Indian actress to be Superman's new love in the next movie...

BOLLYWOOD beauty Priyanka Chopra is in line to play a scientist who is Superman's new love interest in the proposed sequel Man of Steel, according to an online news site.

Reports say director Bryan Singer went to see the stunning star on a film set in the USA and offered her the role. It's left comicbook fans wondering exactly which character she could portray.

"Priyanka Chopra is likely to play Superman's love interest in the flick's upcoming sequel. According to our sources, Priyanka has been offered the role of Superman's leading lady in the latest sequel and she has almost given her final nod though the official statement is yet to be released."

A source told the site: "The filmmakers had been looking for an Indian face for quite long as the role is of an Indian scientist. When they came to know of Priyanka shooting in the US for Dostana, the director of Superman went to the shoot to judge her work."

Over on the Superhero Hype, theories for which role Chopra could play include:
1. Dr Teng - Lex Luthor's female scientific assistant
2. Mercy Graves - a bodyguard/mistress of Lex in the comics
3. Maxima - an alien superbeing who worked with Brainiac and has powers of super-strength, flight, telekinesis, mind control, optical energy blasts and creation of force fields
4. A version of Kitty Faulkner who works at S.T.A.R. (Scientific and Technological Advanced Research) a laboratory research organisation shown in various DC Comics stories. Since the name Kitty was used already in Superman Returns for Lex's moll, she would need a different name but fill the same role.

When Buffy creator Joss Whedon was writing a Wonder Woman movie screenplay, it was reported at the time that Priyanka had been interested in the lead role. That screenplay was shelved in the end.

The Indian actor Kal Penn played one of Lex Luthor's henchmen, Stanford, in Superman Returns, so it wouldn't be the first time an Indian star had stepped into the franchise.

Chopra's popularity has risen since she played the female lead in India's first superhero film, Krrish, which was among this year's blockbusters. The former Miss World was voted the "most amazing actress" by Indian children in a poll by the Pogo TV channel. Hrithik Roshan, who played the superhero in Krrish, bagged the award for the "most amazing actor."

On the actress's fansite, Priyanka says: "You could say I am India's answer to Lois Lane."

For Superman fans, it raises questions over the inclusion and role of Lois Lane in any future Superman movie. In Superman Returns, Lois - played by Kate Bosworth - was in a relationship with Richard White (nephew of Daily Planet editor Perry White, and played by James Marsden).

Casting a new romantic character would sidestep the diffiicult situation of how to handle the Superman/Lois relationship in a future movie. For Superman to be with Lois, her stable family life with the dependable Richard would have to break up - and seeing Superman as a home-wrecker would be unpalatable. But if a new love were introduced, we could bypass that scenario altogether.

Whether this news about Priyanka is just an internet rumour, or some clever self-publicity, is not yet known. But the idea of a new female character for the next Superman movie is feasible, especially if it includes Maxima (and Brainiac) or the S.T.A.R organisation.

While seeing Priyanka play a scientist who is also Superman's girlfriend may seem like further deviation from the mythos, it might well be preferable to seeing an awkward resolution to the Superman/Lois scenario in the last movie, which left a bitter taste with many fans.