Superman With Nicolas Cage: Casting, Script… Everything You Need To Know About Tim Burton’s Canceled DC Movie

4 – When should this be published?

After the success of Tim Burton’s first Batman and Batman Forever (Batman, the challenge was not enough), Warner wants to develop his DC universe in cinema with other heroes, and the first to meet them is, of course, Superman, Iron Man. A brand of comics.

The first release date announced by Warner is summer 1998, the 60th anniversary of the character’s birth. Except that the start of filming is constantly delayed until the date becomes unavailable and the release of the film is finally cancelled.

3 – What was the scenario?

In the early 90s, Warner Bros. commissioned a comic book adaptation of Superman V: Reborn. death of superman. Two versions will be released, but to no avail. But everything changed in August 1996.

A huge comic book fan, Kevin Smith (Clerks) arrives to ask a Warner producer to write a Superman script for him. A gentleman named John Peters agrees, as long as Superman doesn’t fly, wear a dark suit, and fight a giant spider.

Smith completes and returns his copy, which is called “A Life of Superman” and includes, of course, Lois Lane, but also Brainiac, Lex Luthor, and Jimmy Olsen. Smith already has an actor in mind and is offering Tim Burton to direct.

Burton is hired, reviews the casting, and finds the script unsuitable. Exit Kevin Smith, whose script has been reworked by Wesley Strick (The Nerfs on Raw) at the behest of the Batman director. But at the end of this version, the estimated budget exploded, $140 million was needed to bring the story to the screen! So the studio brought in Dan Gilroy (who would later sign on to Night Call), who cut the budget to $100 million (and therefore scrapped the script). His version is available here.

In the past, Brainiac destroyed Krypton. Currently, Clark works at the Daily Planet, protects Metropolis from bandits as Superman, and meets Lois Lane. Meanwhile, a certain Lex Luthor is on the verge of discovering the Man of Steel’s secret identity.

It was then that he was contacted by Brainyk, who convinced him to merge and become “Lexiak”, a cyborg. The latter creates Doomsday and sends him to destroy Superman, who is killed in the attack. Resurrected in the Fortress of Solitude, Superman returns to Metropolis and manages to stop the destruction of Earth at the hands of Lexicon. She flies to Lois Lane, who tells her she is pregnant. and

2 – Who should play in the movie?

Fans already know that Nicolas Cage, at the height of his fame in the 90s, will play Kal-El aka Superman, and who is a big fan of the hero – he will name his son “Kal-El” as well. The Usual Suspects newcomer Kevin Spacey is in the running for Lex Luthor, while Burton wants Christopher Walken to play Brainiac. Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore and Courteney Cox are in talks to play Lois Lane and Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen.

If Kevin Smith’s version was confirmed, he wanted Ben Affleck in the title role, Linda Fiorentino as Lois Lane, and Jack Nicholson as Lex Luthor!

1 – Why didn’t it happen?

Tim Burton spent a year developing the project without getting a script that was completely satisfactory to him and producer John Peters. Their disagreement was blocked, and in April 1998 the studio decided not to proceed with the film, which had already cost $30 million, including $5 million just to include Burton in the project. In fact, the latter specified in the contract that they would be paid whether the film was made or not. It’s a good calculation! Freed and paid off, he goes off to film Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp.

Despite everything, in September 1998, Alex Ford’s script was ordered, with the temporary title “Superman: Man of Steel”, which was to announce seven films! Ford will open the door due to creative differences and will comment : “Their audience isn’t you and me paying $7. It’s parents who are going to spend $60 on toys and lunchboxes. This is a business, and what’s more important: $150 million in box office or $600 million in merchandising?”

The reboot would pick up to 2006 with Superman Returns helmed by Brandon Routh.