ROUTH IS SUPERMAN, MILLAR, $1000 POORER

**MattBrady** · 10-25-2004, 07:28 AM

On Friday, the Hollywood trades made it official; Brandon Routh will be Superman in the upcoming Warner Brothers movie directed by Bryan Singer. However, there was a matter of some money on the line between Mark Millar and Ain’t it Cool News’ Harry Knowles in regards to who would wear the tights.

Back at the end of August, Millar caught wind (reportedly from a Warners source) that The Passion of the Christ’s Jim Caviezel was set to sign for the role. At the same time, Knowles was sure Caviezel wasn’t set to sign for the role. There was a bit of back and forth between the two and their respective messageboard communities, but Millar was unwavering in his conviction that the actor who portrayed the Son of Man would soon play the Last Son of Krypton. The story even went through the looking glass, as major media outlets picked up on Millar’s report that Caviezel would be Superman, and reported it as a nearly done deal.

Knowles still wasn’t convinced, and was resolute that Singer was dead-set on casting a relative unknown as Superman. The two made a bet.

Millar wrote: “That said, just to hammer home how confident I am as regards my source (pretty much as good as it gets), I will personally write a cheque to charity for 1000 dollars from my Wolverine royalties (Wolverine 20 and 21 out October 2004) if Jim Caviezel isn't cast as Superman on the day principal photography starts. Warners may have a couple of PR stunts planned prior to the final announcement, but this is a bet that Jim C is standing there in a Superman costume once the cameras start rolling.”

Knowles wrote: “"$1000 Bet Answered and Accepted regarding

Jesus & SUPERMAN!

Hey folks, Harry here... I love this. I totally agree with Mark Millar - I'm willing to bet we'd be the two point crunch as Nick Frost illustrated last night, if we ever met. I like Mark Millar... Love his writing... but folks... He's WAY wrong - and he'll be paying to a great cause, and that makes me happy, cuz....
JESUS ain't SUPERMAN!

Mark Millar has issued a bet for charity, he named his charity as the CLYDE COAST MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS THERAPY CENTRE... a wonderful, wonderful charity. Unfortunately - the charity that I won't be paying (CUZ Jim Caviezel is not gonna be SUPERMAN in the Bryan Singer directed film) would be THE COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. So now - the good folks at Clyde Coast need only wait for the first day of photography on SUPERMAN to be 1K richer!"

Millar went down fighting though, decrying last weekend's strong rumors of Routh being cast as the lead as mere publicity stunts before Caviezel was named.

And as it turned out, officially on Friday, Millar lost that bet, and has conceded victory to Knowles, writing:

Dear Harry,

The battle of the geeks is over and the best geek won. Bryan faced down Warners and got his unknown for the lead in Superman and poor Jim Caviezel can now only wear those blue tights in the privacy of his own home. It's a shame because Cav would have been my personal choice too, but I'm such a Superman freak that even losing a $1000 has been far outweighed by the recent news of Bryan's upcoming plans and the heart-stopping announcement that Williams is back with the best score of his career.

Despite the fact that the cheques were supposed to be written on the first day of principal photography, this new development has been absolutely confirmed by pretty much everyone I know and since the Clyde Coast Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is actively looking for funds this month I think it's only right to do the decent thing and fire off this cash immediately. The cheque was sent this morning and I'll fax you a copy of their thank you letter. Thanks also to everyone who bought the Wolverine relaunch these royalties came from. Our first issue came out earlier this month and, since sales have doubled on the title since we took over, John Romita Junior and I would just like to say thanks for making this bet a little easier to afford. Our second issue is out this coming Wednesday and my wife has already put a ban on me getting involved in anymore internet bets, saying she wants to use this and any future Wolverine royalties to decorate the kitchen.

Thanks again for a fun time and congrats on retaining your crown, Harry.

Cheers,
Mark

DrTzinTzin · 10-25-2004, 08:11 AM

Maybe Brandon Routh is Jesus...I mean, getting money out of a scotsman like that is a fucking miracle.

KirkAngel · 10-25-2004, 08:38 AM

Maybe Brandon Routh is Jesus...I mean, getting money out of a scotsman like that is a fucking miracle. --DrTzinTzin

Thank you Dr. --That is not only the stone cold truth (I'm a McNAb), but quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever read on Newsarama. You made my morning!

BEN

Marxist 64 · 10-25-2004, 09:08 AM

Agreed. I tried getting money out of a scot once and ended up with a broken nose.

