Meet Mark Millar. He's the dude who wrote the comic that Wanted was based on (along with several other good books too!), and since Wanted has proven itself to be a box office success, he now has a little bit of street cred in this town. Well, his lifelong dream has been to make a Superman movie, and he may just use that cred to do so.

As Millar says in an interview with the Scottish newspaper, the Daily Record:

"Since I was a kid I've always wanted to reinvent Superman for the 21st century. I've been planning this my entire life. I've got my director and producer set up, and it'll be 2011. This is how far ahead you have to think. The Superman brand is toxic after that last movie lost $200 million, but in 2011 we're hoping to restart it. Sadly I can't say who the director is, but we may make it official by Christmas."

Whoa, slow down there, Mark. I thought Bryan Singer was talking about restarting the Superman franchise himself, and making it more action oriented/less-sucky. And if so, who's this director Millar is referring to? Naturally the geekier regions of the Internet were up in arms about this, so Millar decided to clarify in the comments section over at slashfilm.com.

Millar writes:

" That Superman news is interesting, isn't it? In the interests of clarity (because I'm sure this will be picked up somewhere) a very well known American action director heard about my love of Superman, approached me and asked me to team up with he and his producer to make a pitch for this. We've been talking for several weeks now and, if this is going to happen, we'll know by Christmas. He has huge pull at WB so fingers crossed. But this is nothing more than a huge US name pulling me into his fold and making me part of a package."

So, there you have it, folks. The Superman franchise may or may not be restarted and either Bryan Singer or Mark Millar or both or neither will be in charge of it. Glad we could clear that up for you, fanboys.

• Mark Millar Has "Big Name Action Director" For a Superman Returns Revamp? Announcing at Xmas? Madness. [/Film]

Well, even without Robert Downey Jr., we still have a feeling this Ellis flick has a major shot at success, mainly due to the fact that The Informers has one of the most stellar and talented casts we've heard about in some time. The film stars Winona Ryder, Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, Rhys Ifans, and bittersweetly, Brad Renfro in his final role. Somehow this mesh of fucked up, problem-ridden stars seems like the ideal group to depict Ellis' vision of a bleak and vapid Los Angeles. The more and more we think about it, the inclusion of the clean-cut and chiseled Routh probably would have just messed up this merry little circle of misery anyway.

• BRET EAST ELLIS ADAPTATION 'THE INFORMERS' LOSES ENTIRE VAMPIRE SUB-PLOT AND BRANDON ROUTH TOO? [SlashFilm]
• EXCLUSIVE: UNDEAD REMOVED FROM 'INFORMERS' [IGN]

First, we present the leading men we suspect Kate had no problems getting down and dirty with, from Brandon Routh in Superman Returns to surfer boy Matt Davis in Blue Crush (at right). And though Kate claims some booze was consumed before making out with Jim in 21, we're pretty sure she didn't turn to her stash carefully hidden in the wardrobe department just so she could get through the shoot, judging by this image of him from the movie, at center.

But what of these three? In the college sex 'n drugs flick Rules of Attraction, Kate had to go at it with spikey-haired, long-faced James Van Der Beek, who played a drug-addled violent kid causing trouble. We suspect pills in the benzo category were required; maybe a little Valium or Ativan to numb herself out take after take. And then there was that gruesome bathroom sex scene with Val Kilmer in Wonderland. Kilmer can certainly be a looker when he cleans up, but playing (yup, another) druggie with greasy hair and a ten-o-clock shadow, we're guessing Kate hit the gin hard before getting banged around for this scene. And finally we come to the lovely Kevin Spacey, her other 21 co-star. Personally we wouldn't mind making out with Kev sober, but that's only if we figure out a way to unplug our gaydar. We figure Kate just smoked a joint or two and imagined a parallel universe in which all those gay rumors didn't exist.

Cheers to Kate for proving that sex scenes, no matter who you do 'em with, can be one big high after another.

• KATE BOSWORTH BLACKS OUT HER STEAMY '21' LOVE SCENE [People]

The Man of Steel is officially off the market! 'Superman Returns' star BRANDON ROUTH married longtime girlfriend, actress COURTNEY FORD, on Saturday at JON and MINDY PETERS' 3000-acre El Capitan Ranch, just outside of Santa Barbara, CA.

It was a very exclusive, intimate wedding. The 150 guests were made up of friends and family, as well as KATE BOSWORTH, Warner Bros. President and COO ALAN F. HORN and director BRYAN SINGER. [...]

