Superman: Will Sydney be the new Metropolis?

According to Variety, Warner Brothers has slated the next Superman movie for a fall 2004 start date in Australia. Neal Moritz (S.W.A.T.) and Gilbert Adler (Constantine) are in talks to produce. Original producer Jon Peters will remain onboard but not play a major role.


Superman will carry a $200 million budget. It has not yet been green-lit, and McG has not yet signed to direct. Location scouting Down Under gets underway soon.

Variety claims "Moritz's negotiations have been ticklish. Sony Pictures Entertainment staked him and his Original Films banner to a five-year renewal deal late last year, and sources said Col execs were aghast that he wanted to work for a rival studio on a time-consuming tentpole. Those hurdles appear to have been cleared."

J.J. Abrams' script "revolves around Superman's battle with Lex Luthor and a mysterious killer from Krypton who has come to hunt down the Man of Steel."

The trade also confirms that Warner Brothers wants to cast an unknown. Six actors screen-tested for the title role last week. The candidates include Jason Behr, Henry Cavill, Jared Padalecki and Michael Cassidy. "It is not a certainty one of them will be chosen," Variety cautioned.

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