1 00:00:00,784 --> 00:00:03,581 The thing that I love about Superman is, 2 00:00:03,633 --> 00:00:07,940 no matter how dark or cynical the world gets, 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,716 he always is hopeful and heroic and optimistic. 4 00:00:11,818 --> 00:00:13,685 He's a blue sky superhero. 5 00:00:15,722 --> 00:00:17,655 He's a man who could do anything, 6 00:00:17,657 --> 00:00:19,524 and he's choosing to fight for us. 7 00:00:19,526 --> 00:00:21,493 When Superman wins the day, 8 00:00:21,495 --> 00:00:23,597 you feel like you won the day. 9 00:00:23,730 --> 00:00:26,297 I think every major creator at some point 10 00:00:26,299 --> 00:00:28,165 wants to tell a Superman story. 11 00:00:28,167 --> 00:00:30,134 ? ? 12 00:00:30,136 --> 00:00:32,603 "Krypton" to me is such a vibrant idea 13 00:00:32,605 --> 00:00:34,772 because there's so little that's been explored. 14 00:00:34,774 --> 00:00:36,407 To be a part of something that's just got 15 00:00:36,409 --> 00:00:37,708 such a massive legacy to it, 16 00:00:37,710 --> 00:00:39,610 it's very surreal. 17 00:00:39,612 --> 00:00:43,514 ? ? 18 00:00:43,702 --> 00:00:47,405 Synced & corrected by kinglouisxx www.addic7ed.com 19 00:00:47,853 --> 00:00:50,287 Hi, I'm Cameron Cuffe from the new show "Krypton," 20 00:00:50,289 --> 00:00:53,290 and right now, I'm in Belfast, standing on our version 21 00:00:53,292 --> 00:00:55,192 of the Fortress of Solitude. 22 00:00:55,194 --> 00:00:57,127 It's the 80th anniversary of Superman 23 00:00:57,129 --> 00:00:58,336 and the origin of Krypton, 24 00:00:58,361 --> 00:00:59,863 and as an actor and fan, 25 00:00:59,865 --> 00:01:02,697 I couldn't be more excited to be part of this next chapter. 26 00:01:03,536 --> 00:01:08,539 ? ? 27 00:01:08,541 --> 00:01:10,140 One of the things that I wanted to do 28 00:01:10,142 --> 00:01:12,142 with "Man of Steel" was to emphasize 29 00:01:12,144 --> 00:01:14,478 the fact that Superman was an alien, 30 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,781 and so I fought very hard to have an opening segment 31 00:01:17,783 --> 00:01:19,383 take place on Krypton 32 00:01:19,385 --> 00:01:22,419 and to depict it as a truly alien world. 33 00:01:22,421 --> 00:01:23,821 So while I was working on that film, 34 00:01:23,823 --> 00:01:25,322 I thought a lot about 35 00:01:25,324 --> 00:01:27,291 how we could take things further, 36 00:01:27,293 --> 00:01:29,159 and I approached Geoff Johns. 37 00:01:29,161 --> 00:01:31,228 It really started with a conversation 38 00:01:31,230 --> 00:01:32,329 when David came to me and said, 39 00:01:32,331 --> 00:01:33,364 "Hey, I think I have an idea 40 00:01:33,366 --> 00:01:34,431 about a story on Krypton," 41 00:01:34,433 --> 00:01:37,180 how the House of El became this symbol 42 00:01:37,212 --> 00:01:38,569 of hope and optimism. 43 00:01:38,571 --> 00:01:40,537 It's about this character, Seg, 44 00:01:40,539 --> 00:01:42,506 who's the grandfather of Superman, 45 00:01:42,508 --> 00:01:45,175 and it would take place about 200 years before 46 00:01:45,177 --> 00:01:47,144 Superman comes to Earth. 47 00:01:47,146 --> 00:01:49,346 Superman came from a very sophisticated world. 48 00:01:49,348 --> 00:01:51,248 They were very advanced, but at the same time, 49 00:01:51,250 --> 00:01:53,650 beyond this sort of veneer of harmony, 50 00:01:53,652 --> 00:01:54,718 there was corruption. 51 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:55,753 There was Machiavellian 52 00:01:55,755 --> 00:01:57,488 politics going on. 53 00:01:57,490 --> 00:01:59,256 I think it's something that speaks to us 54 00:01:59,258 --> 00:02:01,525 in our world today. 55 00:02:01,527 --> 00:02:03,594 I think that's the big draw to "Krypton," 56 00:02:03,596 --> 00:02:05,796 to dive deeply into what Krypton is. 57 00:02:05,798 --> 00:02:08,665 What was it like before Superman, as a baby, 58 00:02:08,667 --> 00:02:11,468 left that world and the world was destroyed? 59 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:16,206 The Krypton of our show 60 00:02:16,208 --> 00:02:18,742 is a planet that is late in its life cycle, 61 00:02:18,744 --> 00:02:20,778 and resources are so limited 62 00:02:20,780 --> 00:02:22,546 that there are only a certain amount of people 63 00:02:22,548 --> 00:02:24,581 that the government seems to care about. 64 00:02:24,583 --> 00:02:27,251 The society's divided by class. 65 00:02:27,253 --> 00:02:28,786 It's a theocracy. 66 00:02:28,788 --> 00:02:32,389 There's an authoritarian, religious ruler. 67 00:02:32,391 --> 00:02:36,627 Rao's blessings are bountiful but not unlimited. 68 00:02:36,629 --> 00:02:39,496 Only his wrath is. 69 00:02:39,498 --> 00:02:41,698 Seg is a son of the House of El, 70 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:44,535 which has had its once proud legacy 71 00:02:44,537 --> 00:02:45,956 ripped from them 72 00:02:45,987 --> 00:02:47,571 when Seg's grandfather, Val-El, 73 00:02:47,573 --> 00:02:49,139 commits heresy by saying 74 00:02:49,141 --> 00:02:52,509 that there is something out there other than Kryptonians. 