"The Insider"'s CHERYL WOODCOCK spoke to Mindy Peters, who revealed that she and Jon did about a $1 million ranch overhaul for Brandon's big day, including adding a man-made lake, rock walls and waterfalls, as well as fountains that will shoot water on cue when Routh gets the word, "You may now kiss the bride." There were also fireworks to mark the union.

We suspect the spectacular Dancing "I Do" Waters will soon become the must-have feature at every celebrity wedding. But don't expect any of those receptions to come close to the lavish ceremony held at the Peters' Hacienda, whose $1 million renovation was but a fraction of what crazy, mean, beautiful-hearted faded superproducer Jon Peters feels Routh, whom he loves "like my own, flying superson," deserves for helping to make him feel like a vital Hollywood force once again.

• Brandon Routh Gets Hitched! [ETOnline]
• Previously: Some Guy Who Played Superman Engaged To Girl You've Never Heard Of [Defamer]

Think back, to long before Superman returned to our planet to thrill audiences with his heroic feats of lovelorn supermoping, to when the world's attentions were focused primarily on Kal-El's codpiece, aka the Bulge of Steel™—a protuberance of such reportedly goodly sized dimensions, a team of CGI artists were rumored to have been brought in to digitally diminish the young, unknown star Brandon Routh's groin into something less gasp-worthy. The Oh La La blog (somewhat NSFW if you don't want to be caught perusing a site featuring lots of muscley, shirtless dudes) has taken screencaps of a DVD bonus feature in which the newcomer is wearing a skin-tight, leave-no-nut-to-the-imagination leotard, even going so far as to magnify the critical area for your bulge-scrutinizing convenience. And while Mr. Routh has nothing to be ashamed of, it's certainly nothing close to the elephantine sex-organ-goiter the press had initially made it out to be. Perhaps it's a SuperGrower.

• THE BIG SECRET OF SUPERMAN REVEALED ON DVD ! [Oh La La Blog]

Brandon Routh is engaged to his girlfriend, actress Courtney Ford, his publicist tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"They are very happy," says Kacey Spies, who represents the Superman Returns star.

The couple, who have been dating for three years, will costar in the upcoming short film Denial. They plan to wed next fall.

To add to that exciting news, once the two are done wrapping Denial—what we're told is the first part of a short film trilogy—its sequels, Don't You Find Me Attractive Anymore? and What The Fuck Do You Mean You're Leaving Me For Stephen, Your Golfing Buddy?, will be rushed into production just as soon as financing is secured.

• Superman's Brandon Routh Engaged [People]

The 26-year-old's parents were baffled when the hunky star snubbed the chance to hang out with other kids his age - until they realised how determined he was to make it to Hollywood.

Routh's mother Katie says, "I remember asking him why he didn't go out with the others. He turned to me and said: 'Mom, if you want me to, I'll go out. But they are doing drink and drugs, and I'm not into that.' I never asked him again. He was a very good-looking kid, but he did not date. He knew what he wanted to do and was in control."

The anecdote carries with it a great deal of comfort: We don't know how you like your fillers of iconic, red superboots, but we like them virginal, sober, and square as a slice of American cheese. Too many of our screen "heroes" hang their attributes up with their costumes, heading to the nearest whorelet-littered poker table the instant they hear the AD yell, "That's a wrap!" At least with Routh, parents can leave Returns secure in knowing that the boring guy on screen that their kids appear to have taken little to no interest in is just as flavorless in real life.

• Brandon Routh Shunned Dating & Drugs for Career [Starpulse]

We'd never begrudge our newest, highest-profile cinematic superhero any endorsement opportunities that might arise from his gig as the Man of Steel, but there's something unintentionally hilarious about Brandon Routh's infomercial for Rope Yoga. We trust Routh's claims that this form of exercise was invaluable to his preparation for the physical rigors he would face on the Superman Returns set, but each time we see him demonstrating the machines upon which he trained for his strenuous flying harness work, it's hard not to imagine that archnemesis Lex Luthor has entangled him in Kryptonite ropes, bonds from which he's struggling to break free before Lois Lane takes her final step towards oblivion on a nearby booby-trapped StairMaster.

Maybe Routh should just stick to the quiet dignity of those Got Milk? ads and avoid the giggles of the immature.

