Michael B. Jordan ‘developing his own rival black Superman project for HBO Max’… separate to J.J. Abrams movie with Warner Bros.
- Jordan’s version is expected to follow the black character Calvin Ellis/Val Zod from the comics, rather than Clark Kent/Kal-El who is white
- This is separate from J.J. Abrams’ project, who is also producing a black Superman movie for Warner Bros.
- Jordan, 34, was previously linked to the Abrams project, but appeared to deny his involvement saying: ‘I’m just watching on this one’
- Comic book writer Grant Morrison has said he was inspired by Barack Obama when he created the character Calvin Ellis
Actor Michael B. Jordan is developing his own black Superman project for HBO Max, it has been revealed.
Collider reports that Jordan and his production company Outlier Society are working on a project that centers on the Val-Zod incarnation of the character, with the actor potentially slated to star.
This is a separate project from the one being developed by J.J. Abrams and his company Bad Robot, who are also producing a black Superman movie for Warner Bros., expected to be based on the Kal-El/Clark Kent version of the character.
Jordan’s version is expected to follow the black character Calvin Ellis/Val Zod from the comics, rather than Clark Kent/Kal-El who is white.
Ready to soar: Actor Michael B. Jordan is developing his own black Superman project for HBO Max, it has been revealed
Jordan, 34, was previously linked to the Abrams project, but appeared to deny his involvement saying in late April: ‘I’m flattered that people have me in that conversation. It’s definitely a compliment, but I’m just watching on this one.’
Ta-Nehisi Coates, the acclaimed novelist who expanded the world of Wakanda for Marvel comics, is writing the script for the Abrams version and is expected to turn it in to Warner Bros bosses in December.
Collider cites a recent editorial by Jamie Broadnax for Black Girl Nerds that gives some context as to why Jordan has opted to produce his own version.
Coming soon? Jordan and his production company Outlier Society are working on a project that centers on the Val-Zod incarnation of the character, according to a report
Inspiration: Comic book writer Grant Morrison has said he was inspired by Barack Obama when he created the character (pictured above)
A source told the writer: ‘Jordan has not wanted to engage in conversations about racebending Kal-El for the same reasons many of the fans are pushing back on the current Warner Bros. re-imagined version of Clark Kent, but that he would be interested in engaging on a Black Superman project centering on the Val-Zod storyline.’
Broadnax suggests in her piece that it would tone-deaf of Warner Bros. and DC to ‘racebend’ a white character and ‘erase Black characters that already exist in the DC universe under the Superman banner – Calvin Ellis and Val-Zod.’
The character Calvin Ellis was first introduced in 2009 series Final Crisis 7, as a Superman from an alternative universe.
Black Superman Calvin Ellis (pictured center) has appeared in several storylines in DC comics, but there is no indication that his version will be the character that appears in Coates’ script
That character is from ‘Earth 23’ where his civilian identity is also the president of the United States.
Comic book writer Grant Morrison has said he was inspired by Barack Obama when he created the character.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested that Warner Bros. bosses could pick a relatively unknown name for the film being produced by Abrams – as they did when Brandon Routh donned the cape for ‘Superman Returns’ in 2006.
How DC Comics’ existing black Superman was inspired by Barack Obama
The new big screen version of Superman will not be the first time that the iconic character has been portrayed as being black.
A character called Calvin Ellis was first introduced in 2009 series Final Crisis 7, as a Superman from an alternate universe.
That character came from ‘Earth 23’ – part of the wider DC ‘Multiverse’.
While the more widely known Superman’s alias was mild mannered reporter Clark Kent, on his Earth Ellis is the president of the United States.
Comic book writer Grant Morrison has said he was inspired by Barack Obama when he created the character.
Speaking to the Daily Record in 2009, he said: ‘As I was writing it, I heard Obama making a joke about being born on the planet Krypton and being sent to Earth by his father Jor-El to save the world.
‘I thought it would be a fitting end to all the darkness in America recently.
‘All the comics have been dealing with darkness recently and, having defeated evil, it’s now time to celebrate.’
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