Editors
Elliot Graham
John Ottman

Casting Directors
Roger Mussenden
Ann Robinson

Production Designers
Guy Dyas

Art Directors
Hugh Bateup
Damien Drew
Lawrence A. Hubbs
Catherine Mansill
John Pryce-Jones
Charlie Revai
Charlie Reval

Set Decorators
Brian Dusting

Costume Designers
Louise Mingenbach

Make Up Department
Nikki Gooley ... makeup designer

Production Managers
Jennifer Cornwell ... unit production manager
Steven Kaminsky ... post-production supervisor
Andrew G. La Marca ... production manager
Cherylanne Martin ... unit production manager
Bill Draper ... executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Directors or Assistant Directors
Rpin Suwannath ... second unit news anchor director
Joshua Watkins ... third assistant director: second unit
Jeffrey Wetzel ... first assistant director

Art Department
Hugh Bateup ... supervising art director
Richard K. Buoen ... illustrator
Matt Center ... assistant art department coordinator
J. André Chaintreuil ... digital set designer
Todd Cherniawsky ... set designer
Derek Fisher ... previs designer
Collin Grant ... storyboard artist
Ted Haigh ... graphic designer
Gabriel Hardman ... storyboard artist
Andreas Hikel ... previsualisation artist
Rob Johnson ... digital set designer
Nancy A. King ... art department coordinator
E.J. Krisor ... illustrator
Scott Lukowski ... key model maker
Josh Lusby ... set designer
Joseph Magazenni ... assistant art department coordinator
Victor James Martinez ... digital set designer
Marian Murray ... assistant set decorator
Rick Newsome ... storyboard artist
James Oxford ... illustrator
Rudi Tuisk ... on-set vehicle co-ordinator
Tim Wilcox ... digital illustrator
Dean Wolcott ... assistant art director
Matt Worth ... action vehicles

Sound Department
Dan Murphy ... sound syncist
Steven Noble ... sound syncist

Special Effects Department
David Brighton ... special effects assistant supervisor
Neil Corbould ... special effects supervisor
Eric Cotton ... special effects gimbal operator
Eric Cotton ... special effects technician
Jabin Dickins ... special effects floor supervisor: second unit
Andrew Hardingham ... senior modelmaker
Lee Rider ... special effects senior technician
Corina Rosca ... special effects administrator
David Trethewey ... special effects senior technician
Gareth Wingrove ... special effects senior technician
Dave Young ... special effects director
David Young ... special effects supervisor: Australia
Seph Zdarko ... senior special effects electronics technician

Visual Effects Department
Scott E. Anderson ... visual effects and imaging consultant: Digital Sandbox
Kevin Baillie ... associate visual effects supervisor: The Orphanage
Christopher Batty ... lead previsualization artist
James Colmer ... concept artist: visual effects miniatures
Matt Davis ... aerial effects-spydercam
Raffael Dickreuter ... digital artist: Pixel Liberation Front
Malcolm Eager ... data wrangler
Jody Echegaray ... visual effects producer: The Orphanage
Eyal Erez ... effects animation lead
Derek Fisher ... previs designer
Michael Kanfer ... visual effects and imaging consultant: Digital Sandbox
Luis Labrador ... senior modeler
Shawn Lovette ... pre-visualization artist
Adam Martinez ... CG supervisor: The Orphanage
Scott McGinley ... previsualization artist
Louise McNicholl ... visual effects vendor coordinator
James Nicholas ... third assistant director: visual effects unit
Rob Nunn ... previsualization artist
Paul Ozzimo ... digital model maker
Scott Paider ... Spydercam head rigger
Tanissa Potrovitza ... digital producer
John Richardson ... model maker
Darin Rivetti ... first assistant director: Los Angeles
Kyle Robinson ... pre-vis supervisor
Jonathan Rothbart ... visual effects supervisor: The Orphanage
Marc Sadeghi ... executive visual effects producer: The Orphanage
Dean Satkowski ... digital model maker
David Scott ... art director: Rising Sun Pictures
Todd Semmes ... spydercam coordinator/rigging
Boyd Shermis ... visual effects supervisor
Mayumi Shimokawa ... matte painter: SPI
Mayumi Shimokawa ... texture painter: SPI
Dong Yeop Shin ... visual effects
Andrew M. Siegel ... property master: Los Angeles unit
Ben Britten Smith ... Spydercam flight control
Mark Stetson ... visual effects supervisor
Rpin Suwannath ... lead previs
Ryan Tudhope ... digital environment supervisor: The Orphanage
Bruno Vilela ... CG supervisor: SPI
Clint Wallace ... CGI artist
James Whitlam ... executive producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Peipei Yuan ... previsualization artist
Harrison Hays ... render coordinator: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)

Stunts
Mike Massa ... lead stunt double
R.A. Rondell ... stunt coordinator
Igor Smiljevic ... stunts
Glenn Suter ... stunt coordinator