75 00:02:52,511 --> 00:02:55,112 For rebelling against the lawful authority 76 00:02:55,114 --> 00:02:57,181 of the Holy Sovereignty of His Eminence, 77 00:02:57,183 --> 00:03:00,751 you are hereby sentenced to death! 78 00:03:00,753 --> 00:03:02,586 When we pick up our story, 79 00:03:02,588 --> 00:03:04,721 the House of El has been maligned. 80 00:03:04,723 --> 00:03:06,939 The Superman symbol is a mark of shame. 81 00:03:06,964 --> 00:03:10,294 Your family will be stripped of all rights and privileges! 82 00:03:10,296 --> 00:03:12,763 You are now to be considered rankless! 83 00:03:12,765 --> 00:03:16,066 He grows up rankless in the rankless district, 84 00:03:16,068 --> 00:03:18,035 which is this crevasse at the bottom of the city 85 00:03:18,037 --> 00:03:20,103 where people are just sort of piled in 86 00:03:20,105 --> 00:03:22,573 on top of each other. It's a dog-eat-dog world. 87 00:03:22,575 --> 00:03:24,475 - Move along. - Hey! 88 00:03:24,477 --> 00:03:26,176 His mind's not right anymore. 89 00:03:26,178 --> 00:03:31,315 Seg's a good kid, who's very angry at the world. 90 00:03:33,185 --> 00:03:37,387 ? ? 91 00:03:37,389 --> 00:03:40,999 We didn't want to start Seg as the finished package. 92 00:03:41,024 --> 00:03:43,093 You know, we didn't want him to be Superman. 93 00:03:43,095 --> 00:03:44,761 We didn't want him to have all of those 94 00:03:44,763 --> 00:03:47,531 core values in place right from the start. 95 00:03:47,533 --> 00:03:49,055 We wanted that to be the journey, 96 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:50,767 and we wanted that to be a progression. 97 00:03:50,769 --> 00:03:53,103 What the hell were you thinking, Seg? 98 00:03:53,105 --> 00:03:55,072 Are you gonna uncuff me or what? 99 00:03:55,074 --> 00:03:57,207 I like you this way. 100 00:03:57,209 --> 00:03:59,776 Even though "Krypton's" very much a story 101 00:03:59,778 --> 00:04:02,513 about the House of El and the El lineage, 102 00:04:02,515 --> 00:04:04,651 it's also a story about the House of Zod 103 00:04:04,676 --> 00:04:06,116 and the Zod lineage. 104 00:04:06,118 --> 00:04:09,453 Lyta, you are my daughter, and you are a Zod, 105 00:04:09,455 --> 00:04:12,122 and Zods are not traitors. 106 00:04:12,124 --> 00:04:15,559 Lyta Zod, she's part of the Military guild. 107 00:04:15,561 --> 00:04:17,561 She has this relationship with Seg, 108 00:04:17,563 --> 00:04:19,263 which is not allowed. 109 00:04:19,265 --> 00:04:21,198 She shouldn't be going near a rankless. 110 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,667 So much in our lives we can't control. 111 00:04:23,669 --> 00:04:26,403 But we still get to define ourselves. 112 00:04:26,405 --> 00:04:28,705 Seg is someone that she can speak to. 113 00:04:28,707 --> 00:04:30,541 They're really in love, and they have 114 00:04:30,543 --> 00:04:32,276 this really passionate relationship, 115 00:04:32,278 --> 00:04:34,311 but they know that it's never gonna last 116 00:04:34,313 --> 00:04:36,580 because they're both bound to different people. 117 00:04:36,582 --> 00:04:38,348 He's bound to Nyssa. 118 00:04:38,350 --> 00:04:40,217 Nyssa here is yet to be paired with someone. 119 00:04:40,219 --> 00:04:44,154 As my youngest daughter, you'll be binding with her. 120 00:04:44,156 --> 00:04:47,057 She's the woman that Seg is bound to. 121 00:04:47,059 --> 00:04:49,593 They don't call it marriage, they call it a binding. 122 00:04:49,595 --> 00:04:53,363 He takes an immediate disliking to Nyssa, and she to him. 123 00:04:53,365 --> 00:04:56,099 If my father binds you to us, he is taming you. 124 00:04:56,101 --> 00:04:58,402 Proving that even a dreaded El can be co-opted 125 00:04:58,404 --> 00:04:59,803 and brought into the fold. 126 00:04:59,805 --> 00:05:02,239 Nyssa-Vex is a junior magistrate 127 00:05:02,241 --> 00:05:03,740 of the Lawmaker's guild. 128 00:05:03,742 --> 00:05:05,309 I think a lot of Nyssa's relationships 129 00:05:05,311 --> 00:05:06,677 are built on an agenda, 130 00:05:06,679 --> 00:05:09,566 and Nyssa sees Seg as a commodity. 131 00:05:09,598 --> 00:05:11,532 Have your secrets, Seg. 132 00:05:11,534 --> 00:05:13,367 I most certainly have mine. 133 00:05:13,369 --> 00:05:16,837 Seg early on in the story receives a call to action, 134 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,740 and this call reminds him of the great legacy 135 00:05:19,742 --> 00:05:21,842 of his house, of the acts of courage 136 00:05:21,844 --> 00:05:23,811 and selflessness that are so incredible 137 00:05:23,813 --> 00:05:25,679 that they resound through history, 138 00:05:25,681 --> 00:05:26,655 but here's the kicker: 139 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,442 they also resound in the future. 