2003 Movie News Archives
![Superman](../../images/logos-emblems/red-matallic-logo.jpg)
November 10, 2003: Why Paul Walker Turned Down Superman
ComingSoon.net caught up with actor Paul Walker who answered a few questions about why he turned down the role of Superman in the up-coming movie. It seems Richard Donner (Director of "Superman: The Movie" and also "Timeline" (the next project for both he and Paul Walker)) had a bit to do with Walker's decision. Here's an excerpt from the interview..."We had conversations and by the end of it, the closing thing I said, 'Do you think I need it, should I do it?' He said, 'For what sake?' I said, 'Financially.' He said, 'No kid, you do it if you want to do it.' I said, 'Well I don't think I want to die as Superman.' And he said, 'Well there's your answer, don't do it.' And that was it."
Donner's words of wisdom seem to carry quite some weight with Walker. "He's like a father figure to me. His opinion means a lot to me. You won't find anyone who tells it straighter than Richard Donner in the industry anyhow, I'll tell you that."
But was it hard turning down Superman? "It wasn't that hard. The real pressure came from my representatives and thinking about my family. I want everyone to live sweet, my mom and dad especially they don't have a lot of money. I want one day to have the family compound maybe one day in the big island of Hawaii and having a jet to fly everyone out for Christmas is pretty sweet. I think in those terms. I feel like I don't know if I'd be letting them down or letting myself down if I didn't one day see it. That was the hardest part because that was it, potentially."
Though he liked Superman as a kid, another hero was even cooler to him. "Yeah. Putting on my underoos, I had Superman ones. Talking about pillows and mats to fall on for stuntwork. I was Superman from time to time but Aquaman was the coolest. I loved Aquaman. That guy could stay underwater, hangs out in dolphin."
2003 Movie News
Listed below are all the Movie News items archived for 2003 organized into 5 categories:Superman and Batman vs Superman Movie News:
- January 2, 2003: An Australian Superman?
- January 11, 2003: Movie Title Revealed? Superman: The Flight
- January 13, 2003: Superman Homepage Casts New Superman
- January 14, 2003: Superman Casting Screen Tests
- January 17, 2003: A new Director for Superman?
- January 22, 2003: Directing and Casting Rumors for Superman Movie
- January 29, 2003: Brett Ratner Leaves Superman?
- January 29, 2003: Superman vs Batman Script Reviewed
- January 31, 2003: Brett Ratner Still on Superman
- January 31, 2003: More Superman Movie Casting Rumors
- February 3, 2003: Christopher Reeve Consulting on New Superman Movie
- February 3, 2003: Lara Flynn Boyle as Lois Lane?
- February 7, 2003: Is Victor Webster the New Superman?
- February 12, 2003: Joe Millionaire NOT Superman
- February 13, 2003: More Superman Movie Casting Rumors
- February 14, 2003: Hartnett Top Contender for Superman
- February 23, 2003: Casting Call for Superman Movie?
- February 27, 2003: Hartnett Will Not Be Superman
- March 1, 2003: Harrison Ellenshaw Talks Superman Movie
- March 3, 2003: Superman Cast! Yes! No! Yes? No?
- March 4, 2003: Victor Webster Talks Testing for Superman
- March 6, 2003: Even More Superman Movie Casting Rumors!!!
- March 7, 2003: Jerry O'Connell Talks Superman Casting
- March 9, 2003: Ratner and Peters Feud Over Superman Movie
- March 9, 2003: Justin Timberlake as Jimmy Olsen?
- March 11, 2003: Casting and Budget Rumor for Superman Movie
- March 12, 2003: Superman Movie Costume Rumor
- March 13, 2003: Ashton Kutcher Turns Down Superman
- March 14, 2003: Walker Also Turns Down Superman
- March 15, 2003: Warner Bros. Committed to Superman Movie
- March 17, 2003: Another Superman Movie Candidate?
- March 18, 2003: Superman Movie In Ruins
- March 20, 2003: Brett Ratner Leaves Superman
- March 21, 2003: Superman Movie Still Good to Go
- March 26, 2003: EW Offers Ideas on Superman Movie
- March 27, 2003: Lastest Superman Movie Script Review Online
- April 3, 2003: Is Matthew Bomer Superman?
- April 8, 2003: Alan Horn Talks Superman Movies
- April 13, 2003: Superman to be Filmed in Australia?