• Brandon Routh Superman Returns talks about Rope Yoga fitness [YouTube]
• SUPERMAN DOES ROPE YOGA [RopeYoga.com]

1978: Christopher Reeve becomes the living embodiment of the 1930s icon in this now-classic film interpretation. [...] Styling method: Hmmm, shiny and glossy — shoe polish, perhaps? "That blue-black hair is very rare, very hard to find naturally," [stylist Chaz] Dean says. "It's what everybody wanted in the '80s."

1993: Dean Cain slips into the legendary tights, becoming the youngest-looking Superman to date. [...] Styling method: Quite possibly, enough mousse and hairspray to make Cain's head harder than the dome at the Hall of Justice.

Latest Superman Brandon Routh was born with a freakishly thick head of hair: enough lustrous, jet-black locks to top ten mortal men's heads at least. And while that may have been a convenient source of envy to help a balding Kevin Spacey access the rage required of him to convincingly play the even balder Lex Luthor, it was actually Kate Bosworth who found herself cursing her co-star's follicular good fortune, as she'd unsuccessfully attempt to remove the sticky, Kryptonian-styling-product residue on her palms after every tender love scene.

• Look! Up in the Hair! It's Super-mane! [LAT]

I'd like to thank Chris Nolan, who directed Batman Begins. I want to thank him for getting rid of those bloody nipples, and for giving the Dark Knight back some dignity...

And obviously to Bob Kane, who created this most bad-ass of Superheroes. I'm sorry, Superman, but Batman, he's the bad-ass.

Routh was, not surprisingly, entirely too good natured about the call-out, shrugging his shoulders and smiling ineffectually as the audience cheered Bale on. Of course, the more he thought about it, the more Bale's declaration of superhero bad-ass dominance got his goat, and Routh spent the rest of the broadcast stewing in his seat and plotting his revenge. Yes, a strongly worded letter expressing his deep disappointment in his DC hero counterpart was exactly what the doctor ordered to reestablish Superman's all-powerful, not-at-all-gay place atop the cinematic superhero mountain.

Century City, Gulfstream Diner, Saturday 5/20, 6pm. Usually we see the same two celebs here (those would be James Woods and Jon Voight) but on this night we were treated to an eyeful of the new Superman, Brandon Routh (Rhymes With Mouth), who slid into the booth behind us and proceeded to entwine himself with his dining companion, a very gorgeous woman (quick glances over our shoulder confirmed she was indeed female, with excellent skin and nice earrings). He ate some kind of lame-looking salad in between exhibitionist slurping on Miss Pro-Activ. Shortly thereafter, we saw Peter MacNichol, his wife, and his lookalike son. I think he noticed Superman too; how could you not?

The PDA is a smart move by Routh, whom we're sure has discovered that the downside to taking on such an iconic role is the inevitable fan confusion over his on-screen and private identities. Should questions about Superman's sexual preference continue and bleed into his personal life, Routh will have no choice but to wear the costume the next time he steps out for an ostentatiously heterosexual encounter at a restaurant. Sure, people will stare, but it shouldn't take more than one lunchtime hummer underneath that unmistakable red cape to restore the Man of Steel's reputation.

• The Advocate

It's Monday evening and I'm standing outside in warm, but pleasant weather in glitzy Beverly Hills, California. The upscale Kitson boutique is unveiling their exclusive "Superman Returns" apparel, accessories, and dolls. Designers, most of whom I don't recognize (but must be cream of the crop), have all pitched in for this exclusive event. [...]

When it comes to comics, Bosworth "was actually more into horses, but she has a whole different appreciation for them" after doing the film, "they're really incredible forms of art." [...]

Also, she held onto my hand for the whole interview. It was a beautiful minute and nineteen seconds.

[Brandon Routh] had a very strong vision of what was important, to him, about the character, "His physical prowess, but also his intelligence and awareness."

While we can understand why Routh would try to divert attention away from his "physical prowess" and towards his equally bulging acumen, we're left somewhat confused as to what Bosworth's love of things equestrian has to do with comic books. In any case, holding the sweaty, trembling palm of a comic book nerd for over a minute puts her on a higher level of starlet PR appearance saintliness in our books, and we have no doubt our graphic novel enthusiast not only has refrained from washing it in the hours since, but has also put that palm to good, Lois Lane-lusting use.

• "SUPERMAN RETURNS" TO TRENDY BOUTIQUE WITH NEW MERCHANDISE [Comicbookresource.com via Towleroad]

The summer's best counter-programming is "The Devil Wears Prada," set for release the same weekend as "Superman Returns." The assumption: No one in America wants to see both movies.