140 00:05:30,820 --> 00:05:32,352 Don't even think about it. 141 00:05:32,354 --> 00:05:33,487 This stranger shows up, 142 00:05:33,489 --> 00:05:34,888 says, "I'm from the future. 143 00:05:34,890 --> 00:05:36,456 "I'm from a planet called Earth. 144 00:05:36,458 --> 00:05:37,958 "My name is Adam Strange, 145 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,394 and I need your help to save Krypton." 146 00:05:40,396 --> 00:05:42,429 Someone from the future has come to destroy Krypton. 147 00:05:42,463 --> 00:05:43,741 Why would they do that? 148 00:05:43,766 --> 00:05:45,694 Because where I'm from, your grandson becomes 149 00:05:45,719 --> 00:05:47,434 the greatest hero in the universe. 150 00:05:47,436 --> 00:05:49,636 No one on Krypton, including Seg, 151 00:05:49,638 --> 00:05:53,290 has any awareness of Superman or even Earth at this point, 152 00:05:53,315 --> 00:05:55,319 so Adam is the audience's proxy. 153 00:05:55,344 --> 00:05:57,277 Once this cape is gone, our time's up. 154 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,980 Superman will have been wiped from existence. 155 00:05:59,982 --> 00:06:01,949 Because he is a time traveler, 156 00:06:01,951 --> 00:06:04,218 he shows that the show is not just a prequel. 157 00:06:04,220 --> 00:06:07,287 It's a story that is indelibly linked to the present, 158 00:06:07,289 --> 00:06:09,528 so the events that happen in our show 159 00:06:09,553 --> 00:06:11,325 could change Krypton's ultimate fate. 160 00:06:12,628 --> 00:06:14,328 This thing that's coming, 161 00:06:14,330 --> 00:06:16,930 it moves... from planet to planet, 162 00:06:16,932 --> 00:06:18,632 conquering civilizations. 163 00:06:18,634 --> 00:06:22,402 Its true name is Brainiac. 164 00:06:25,641 --> 00:06:27,374 Superman was created out of nothing. 165 00:06:27,376 --> 00:06:28,631 There were no superheroes. 166 00:06:28,656 --> 00:06:31,371 Superman has been through everything you can think of. 167 00:06:31,396 --> 00:06:33,810 There's a reason why Superman still persists. 168 00:06:37,433 --> 00:06:39,667 So, here we are in the Genesis Chamber, 169 00:06:39,692 --> 00:06:41,222 and the cool thing about the Genesis Chamber 170 00:06:41,254 --> 00:06:42,964 is that it's actually a relatively new part 171 00:06:42,989 --> 00:06:45,935 of the lore introduced in 2014's "Man of Steel." 172 00:06:45,982 --> 00:06:47,670 And the amazing thing to me as a fan 173 00:06:47,695 --> 00:06:49,085 is that even though this franchise 174 00:06:49,110 --> 00:06:50,638 has been going on for 80 years, 175 00:06:50,663 --> 00:06:52,201 the world of Krypton is so rich 176 00:06:52,225 --> 00:06:53,973 that there's really no end to the creative 177 00:06:53,998 --> 00:06:56,373 and storytelling possibilities. 178 00:06:58,277 --> 00:07:00,410 There's a lot of characters that have been introduced 179 00:07:00,435 --> 00:07:02,333 from 1938 to now, 180 00:07:02,358 --> 00:07:03,891 and a lot of them have been forgotten, 181 00:07:03,893 --> 00:07:06,614 but there's a reason why Superman still persists. 182 00:07:06,669 --> 00:07:08,351 Superman was created out of nothing. 183 00:07:08,413 --> 00:07:09,851 There were no superheroes. 184 00:07:09,914 --> 00:07:12,476 There was just Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster 185 00:07:12,508 --> 00:07:13,898 in Cleveland, Ohio, 186 00:07:13,937 --> 00:07:16,877 creating an alien character called Superman. 187 00:07:16,879 --> 00:07:19,981 In 1938, in short, the world had never been 188 00:07:20,013 --> 00:07:22,980 a scarier or more unjust place. 189 00:07:22,982 --> 00:07:25,983 And at that time, the world's first superhero 190 00:07:25,985 --> 00:07:28,519 appeared on bookshelves. 191 00:07:28,521 --> 00:07:30,087 I don't think it's a coincidence 192 00:07:30,089 --> 00:07:31,856 that this guy became popular. 193 00:07:31,858 --> 00:07:33,758 ? ? 194 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,895 He's always that shining beacon of goodness and courage. 195 00:07:37,897 --> 00:07:39,764 Truth, justice, and the American way... 196 00:07:39,766 --> 00:07:41,933 I mean, these are, like, spiritual ideas. 197 00:07:41,935 --> 00:07:43,801 These are ideas you can build a religion around. 198 00:07:43,803 --> 00:07:46,203 Here we have an alien among us in Superman 199 00:07:46,205 --> 00:07:49,040 who represents the highest and best qualities 200 00:07:49,042 --> 00:07:53,744 of what we like to think of as humanity. 201 00:07:53,746 --> 00:07:55,546 Why has Superman endured for so long? 202 00:07:55,548 --> 00:07:57,949 It's because those themes are undying, 203 00:07:57,951 --> 00:07:59,250 and so is he. 204 00:08:01,020 --> 00:08:03,921 Superman has been through just about everything 205 00:08:03,923 --> 00:08:06,223 you can think of... 52 universes, 206 00:08:06,225 --> 00:08:09,160 evil versions of himself, bizarro versions of himself. 