- May 11, 2003: Jonathan Frakes to Direct Superman?
- May 15, 2003: Paul Walker Talks Dumping Superman
- May 16, 2003: Matrix Costume Designer Talks Superman
- May 23, 2003: JJ Abrams Talks New Superman Movie
- June 4, 2003: He's Back! Is McG Directing Superman Again?
- June 4, 2003: Hartnett Turned Down Superman Four Times
- June 18, 2003: JJ Abrams Talks Superman Movie
- June 19, 2003: More Superman Movie Casting Rumors
- July 3, 2003: Jonathan Frakes Talks Superman Movie
- July 9, 2003: More Superman Movie Rumors
- July 9, 2003: Sylvian Despretz Talks Superman Lives
- July 19, 2003: Searching for a Farm for Superman
- July 23, 2003: McG = Director? Barrymore = Lois???
- August 8, 2003: Building the Set for Superman Movie
- August 17, 2003: Ratner Explains Why He Left Superman
- August 25, 2003: Anthony Hopkins Leaves Superman Movie
- August 28, 2003: Kevin Smith Won't Direct Superman Movie
- August 29, 2003: Jon Peters Off Superman?
- August 29, 2003: Rolf Mohr Talks Superman Lives
- September 7, 2003: Superman Movie... Spring 2006?
- September 8, 2003: NY Times Article on Warner Bros.
- September 10, 2003: Superman Movie - New Writer/Director
- September 13, 2003: Batman vs Superman Still On?
- September 17, 2003: M. Night Shyamalan to do Superman Movie?
- September 18, 2003: More Superman Movie Rumors
- September 21, 2003: More Rumors on Superman and Supergirl Movies
- September 24, 2003: Oklahoma = Smallville for Superman Movie?
- September 25, 2003: Duncan Henderson Talks Superman Movie
- September 30, 2003: Superman Flying to Sydney Australia?
- October 8, 2003: More Superman Movie Casting Rumors
- October 12, 2003: Superman Movie Update From McG
- October 16, 2003: Cavill Close to Signing?
- October 20, 2003: More Rumors About Superman Coming to Australia
- October 23, 2003: Vin Diesel as Lex Luthor?
- October 25, 2003: Brendan Fraser Talks Superman Movie
- November 2, 2003: James Carson Talks Superman Lives
- November 10, 2003: Why Paul Walker Turned Down Superman
- November 12, 2003: Kym Barrett Talks Superman Costume
- November 15, 2003: Henry Cavill Gets McG's Vote
- November 17, 2003: November 17, 2003: Portman to be Lois? Sydney to be Metropolis?
- November 19, 2003: McG Talks Superman Movie
- November 20, 2003: Brendan Fraser Wants To Be Superman
- November 23, 2004: Matthew Bomer Also Wants to be Superman
- November 25, 2003: Batman vs Superman Movie Review
- November 28, 2003: A Savage Jimmy Olsen?
- December 24, 2003: Tom Welling Approached For Superman Movie
- January 15, 2003: Superman: The Movie Deluxe Box Set!
- March 27, 2003: Superman Movie Items on Auction
- April 20, 2003: Superman & Lex Nominated for AFIs
- May 8, 2003: Marc McClure Talks Jimmy Olsen
- May 25, 2003: Superman on the Big Screen in New York
- June 4, 2003: AFI's Top 100 Heroes & Villains
- June 29, 2003: Superman Screenwriter Newman Dies
- July 4, 2003: Superman Movie Items at CooperOwen Auction
- July 18, 2003: Richard Donner at San Diego Comic Con
- November 13, 2003: Christopher Reeve on 20/20
- November 25, 2003: Christopher Reeve Breathing Free
- December 16, 2003: Reeve's Superman Suit to Be Auctioned in London
- December 17, 2003: Christopher Reeve to Direct New Animated Film
- February 19, 2003: Hugh Jackman Cast as George Reeves
- March 26, 2003: Hugh Jackman Starting on Truth in June
- April 16, 2003: Jackman Drops Out of George Reeves Film
- May 9, 2003: Sopranos Director to Uncover Superman Mystery
- December 21, 2003: Rumors Surrounding George Reeves Biopic
- March 17, 2003: New Supergirl Movie?
- March 25, 2003: Supergirl Movie Underway!
- June 24, 2003: Supergirl Movie Casting News
- September 21, 2003: More Rumors on Superman and Supergirl Movies
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