Miscellaneous Crew
Mary Barltrop ... location assistant
Alex Betuel ... production assistant
Linda Booher-Ciarimboli ... specialty costume supervisor
Dan Bronson ... costume supervisor
Chris Bustard ... extras casting: additional photography
Patti Carns Kalles ... casting: Seattle
Shaun Conway ... gaffer
Nicholas Copping ... production coordinator
Renee D. Czarapata ... first assistant accountant
Mark Robert Ellis ... baseball coordinator
Liza Espinas-Regnier ... first assistant editor
Joe Everett ... unit publicist
Cindy Gollagher ... assistant production coordinator
Lindsey Hayes Kroeger ... casting associate
Kate Hilliard ... assistant production coordinator
Eric Hooge ... assistant location manager
Jason James ... casting: Seattle
Jimmy E. Jensen ... first assistant camera
Elly Kamal ... costume supervisor
Jon Ko ... set medic
Melissa Kostenbauder ... casting assistant
Mariann H.W. Lee ... extras casting
James Lin ... location scout
Peni Loloa ... best boy
Aimee McDaniel ... assistant baseball coordinator
Calum McFarlane ... camera operator
Brett McManus ... second assistant editor
Todd McMullen ... camera operator
Reza Mokhtar ... unit caterer
Virginia Murray ... production coordinator
Terry Notary ... coach: choreographer
Andy Novak¹ ... production assistant: second unit
Elizabeth Rice ... wardrobe assistant
Dan Riddle ... production assistant
Sonny Ritscher ... production accountant
Phillip Roope ... location supervisor
Kate Sargeant ... casting assistant
Russell Shinkle ... specialty costume fabricator: Film Illusions Inc.
Philip A.T. Smith ... second assistant camera
Matt Toll ... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kacy Treadway ... specialty costumes
Mish Twombly ... assistant to executive producer: preparation, Los Angeles
Kate Royce Walters ... production secretary
Matt Walters ... assistant production coordinator
Zoe White ... camera trainee
Carl Wood ... location manager
Chris Vogler ... story consultant (uncredited)

Trivia
When this project was originally in pre-production in the mid-1990s, Tim Burton was attached to direct, Nicolas Cage was attached as Superman, Jack Nicholson as Lex Luthor and Sandra Bullock as Lois Lane.

Bryan Singer was picked to direct after the studio was impressed with 'Christopher Nolan (I)' 's naturalized version of Batman in Batman Begins and thought that Singer could bring the same gritty real world feel to Superman.

Before Kate Bosworth was cast as Lois Lane some other actresses being considered included - Elisha Cuthbert, Claire Danes, and Keri Russell.

After Brett Ratner's departure, and with the success of Charlie's Angels, McG was tipped to direct the film in 2001. He left the project in 2002, went to do Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and came back aboard the project in 2004, but left it again after disagreements over budget and filming location. Warner Bros. had wanted to move from New York City to Australia, but McG felt that "it was inappropriate to try to capture the heart of America on another continent".

While the project was under Brett Ratner's supervision, actors Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker, Matthew Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Ashton Kutcher, David Boreanaz, Ian Somerhalder, Henry Cavill and Jerry O'Connell were considered for the part of Superman. Brett Ratner left the project primarily because he and Warner Bros. executives could not agree on who to cast as Superman.

Anthony Hopkins was set to play Jor-El of Krypton, but after Ratner left, Hopkins did the same.

Johnny Depp was considered for the roles of Lex Luthor and Jor-El.

Actors that McG was screening before his departure include Jason Behr and Jared Padalecki for the role of Superman, Scarlett Johansson for Lois Lane and Shia LaBeouf for Jimmy Olsen.

Warner Bros. bought the rights to Superman from producer Alexander Salkind in 1993. Since 1993, when Warner Brothers attempted to restart the franchise Superman, nearly $50 million had been spent trying to get the film going. This includes concept art and storyboards throughout the years, as well as having McG's version almost completely pre-visualized.

The script that Kevin Smith originally wrote and submitted to Warner Bros. that immedately had Tim Burton attached to it, was based on D.C. Comics 1993 series in which Superman was killed by a creature named Doomsday and then brought back to life more powerful than before. After a lengthy development process, Warner Bros. chose not to go with Smith's script and hiring other writers, such as Alias' creator J.J. Abrams to revive the series.

It took ten years and three vastly different directors to finally get the project off the ground.

Tim Burton's "Superman Lives" was far enough into pre-production at the time it was canceled that the studio had already designed a teaser poster to be displayed in theatres. It consisted of a stylized silver "S" shield set against a black background, with the phrase "Coming 1998" displayed across the bottom third of the poster. Finalized copies of the poster were printed up, but it's unclear how many were made before the movie was called off.

When Bryan Singer took over this project, he immediately brought over his production staff consisting of cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel, composer/editor John Ottman, production designer Guy Dyas, and writers Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty from the upcoming X-Men 3, which is in pre-production, to meet Warner Bros. release date for the film in 2006.

Alias creator and writer J.J. Abrams wrote a complete shooting draft of the script which was the one that both Brett Ratner and McG were planning to shoot when they both left the project for both creative and budget reasons. Abrams script has now been rejected by studio opting to go with X-Men writers Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty for a new screenplay.

Actors including Eric Christian Olsen, Topher Grace, and Shawn Ashmore were being considered for the role of Jimmy Olson before Sam Huntington was cast.

James Caviezel expressed great interest in the role of Superman, but director Bryan Singer refused to cast him because he felt that Caviezel was "too famous" after starring in The Passion of the Christ.

Director Bryan Singer decided on using stock footage of Marlon Brando that was originally shot by Superman director Richard Donner for the Singer version. Brando and Christopher Reeve were once filmed interacting with one another to be used in Superman II, but due to a lawsuit against the Salkinds for a percentage of the sequel, the scenes were deleted and re-shot using the mother instead.

The crew in Tamworth grew their own corn, it took twelve weeks for them to get the corn just right

The Kent farm was originally built on a sound stage and then was disassembled and then moved over to Tamworth Australia where it was reconstructed and redressed

It was filmed in Sydney, Australia at Fox Studios. The Kent family home was filmed in Tamworth, Australia.

Mischa Barton and Keira Knightley were considered for the role of Lois Lane.