207 00:08:09,162 --> 00:08:11,028 He died, very famously. 208 00:08:11,030 --> 00:08:12,797 Superman kind of is so well known 209 00:08:12,799 --> 00:08:15,099 and so well documented... in animation, 210 00:08:15,101 --> 00:08:16,867 in film, in television, 211 00:08:16,869 --> 00:08:18,636 in comics. 212 00:08:18,638 --> 00:08:20,471 First connection I had to Superman growing up 213 00:08:20,473 --> 00:08:22,640 was the day I read my first "Superman" comic. 214 00:08:22,642 --> 00:08:24,542 It kind of taught you 215 00:08:24,544 --> 00:08:25,743 you could do almost anything you wanted. 216 00:08:25,745 --> 00:08:27,778 If he could, why couldn't I? 217 00:08:27,780 --> 00:08:30,848 My very first connection was the Max and Dave Fleischer 218 00:08:30,850 --> 00:08:32,583 "Superman" cartoons 219 00:08:32,585 --> 00:08:35,019 that I saw when I was very, very young. 220 00:08:35,021 --> 00:08:38,331 They were done on a really elaborate scale for cartoons. 221 00:08:38,385 --> 00:08:41,158 They were very realistic and very cinematic. 222 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,893 I am and always will be a fan 223 00:08:42,895 --> 00:08:45,630 of the original TV series, "Adventures of Superman," 224 00:08:45,632 --> 00:08:47,031 with George Reeves, 'cause that's what 225 00:08:47,033 --> 00:08:48,185 I grew up with as a kid. 226 00:08:48,210 --> 00:08:49,934 Your aim is bad, Luigi. 227 00:08:49,936 --> 00:08:51,936 The first Superman movie with Christopher Reeve 228 00:08:51,938 --> 00:08:55,673 really embraced the Superman I grew up with. 229 00:08:55,675 --> 00:08:57,875 I read the script, and quite honestly, 230 00:08:57,877 --> 00:09:00,011 it was missing the humanity, 231 00:09:00,013 --> 00:09:03,648 its sense of reality. 232 00:09:03,650 --> 00:09:06,083 I decided to do it if they'd let me do a rewrite, 233 00:09:06,085 --> 00:09:09,053 and the reason I would do it was to protect Superman. 234 00:09:09,055 --> 00:09:11,889 It played a huge part in my imaginative life. 235 00:09:11,891 --> 00:09:15,559 I actually have a scar on my chin right here. 236 00:09:15,561 --> 00:09:17,662 I jumped off the couch with a cape 237 00:09:17,664 --> 00:09:19,530 that said "Superkid" on it, 238 00:09:19,532 --> 00:09:21,666 and I fell on my face. 239 00:09:21,668 --> 00:09:25,002 For me, I grew up in the time of the great "Animated Series." 240 00:09:25,004 --> 00:09:27,571 I'm a huge "Animated Series" fan. 241 00:09:27,573 --> 00:09:30,141 I really like the Bruce Timm designs of Superman. 242 00:09:30,143 --> 00:09:33,778 Those angular characters are, I think, very unique. 243 00:09:33,780 --> 00:09:36,681 One of the things that we decided to do early on 244 00:09:36,683 --> 00:09:38,015 both to humanize Superman and also 245 00:09:38,017 --> 00:09:40,469 to kind of make the stories a little bit more interesting 246 00:09:40,493 --> 00:09:42,987 is we did make him a little bit more vulnerable. 247 00:09:42,989 --> 00:09:45,690 I love the "Smallville" version of Superman. 248 00:09:45,692 --> 00:09:47,158 I think Tom Welling did a really good job 249 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,127 portraying Superman's innocence 250 00:09:50,129 --> 00:09:52,295 and the tension in him. 251 00:09:54,534 --> 00:09:56,634 I think every major creator at some point 252 00:09:56,636 --> 00:09:59,603 wants to tackle and tell a Superman story. 253 00:09:59,605 --> 00:10:01,706 It's an American fable. It's American history. 254 00:10:01,708 --> 00:10:03,774 Everybody wants to take a crack at it. 255 00:10:03,776 --> 00:10:05,276 As a Superman fan, 256 00:10:05,278 --> 00:10:07,078 there's no greater feeling 257 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,246 than getting the chance to contribute 258 00:10:09,248 --> 00:10:12,717 something, anything, to the legacy of the character. 259 00:10:12,719 --> 00:10:14,685 You know you're standing on the shoulders of giants 260 00:10:14,687 --> 00:10:16,854 that preceded you, so there is 261 00:10:16,856 --> 00:10:19,824 pressure to get it right and to tell a great story. 262 00:10:19,826 --> 00:10:21,592 Once you open the comics, 263 00:10:21,594 --> 00:10:23,060 you realize how deep the storytelling is, 264 00:10:23,062 --> 00:10:25,062 how much of it is based on 265 00:10:25,064 --> 00:10:27,164 the connections between people. 266 00:10:27,166 --> 00:10:28,933 I think the greatest Superman moment of all time 267 00:10:28,935 --> 00:10:30,735 is five panels in Grant Morrison's 268 00:10:30,737 --> 00:10:31,869 "All-Star Superman." 