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Superman 'so not gay'
09 June 2006-After weeks of Internet buzzing that the new Superman
movie portrays the Man of Steel as gay, the director of the film issued
a strong denial on Friday and said it was the most heterosexual
character he has filmed.
Superman "is
probably the most heterosexual character in any movie I've ever made,"
said Bryan Singer, director of "Superman Returns," a new movie about the
crime-fighting superhero that opens June 28. "I don't think he's ever
been gay."
In recent months,
the movie's ability to lure its target audience has been questioned by
Internet buzz probing the superhero's sexuality.
Young men are the
movie's target audience and the film needs to attract millions of them
to earn a profit and relaunch the "Superman" film franchise.
A major gay
magazine, The Advocate, ran a cover story with the headline: "How Gay is
Superman," and the Los Angeles Times weighed in with its own story on
whether being gay might hinder or help the movie's box office receipts.
After all, gay
romance "Brokeback Mountain" won awards and raked in $178 million
worldwide.
So he wears a
leotard and flies around in a red cape. Big deal, Singer said, noting
Spider-Man wears tights. The X-Men do too, and they aren't gay. Singer
ought to know, he directed 2000's "X-Men" movie and 2003's "X2: X-Men
United."
Singer said his
version of the Man of Steel, who is played by Brandon Routh, is a "very
romantic icon" -- handsome, virtuous and vulnerable.
In the movie,
Superman comes back to Earth after a five- year absence. Early on,
audiences learn the love of his life, hard-charging reporter Lois Lane,
has moved on from her infatuation with him. She has a new boyfriend and
a child.
Yet when he
re-enters her life, Lois still has that sexy gleam in her eye, and he
can't wait to fly her to the moon.
"We were all
scratching our heads," said Paul Levitz, president and publisher of
Superman owner DC Comics. "He's not a gay character."
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