Superheroes are brought back to earth as reality bites

Published on Sunday 21 February 2010 22:03

HOLLYWOOD superheroes could soon have their powers stripped by a formidable new adversary: Reality Man.

A team of scientific advisers has been set up to ensure superhero and sci-fi films do not get too far-fetched.

Their leader, physicist Dr Sidney Perkowitz, believes only one major assault on the laws of nature should be allowed per movie scenario.

It can be faster-than-light travel, as in Star Trek or Star Wars, or X-ray vision, or the ability to walk through solid objects.

But if a storyline becomes too outlandish, filmgoers will be put off, Dr Perkowitz claims.

He said: "The hope is that it will get better science into film while still making them interesting.

"You have to have some sort of authenticity or the whole thing falls apart. Scientists would like it to be 100 per cent right, but that's not going to happen.

"I'm not saying real authenticity but the appearance of authenticity. If you violate that you're in trouble. The chances are that the public will pick it up."