269 00:10:31,871 --> 00:10:33,671 There is a woman on a ledge 270 00:10:33,673 --> 00:10:35,906 who's about to step off, and a strong voice 271 00:10:35,908 --> 00:10:37,007 behind her says, 272 00:10:37,009 --> 00:10:39,877 "You are so much stronger than you think you are." 273 00:10:39,879 --> 00:10:40,978 At heart, they are 274 00:10:40,980 --> 00:10:42,980 really sort of simple stories. 275 00:10:42,982 --> 00:10:45,354 You know, Superman is the immigrant that comes here 276 00:10:45,393 --> 00:10:46,984 and sees the best in us. 277 00:10:46,986 --> 00:10:48,786 Different writers bring their passions, 278 00:10:48,788 --> 00:10:50,955 and, as you go through the decades, 279 00:10:50,957 --> 00:10:55,659 you see different social justice issues being raised. 280 00:10:55,661 --> 00:10:57,762 A good writer is looking at everything around him 281 00:10:57,764 --> 00:11:00,331 and looks at society and sees, "What can you address?" 282 00:11:00,333 --> 00:11:02,099 We live in a society now where truth, 283 00:11:02,101 --> 00:11:03,868 justice, and the American way, 284 00:11:03,870 --> 00:11:05,936 these ideas are actually under siege. 285 00:11:05,938 --> 00:11:07,271 Looking at the world we live in 286 00:11:07,273 --> 00:11:08,839 and Superman's place in it, 287 00:11:08,841 --> 00:11:10,641 you realize that he's exactly 288 00:11:10,643 --> 00:11:13,210 the hero we need right now. 289 00:11:13,212 --> 00:11:15,813 Boy, do we need Superman. 290 00:11:15,815 --> 00:11:18,149 The great thing about the Superman universe 291 00:11:18,151 --> 00:11:19,917 is the breadth of it. 292 00:11:19,919 --> 00:11:22,052 Because Superman is a science fiction character, 293 00:11:22,054 --> 00:11:23,954 ultimately, the whole universe is open, 294 00:11:23,956 --> 00:11:26,791 so he's connected to things across time travel, 295 00:11:26,793 --> 00:11:29,806 the future, the past, through space travel, 296 00:11:29,853 --> 00:11:32,263 as well as to Earth and Krypton. 297 00:11:32,265 --> 00:11:34,805 Well, I think it's gonna be really interesting to see 298 00:11:34,830 --> 00:11:36,363 the backstory of Superman's family. 299 00:11:36,388 --> 00:11:38,388 I mean, we basically know the story 300 00:11:38,390 --> 00:11:40,790 of Superman's parents fairly well, 301 00:11:40,792 --> 00:11:42,959 but the idea that there are family histories 302 00:11:42,961 --> 00:11:45,195 that extend beyond that I think is one 303 00:11:45,197 --> 00:11:47,464 that's rich for development. 304 00:11:52,137 --> 00:11:53,336 Where we're standing right now 305 00:11:53,338 --> 00:11:54,938 is the DC Comics archive. 306 00:11:54,940 --> 00:11:56,532 Pretty much every single issue 307 00:11:56,556 --> 00:11:58,208 DC Comics published, it's here in this room. 308 00:11:59,781 --> 00:12:02,843 Hey, guys, I got the incredible opportunity to come visit DC Comics, 309 00:12:02,907 --> 00:12:04,759 check out their archive, and learn more 310 00:12:04,784 --> 00:12:07,720 about the incredible history of DC Comics, Superman, 311 00:12:07,759 --> 00:12:09,242 and the world of Krypton. 312 00:12:09,267 --> 00:12:11,234 Let's go check it out. 313 00:12:11,236 --> 00:12:12,977 Where we're standing right now 314 00:12:13,002 --> 00:12:14,904 is the doorway to the DC Comics archive. 315 00:12:14,938 --> 00:12:17,573 It's one of the most special places in all of comic history. 316 00:12:17,575 --> 00:12:19,437 Pretty much every single issue 317 00:12:19,482 --> 00:12:22,007 that DC Comics has published from 1938 318 00:12:22,073 --> 00:12:23,594 to whatever came out last week, 319 00:12:23,649 --> 00:12:25,187 it's here in this room. 320 00:12:26,282 --> 00:12:29,052 We have the most important comic book ever made. 321 00:12:29,099 --> 00:12:30,665 It's this one right here. 322 00:12:30,667 --> 00:12:32,367 It's "Action Comics" #1. 323 00:12:32,369 --> 00:12:33,601 It's the landmark issue 324 00:12:33,603 --> 00:12:35,537 which creates the genre of superheroes 325 00:12:35,539 --> 00:12:37,014 by having Superman in it. 326 00:12:37,092 --> 00:12:39,225 It is the birth of the golden age of comics, 327 00:12:39,227 --> 00:12:40,960 and that's where Krypton starts, 328 00:12:40,962 --> 00:12:43,029 when the rocket ship takes off. 329 00:12:48,904 --> 00:12:50,837 Everyone that's kind of touched Superman, 330 00:12:50,839 --> 00:12:53,106 from the radio play to the movies 331 00:12:53,108 --> 00:12:54,340 to the comic books, 332 00:12:54,342 --> 00:12:55,875 has added to his mythology 333 00:12:55,877 --> 00:12:58,287 and expanded what he can do. 334 00:12:58,318 --> 00:13:00,418 All of superheroes come from this comic. 