'Superman- The Next Generation': Aussie director Kacey Baker on his vision for the movie

Just a few days ago superhero fans were treated to a trailer of “Superman – The Next Generation,” which was created by Aussie fanboys. In an exclusive interview with International Business Times, Australia – Director Kacey Baker explained his vision for the film and the comic book characters he loves.

International Business Times: There are so many superheroes to choose from, What made you choose Superman?

Kacey Baker: When I was 4 years old my Father took me to see ‘Superman 2’ at the movies, Christopher Reeve as Superman left an eternal imprint in my mind and heart. He carried the role of Superman with a natural elegance and charisma which I think [Zack] Snyder has intentionally removed from his take of Superman. Snyder has been put in a very awkward spot after recent versions of the character on the silver screen by Bryan Singer and Richard Donner. I can only imagine that Snyder embarked on MOS and BMvSM DOJ with the mindset, 'let's just visit the darker, brutal, thuggish version of SM that only comic book readers would be familiar with, that will be how we bring something new to the character and big screen'.

IB Times: Please tell our readers the plot of "Superman - Next Generation."

Baker: After Clark Kent is introduced to Bruce Wayne via mutual friend Lois Lane, Bruce (while still ever pessimistic) teams up with Superman to capture The Joker. In my film, not only do I have Clark, Lois and The Bartender point out Batman's short comings in the Bar scene, but I have Superman devise the plan for Batman to capture The Joker, it's such a condescending scenario that very few people have picked up on. I've basically put the most powerful Superhero (Superman) of all time in a petty warehouse fist fight (Because Batman has no powers) yet doesn't even get to throw a punch, SM just stands back like a ref and let's Batman do what he does best....there is so much Parody underlining his entire film that it's overshadowed by moments of intelligent script and high production value. This entire film could be summed up as 'Batman, if we really want to be honest, would never beat Superman, for every argument a Batman fan has, Superman has two or three powers to counteract Batman.' Yet somehow modern day culture has been brainwashed in thinking the exact opposite. Batman and Superman are my two fave heroes, so I'm not out to attack Batman, I'm just exhausted by this modern day head space that Batman is portrayed as the pinnacle of Superheroes.

IB Times: Carmel Rose is an interesting choice to play Lois Lane. Has anyone experimented with this character before? What was the casting like for this character?

Baker: You know there had been a lot of questions raised about Carmel playing Lois, not as half as many praising her which is a huge positive and step forward for acceptance for racial diversity. Look I don't claim to be a holding a torch and running with it as far as racial diversity is considered, some characters are embedded in our culture which I believe should not be changed in order to satisfy an angry generation who thrive on conflict by means of Political Correctness, unnecessary gender tampering and racial issues. By that I mean, should ‘The Fresh Prince of Bell Air’ by remade with Justin Bieber? Hell no, not in my opinion. ‘The Fresh Prince’ is one fine charismatic Black Man who Will Smith nailed, it just wouldn't be the same if Justin Bieber or Zac Efron reprised the role. Should ‘Sex and The City’ be remade, but all characters replaced with Men, hell no!!!!! Those [actors] did a fine job and are irreplaceable. Did the new ‘Ghostbusters’ really need to be replaced with women and turned into a lipstick driven adventure with a dumb blonde male receptionist? I'm not sure? My answer is no, but I can't say what I think because sensitivity is at an all time high that if a white male like myself speaks up in a manner that does not empower say women or non White then sadly he's automatically labeled as a racist or sexist by default.

So what I'm getting at is, maybe Lois Lane could be one of those iconic American characters that didn't need a racial upgrade, but here's how it all happened in my casting process for this film. I began writing this script with a particular actress in mind, Rachel Myskiv, who I had worked with many times before. When the project went into development Rachel moved interstate and became unavailable. My wife suggested Carmel Rose, who I had worked with twice before and had developed a great little relationship with and it was a no brainer to me that Carmel was a brilliant actress with brunette hair who could with ease slip into the character, and it was like magic when she accepted the role. Once the project was shot a director friend of mine texted me saying ‘really like that you cast an Asian Lois Lane’ and I remember sitting back in my chair thinking to myself, or questioning "Had I?"... See in my eyes I never saw Carmel as an Asian actress, Carmel was simply a brilliant actress and friend who was perfect for my role. In retrospect, it was brought to my intention that I had cast an Asian Lois. Call me blind but I never once acknowledged Carmel’s background and that's the truth. If I could go back and change it, I wouldn't change a thing, in fact I wish we had budget to shoot a Lois & Clark web series, I fell in love with Carmel as Lois and I wouldn't have it any other way.

IB Times: What are the filming locations of the movie?

Baker: We're all based in Sydney, the locations are all shot in Sydney in various spots around the CBD. The same city Bryan Singer's ‘Superman Returns’ was shot. Sydney has many visual parallels to what we have grown to know as Metropolis and Gotham.

Credit: Facebook/ Superman – The Next Generation