We're not exactly sure what the reaction will be from Warner Bros or DC, but there's a Superman film of sorts on the way based on part of the Man Of Steel's non-fiction history: Superman Vs The KKK.
To be produced by Lotus Entertainment and Paperchase Films, and written by Katherine Lindberg, it's inspired by the real-life story behind a 1946 The Adventures Of Superman radio drama, "Clan Of The Fiery Cross."
It's actually to be based on the 2012 book Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan: The True Story Of How The Iconic Superhero Battled The Men Of Hate, written by Rick Bowers.
Lotus Entertaiment's Bill Johnson says, "The themes of this true story fall right in line with the type of stories that inspired me to want to make movies in the first place."
In an interview with hbook, Bowers reflected, "Superman was first dubbed the 'champion of the oppressed' and only later became famous as the champion of truth, justice, and the American way. The original Superman had a strong social conscience that led him to thwart wife beaters, corrupt politicians, greedy industrialists, foreign dictators, and Nazi spies."
He added that the character was created during the FDR years, and was something of a "super New Dealer" who was there for the every man and woman, believing that everyone could and should work together to make the world a better place.
"Given all that history, it figures that the Man of Steel would one day take on the men of hate," Bowers mused. "Superman was shaped as a force for openness and fairness and a positive future for all. The KKK was openly anti-Semitic, hostile to liberal democracy, and wanted to turn the clock back."
Back in 1946, Stetson Kennedy, a human rights activist, went undercover in the KKK, but grew fearful that there were actually connections between that organization and the government. As a solution to possible corruption, he got in touch with the producers of the Superman radio show in the hopes they'd be interested to use what he knew in an upcoming story arc. They were. He provided a great deal of information, including secret codewords and details about their rituals. The impact against the Klan was definitely felt in terms of membership and exposure.
Enthuses producer Marc Rosen, “Fighting the forces of evil with brain over brawn, artists taking down bullies, and the power of a good piece of content, it’s a real case of truth being cooler than fiction."
Adds producer Marco Vicini, “The story behind Superman Vs the KKK really struck a chord with me. Right away I knew I wanted to relive it by being a part of the nonviolent resistance against oppression.”
This film's closest "cousin" would likelky be Hollywoodland, starring Ben Affleck as TV Superman George Reeves.