335 00:13:00,421 --> 00:13:02,087 So this is the first panel ever. 336 00:13:02,089 --> 00:13:04,523 So as a lifelong fan, holding onto this comic book 337 00:13:04,525 --> 00:13:06,458 means everything to me. 338 00:13:06,460 --> 00:13:07,859 He's the kind of character 339 00:13:07,861 --> 00:13:09,261 that, the more you dig into him, 340 00:13:09,263 --> 00:13:10,429 the more you're impressed 341 00:13:10,431 --> 00:13:12,397 that he's doing what he does 342 00:13:12,399 --> 00:13:14,466 and the way he does what he does. 343 00:13:14,468 --> 00:13:18,036 Some of my favorite versions of Krypton really imagine it 344 00:13:18,038 --> 00:13:20,439 as a place that I think that was like us. 345 00:13:20,441 --> 00:13:23,809 No matter how kind of wondrous civilization gets, 346 00:13:23,811 --> 00:13:25,377 you realize that they still have 347 00:13:25,379 --> 00:13:27,913 some of the same kind of deep-rooted conflicts 348 00:13:27,915 --> 00:13:29,446 that we have now. 349 00:13:29,471 --> 00:13:30,813 It seems to me like they had, you know, 350 00:13:30,838 --> 00:13:32,540 the idea of Krypton, and Superman comes from him, 351 00:13:32,565 --> 00:13:34,086 but it wasn't until a little bit later, 352 00:13:34,088 --> 00:13:35,454 they actually came back to it. 353 00:13:35,456 --> 00:13:37,356 I mean, it's such a fertile ground 354 00:13:37,358 --> 00:13:38,857 for really rich stories, and you can't start the story 355 00:13:38,859 --> 00:13:39,875 without all of this. 356 00:13:39,877 --> 00:13:42,179 And actually, I believe I have a map of Krypton 357 00:13:42,203 --> 00:13:43,219 in case you get lost. 358 00:13:43,244 --> 00:13:45,270 I don't know what it looks like on the show, 359 00:13:45,272 --> 00:13:47,706 but the Rainbow Cavern should be here. 360 00:13:47,708 --> 00:13:49,218 The Volcano of Gold. 361 00:13:49,243 --> 00:13:50,209 And I could tell you right now, 362 00:13:50,211 --> 00:13:52,695 some of these places feature in the show. 363 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:53,977 I'm not gonna tell you which ones. 364 00:13:54,002 --> 00:13:55,386 - That's fantastic. - You have to watch. 365 00:13:55,411 --> 00:13:57,004 The great thing about Superman 366 00:13:57,029 --> 00:13:59,225 is that it's got a mythological basis 367 00:13:59,227 --> 00:14:01,928 that everybody knows, and, from that, 368 00:14:01,930 --> 00:14:04,564 you can tell a variety of stories. 369 00:14:04,566 --> 00:14:06,299 It's fascinating how the first interpretations 370 00:14:06,301 --> 00:14:08,734 of Superman were a much more rough-and-tumble hero. 371 00:14:08,736 --> 00:14:10,002 - Yeah. - And he wasn't necessarily 372 00:14:10,004 --> 00:14:11,270 going after mad scientists. 373 00:14:11,272 --> 00:14:13,039 He was much more street justice. 374 00:14:13,041 --> 00:14:14,173 - Right. - Which is something 375 00:14:14,175 --> 00:14:15,741 we've brought to our show. 376 00:14:15,743 --> 00:14:17,677 The mythology has expanded so much, 377 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:19,178 and for us, as well, it's a science fiction show, 378 00:14:19,180 --> 00:14:21,714 so it all has to make sense. 379 00:14:21,716 --> 00:14:24,650 This is "Action Comics" 236 to 247, 380 00:14:24,652 --> 00:14:26,319 and it's here for a very important reason. 381 00:14:26,321 --> 00:14:28,688 - Brainiac. - Brainiac. 382 00:14:28,690 --> 00:14:30,756 Brainiac is this thing that comes here 383 00:14:30,758 --> 00:14:32,625 and then captures us and says, 384 00:14:32,627 --> 00:14:34,327 "You're just this tiny, small thing, 385 00:14:34,329 --> 00:14:35,695 "and you're never going to be important, 386 00:14:35,697 --> 00:14:37,081 "you're never going to be big, 387 00:14:37,106 --> 00:14:39,098 and so let me bottle you up and take you away." 388 00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:42,869 Brainiac's history was already tied to Krypton 389 00:14:42,871 --> 00:14:45,104 even before Superman came to Earth. 390 00:14:45,106 --> 00:14:47,807 Famously, Brainiac came to Krypton in the past 391 00:14:47,809 --> 00:14:49,642 and devastated Kandor. 392 00:14:49,644 --> 00:14:51,811 He stole the entire city and shrunk it down 393 00:14:51,813 --> 00:14:53,613 into this globe on his ship, 394 00:14:53,615 --> 00:14:55,781 and so it made absolute sense 395 00:14:55,783 --> 00:14:57,383 that he would be our big bad. 396 00:14:57,385 --> 00:14:59,752 One of my favorite interpretations of Brainiac 397 00:14:59,754 --> 00:15:03,392 throughout the years is the run that Geoff and Gary Frank did 398 00:15:03,417 --> 00:15:04,884 with incredible art 399 00:15:04,909 --> 00:15:07,300 and really, in a way, brought Brainiac 400 00:15:07,339 --> 00:15:10,140 back into Superman continuity and made him who he is, 401 00:15:10,142 --> 00:15:11,975 this incredible green being. 402 00:15:11,977 --> 00:15:13,810 And it's interesting to me as well, 403 00:15:13,812 --> 00:15:15,879 the way Brainiac has always been used as well 404 00:15:15,881 --> 00:15:17,580 is for a way for Superman to reexamine 405 00:15:17,582 --> 00:15:19,315 what it means to be human. 