Hollywood's demographic marketing research and fancy spreadsheets may spit out nonsense suggesting there's no audience overlap, but as anyone who has ever engaged their hair colorist in conversation already knows, Superman and Prada are the two must-see homo movie events of the summer. Fox may find itself disappointed after Prada's opening weekend, when it loses a sizable chunk of the core audience that would typically show up for a Meryl Streep-channeling-Anna Wintour black comedy to the giant screen adventures of Brandon Routh's Superbulge.

• Pirates, Superman and Tom Cruise Lead Summer Movie Blitz [ABCNews.com]

Midway through the filming of Superman Returns, star Brandon Routh received an envelope in the mail. It contained two pendants and a letter. The pendants, each emblazoned with a red S, said simply, "Go Forward."

The note from Dana Reeve, the widow of Superman Christopher Reeve, said much the same thing.

"She said she thought I'd be a good Superman," says Routh, 26, best known for a guest role on Gilmore Girls. "She wished me luck. I can't tell you what that was like to get her blessing. I was nervous, because I had never heard from the family, and it's frightening trying to fill Christopher Reeve's shoes."

It's a touching story, though some might question the convenient opportunism of using a "Dana Reeve gave us her pendant-engraved Superman Seal of Approval blessing" anecdote only one week after her tragic death. The unspoken Hollywood rule allows for at least a two week grieving period before using the memory of the departed to help push your summer blockbuster.

• 'Superman' torch is passed [USA Today]
• Previously: Brandon Routh's Girlfriend, Miss Iceland Not Part Of Second Grader's Make-A-Wish Deal [Defamer]

Andrew Smith, 8, sat blushing in a leather chair in his room at Blank Children's Hospital when Routh and his girlfriend of two years, Courtney Ford of Los Angeles, popped in on Friday for a 10-minute visit. Andrew's arms locked stiff with nervousness and excitement as he held himself up in the chair and chatted with the actors. [...]

Routh and Ford were joined by Miss World 2005, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir of Iceland, who signed a stock photo of herself in a bikini for Andrew, a second-grader from Huxley.

The reference to "actors," in the plural, threw us for a moment, but a quick trip to IMdB reveals that Routh's better half is an aspiring actress as well. We're still scratching our heads at how Iceland's Miss World figures into the scenario, or for that matter why she gave a second-grader a signed picture of her wearing nothing but a bikini. Let's give everyone involved the benefit of the doubt, however; perhaps they were just trying to provide a wider variety of achievable role models for the brave youngster beyond the fantastical "crimefighting superhero."

[Photo: Des Moines Register]

• Disguised as Iowa native, Superman visits hospital [DesMoinesRegister.com]
• Previously: Brokeback Krypton [Defamer]

"To be honest a lot like a baseball player's protection or football players wear protection for that area," Routh admits. "That's pretty much what it is except softer because I didn't have to worry about getting hit in it."

Even having candidly dealt with his nether-regions, Routh's body came into play once again with the discussion of the "S" on the new Superman suit, a piece of lettering that many in the comic community have felt is too small. Yes, size really matters.

"What I was told was that if you make the 'S' too large, on the particular suit that we had, the new designed suit, the 'S' tends to take over the chest and the whole front of the suit," Routh acknowledges. "And so the shape of the 'S' is to maximize, um, my chest."

In fact, the wardrobe department had to continually explain the chest-maximizing principle to director Bryan Singer, who seemed preoccupied with a more radical costume change designed to enhance the more controversial elements of he costume. Ultimately, however, Singer deferred to his specialists, and his plans to replace the iconic chest insignia with a large arrow pointing crotchward, the new home of a showily engorged, serpentine super-"S" never made it past a series of surprisingly detailed doodles scribbled on the back of his script.

• New Superman Routh Explains His Super Manhood [Zap2it.com]
• Previously: Inside The Bulge, Part III: Supermanhood Returns [Defamer]
• Inside The Bulge, Part II: Superman’s Package Will Be Safe For Kids [Defamer]
• Superman’: Inside The Bulge [Defamer]

• U.S. actor Brandon Routh carries an Olympic torch beside New York Yankees manager Joe Torre [Reuters]
• Previously: Inside The Bulge, Part III: Supermanhood Returns [Defamer]
• Brokeback Krypton [Defamer]