Routh's doubts over 'dark' superman franchise

Superman Returns star Brandon Routh is against plans to show the comic book character's darker side in a new movie.

The actor played the legendary superhero in Bryan Singer's 2006 adaptation and he is rumoured to be stepping into the role once again for a sequel.

But Routh is adamant that plans to make the franchise much "darker" than Superman's previous incarnations should not go ahead - because the Man of Steel will always be a clean-cut character.

He tells Moviehole.net, "I don't know how much darker you want to make it necessarily. You make the stakes higher, you make the villain darker, I think that's a way to do it. But I don't think Superman himself needs to be darker. He definitely has to struggle.

"But I don't think Superman should ever be dark and brooding, that's not his nature. And that's now what people want to see." (LR/WNWCMVH/ZN)