406 00:15:19,317 --> 00:15:21,284 Gary Frank, the artist, and I 407 00:15:21,286 --> 00:15:23,820 really decided to take a run at making him threatening 408 00:15:23,822 --> 00:15:25,488 in a, I guess, more horrific way 409 00:15:25,490 --> 00:15:27,390 and would go around to these places 410 00:15:27,392 --> 00:15:29,893 and digitize cultures and destroy it 411 00:15:29,895 --> 00:15:32,195 and just collect it, and that version of Brainiac 412 00:15:32,197 --> 00:15:35,098 did heavily influence what we're doing in the show. 413 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:37,400 It's not just gonna stop at Krypton. 414 00:15:37,402 --> 00:15:39,269 It is coming for everything. 415 00:15:39,271 --> 00:15:42,906 It's known as the collector of worlds. 416 00:15:42,908 --> 00:15:44,941 Here we are in one of our oldest bound issues. 417 00:15:44,943 --> 00:15:48,178 There's "Showcase" #17. Adam Strange. 418 00:15:48,180 --> 00:15:50,613 Adam Strange was really the closest thing we had 419 00:15:50,615 --> 00:15:52,949 to a straight science fiction comic book, 420 00:15:52,951 --> 00:15:55,852 and he transported from here to his home planet 421 00:15:55,854 --> 00:15:57,287 and had various adventures. 422 00:15:57,289 --> 00:15:58,955 I come from a planet called Earth, 423 00:15:58,957 --> 00:16:00,456 a time centuries from now, 424 00:16:00,458 --> 00:16:02,225 and I've come here to warn you. 425 00:16:02,227 --> 00:16:03,860 The origin of Adam Strange is almost like 426 00:16:03,862 --> 00:16:05,862 a reversal of the Superman origin. 427 00:16:05,864 --> 00:16:07,463 Strange came from Earth and ended up 428 00:16:07,465 --> 00:16:10,934 on a strange planet that he became the hero of. 429 00:16:10,936 --> 00:16:13,303 Adam Strange should be our cue to the audience 430 00:16:13,305 --> 00:16:16,806 that this is more than just about the Superman mythology. 431 00:16:16,808 --> 00:16:18,908 If you know comic books, 432 00:16:18,910 --> 00:16:21,044 Doomsday's origins happen on Krypton, 433 00:16:21,046 --> 00:16:23,513 and we'll be wrapping Doomsday into the story. 434 00:16:23,515 --> 00:16:25,415 There's a item called the Black Mercy 435 00:16:25,417 --> 00:16:27,550 that shows up in the pilot, and that's related 436 00:16:27,552 --> 00:16:30,186 to a character named Mongul that we hope to bring in. 437 00:16:30,188 --> 00:16:32,288 There's a world in the comics called Thanagar 438 00:16:32,290 --> 00:16:34,324 where Hawkman and Hawkwoman are from, 439 00:16:34,326 --> 00:16:35,454 and they're going to be wrapped up 440 00:16:35,487 --> 00:16:37,016 in the story as well. 441 00:16:37,081 --> 00:16:40,134 So Adam Strange is sort of the gateway to all 442 00:16:40,159 --> 00:16:43,433 the space-related characters in the DC universe. 443 00:16:43,435 --> 00:16:46,769 ? ? 444 00:16:46,771 --> 00:16:48,504 When you step on set, 445 00:16:48,506 --> 00:16:49,872 you just feel immersed 446 00:16:49,874 --> 00:16:51,541 in this world of mythology. 447 00:16:51,543 --> 00:16:53,409 The Fortress set has been the one 448 00:16:53,411 --> 00:16:55,284 that we have agonized over the most. 449 00:16:55,778 --> 00:16:58,060 So, here we are in the tribunal chamber, 450 00:16:58,084 --> 00:17:00,246 and as you can see, the legacy of Krypton 451 00:17:00,271 --> 00:17:02,004 and Superman, it's literally all around us. 452 00:17:02,006 --> 00:17:04,407 The production has gone to great lengths 453 00:17:04,438 --> 00:17:06,138 to mine even the most minute details 454 00:17:06,140 --> 00:17:07,906 from the franchise's deep history, 455 00:17:07,908 --> 00:17:10,008 and this is to ensure that the world we create 456 00:17:10,010 --> 00:17:12,044 is not only paying tribute to what's come before 457 00:17:12,046 --> 00:17:14,413 but is also completely, uniquely our own. 458 00:17:16,917 --> 00:17:20,519 This show is just, like, a really pure form of escapism. 459 00:17:20,521 --> 00:17:25,090 You get to see these really creative, exciting worlds 460 00:17:25,092 --> 00:17:27,459 that are different than your own. 461 00:17:27,461 --> 00:17:29,428 DC have done a fantastic job 462 00:17:29,430 --> 00:17:30,829 of allowing creators and artists 463 00:17:30,831 --> 00:17:32,497 to go their own direction. 464 00:17:32,499 --> 00:17:35,100 And David Goyer, using the framework 465 00:17:35,102 --> 00:17:37,302 of the DC universe, has crafted 466 00:17:37,304 --> 00:17:41,006 this beautifully deep society for us. 467 00:17:41,008 --> 00:17:42,240 Strange to think our ancestors 468 00:17:42,242 --> 00:17:44,342 used to carry children in their wombs. 469 00:17:44,344 --> 00:17:46,445 Because it's a truly alien world 470 00:17:46,470 --> 00:17:47,562 and an alien culture, 471 00:17:47,587 --> 00:17:48,952 the design time was almost double 472 00:17:48,977 --> 00:17:51,179 that you would normally have for a show. 473 00:17:51,203 --> 00:17:52,499 The amazing thing about all of these sets 474 00:17:52,539 --> 00:17:55,241 is they are epic in scale but down to the fine detail, 475 00:17:55,258 --> 00:17:57,923 and that was by design because we are telling 476 00:17:57,955 --> 00:17:59,755 an immersive cinematic story. 