I wonder what what happen if Routh was to suddenly quit and Caviezel was offered and accepted the role...

jediortiz · 10-25-2004, 10:12 AM

Good to see the lad Millar is a man of his word.

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James Seals · 10-25-2004, 11:15 AM

Glad to hear that the $1,000 going to such a good cause, and that Millar is as graceful in defeat as he is in victory.

Hell, I'll even pick up the second issue just to help the man out a little.

James

Userama · 10-25-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Dear Harry,

The battle of the geeks is over and the best geek won.

Hah! Way to be humble and patronizing at the same time.

saiyanspider · 10-25-2004, 11:20 AM

I know how to make a scot part with his dough. Just get'em drunk enough and say the cash is for more whiskey.

Serious tho this whole bet has been funny , the Wolverine books is friggin awesome, and i'm glad the money is going to a good cause.

I'm also happy with the Superman news.

Hdefined · 10-25-2004, 11:29 AM

I'm annoyed with Millar's boasting. I'm glad he was wrong.

brazilgilliam · 10-25-2004, 11:40 AM

Heh. This really makes me chuckle and tickles me a hue of red that can only be described as somewhere between crimson and vermouth.

Supreme Convoy · 10-25-2004, 12:14 PM

I'm also glad to hear that the money is going to a charitiable cause.

Kolimar · 10-25-2004, 12:39 PM

bottleHeD · 10-25-2004, 01:38 PM

Quote:

[i]Originally posted by MattBrady
my wife has already put a ban on me getting involved in anymore internet bets, saying she wants to use this and any future Wolverine royalties to decorate the kitchen.

I'm betting he wishes he'd bet more than just a grand...

orpheus · 10-25-2004, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrTzinTzin
Maybe Brandon Routh is Jesus...I mean, getting money out of a scotsman like that is a fucking miracle.

you're real lucky we can take a joke too, otherwise...

orpheus · 10-25-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Supreme Convoy
I'm also glad to hear that the money is going to a charitiable cause.

Amen to that.

Glad to see that Millar (like most Scots that I know) is willing to take the hit with good grace in a money meets mouth situation.

Slayton · 10-25-2004, 03:55 PM

We Scots love a good joke (I'm a MacGregor) as long as you're willing to accept the consequences.

O.J. Flow · 10-25-2004, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrTzinTzin
Maybe Brandon Routh is Jesus...I mean, getting money out of a scotsman like that is a fucking miracle.

Holy shit, that is funny.

orpheus · 10-25-2004, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrTzinTzin
Maybe Brandon Routh is Jesus...I mean, getting money out of a scotsman like that is a fucking miracle.

Not really on a par with raising Lazarus from the dead though, is it?

you want a Scotsman to hand over money, just tell him it's his round.

Nathan Grey · 10-25-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Not really on a par with raising Lazarus from the dead though, is it?

that's the way to show em'!! what a buncha' heathens.

OM · 10-25-2004, 07:00 PM

...Hey, Matty! Shouldn't that have been "broke wind" instead of "caught wind"? :-)

beta-ray · 10-25-2004, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hdefined
I'm annoyed with Millar's boasting. I'm glad he was wrong.

Speaking of annoying...

J.R.LeMar · 10-25-2004, 11:40 PM

Millar is a genius, I tell ya. Look at all of this relatively free publicity he's gotten out of this. $1000 is nuthin' for what this has been worth. Notice how he even managed to slip in a meantion of Wolverine into his concession letter, which has now been posted on several other sites? Bloody brilliant. Plus, it's for a good cause, & it's all in fun. This is the kind of "feuding" that's actually GOOD for the comic-book industry.

By the way, I'm actually pretty bummed that Millar was wrong. While I'm sure this Routh guy will be good, I think Jim Caviezel would've been PERFECT for this role.

Just my opinion.

DrTzinTzin · 10-26-2004, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slayton
We Scots love a good joke (I'm a MacGregor) as long as you're willing to accept the consequences.

Bein as ma faimlie comes frae the Grampian muntains (Barns of Bynack), I am rideeculing masel.

Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

bottleHeD · 10-27-2004, 12:57 AM

Personally i don't like choice. I want my Superman to be a real man, not a fledgeling just-out-of-his-teens.

DrTzinTzin · 10-27-2004, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bottleHeD
Personally i don't like choice. I want my Superman to be a real man, not a fledgeling just-out-of-his-teens.

Not to mention the "gay" thing.

Maybe Clark Kent will be a tv show presenter in the movie. His show, of course, will be "Queer X-Ray Eye For The Straight Guy".