477 00:17:59,757 --> 00:18:01,384 If you're so clever, 478 00:18:01,432 --> 00:18:03,699 how come you're on the stupid end of this blaster? 479 00:18:03,701 --> 00:18:06,078 Being on these sets, 480 00:18:06,103 --> 00:18:07,703 you don't even need to try and get into character. 481 00:18:07,705 --> 00:18:10,670 You just feel immersed in this world of mythology. 482 00:18:10,695 --> 00:18:13,542 This fortress, it's why they killed Grandfather, isn't it? 483 00:18:13,544 --> 00:18:15,873 The Fortress set has been the one 484 00:18:15,907 --> 00:18:18,774 that we have agonized over the most. 485 00:18:18,776 --> 00:18:20,776 Does this really belong to my grandson? 486 00:18:20,778 --> 00:18:22,044 Yeah. 487 00:18:22,046 --> 00:18:23,488 We learn in the course of the show 488 00:18:23,513 --> 00:18:26,115 that the Fortress of Solitude actually had its origins 489 00:18:26,117 --> 00:18:30,186 on Krypton and it was Val-El's secret scientific base. 490 00:18:30,188 --> 00:18:32,221 Tell me about Brainiac. 491 00:18:32,223 --> 00:18:34,757 Help me find a way to stop him. 492 00:18:34,759 --> 00:18:37,793 I think Superman fans have been dying to see 493 00:18:37,795 --> 00:18:39,929 Brainiac done justice on screen 494 00:18:39,931 --> 00:18:41,497 the way he deserves. 495 00:18:41,499 --> 00:18:44,133 And we're doing our utmost to deliver that. 496 00:18:44,135 --> 00:18:48,237 Your world is at an end. 497 00:18:50,041 --> 00:18:52,880 There's a lot of expectations. There's lots of fans. 498 00:18:52,905 --> 00:18:54,216 There's lots of people that are 499 00:18:54,218 --> 00:18:55,888 very passionate about Superman, 500 00:18:55,913 --> 00:18:58,747 and it does feel like it's a big responsibility. 501 00:18:58,749 --> 00:19:00,416 Val-El was right! 502 00:19:00,418 --> 00:19:02,151 Enough! 503 00:19:02,153 --> 00:19:04,386 We've never actually seen what the El family 504 00:19:04,388 --> 00:19:06,722 stands for in their own society 505 00:19:06,724 --> 00:19:08,924 in the context of their world. 506 00:19:08,926 --> 00:19:10,408 It's time you learn the truth. 507 00:19:10,433 --> 00:19:13,195 And you had to steal a skimmer for that? 508 00:19:13,197 --> 00:19:14,964 ? ? 509 00:19:14,966 --> 00:19:16,198 To have the freedom 510 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,100 to make an entire TV series 511 00:19:18,102 --> 00:19:20,449 about Krypton is just really exciting. 512 00:19:20,474 --> 00:19:22,138 You're walking on untouched soil. 513 00:19:22,140 --> 00:19:24,039 ? ? 514 00:19:24,041 --> 00:19:26,175 I think what people are interested in knowing 515 00:19:26,177 --> 00:19:27,977 is the background of Superman's family 516 00:19:27,979 --> 00:19:29,945 and what's in his DNA that led him 517 00:19:29,947 --> 00:19:31,881 to become the person that he is. 518 00:19:31,883 --> 00:19:33,215 The amazing thing about our show 519 00:19:33,217 --> 00:19:35,251 is that we get to take bits that we like 520 00:19:35,253 --> 00:19:37,052 from the comics, from the TV shows, 521 00:19:37,054 --> 00:19:38,354 from the movies, and smash them all together, 522 00:19:38,356 --> 00:19:40,256 as well as adding our own stuff 523 00:19:40,258 --> 00:19:42,124 and moving forward with a new story. 524 00:19:42,126 --> 00:19:44,760 People genuinely have no idea 525 00:19:44,762 --> 00:19:46,729 what is about to come their way. 526 00:19:46,731 --> 00:19:51,167 ? ? 527 00:20:04,548 --> 00:20:07,983 Welcome to your grandfather's Fortress of Solitude. 528 00:20:10,988 --> 00:20:18,027 ? ? 529 00:20:28,023 --> 00:20:29,093 Go on. 530 00:20:29,095 --> 00:20:30,428 Try it. 531 00:20:58,622 --> 00:21:00,188 As a lifelong fan of this world, 532 00:21:00,229 --> 00:21:02,429 I feel so lucky to be a part of "Krypton." 533 00:21:02,471 --> 00:21:04,137 To contribute to the legend of Superman, 534 00:21:04,139 --> 00:21:06,240 it's a humbling and awesome experience, 535 00:21:06,242 --> 00:21:09,125 and I can't wait to share what we've come up with. 536 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,180 My own personal Kryptonite? Oh, my God. 537 00:21:12,243 --> 00:21:13,776 I would say my Kryptonite is heights. 538 00:21:13,833 --> 00:21:15,664 - Red onion. - Time. 539 00:21:15,727 --> 00:21:17,127 - Deadlines. - LEGOs. 540 00:21:17,129 --> 00:21:18,885 I have stepped on so many LEGOs. 541 00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:20,196 I don't have a good answer. 542 00:21:20,198 --> 00:21:22,783 Haircuts? I don't know if that makes any sense. 543 00:21:22,808 --> 00:21:24,635 My Kryptonite is carbs. 544 00:21:24,660 --> 00:21:27,021 - Probably Hostess, I think. - Injustice. 545 00:21:27,046 --> 00:21:29,579 I'm probably my own personal Kryptonite.