‘Superman Lives’ was directed by Tim Burton, however, Warner Bros. executives decided to scrap the project.
One of the most curious stories in the long history of Nicolas Cage as an actor was the one in which he was considered to star in the character of Superman. The project was named Superman Lives and it was taking shape in 1998. However, everything remained an unfinished project, almost mythical because it was not what it could have been.
It is known that Warner Bros. canceled the filming of the film in its pre-production stage. Said project would be directed by Tim Burton, who had already filmed a couple of superhero productions: Batman in 1989 and its sequel batman returns in 1992.
Kevin Smith and Superman’s death
After multiple changes in the position of screenwriter for what was intended to be Superman Lives, the work fell on kevin smith in 1996, who was widely recognized for having written films like Clerks and Mallrats. Warner Bros. and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who at the time was one of the studio’s top executives, commissioned him to write a new script. Kevin Smith decided to keep the story arc based on the comic Superman’s death but changed the name of the movie to Superman Lives.
Tim Burton arrives
The studio consulted Kevin Smith who they thought could direct Superman Lives, to which he replied that Tim Burton was the one. His work in Batman (1989) and batman returns (1992) were more than enough credentials to hand him the reins of the project.
But something happened that no one saw coming: Tim refused to work with Smith’s script, and chose Wesley Strick to write a new one. Strick himself recounts the experience in the documentary The Death of ‘Superman Lives’: What Happened?:
“I got involved because I had worked with Tim [Burton] in Batman Returns some six years earlier. […] I knew there was a script by Kevin Smith. I read it without any preconceived ideas but there was a lot that didn’t go with me because I’m not a super fan of Superman, because I hadn’t read any of The Death of Superman, so I wasn’t aware of all that. I was just curious what Tim thought of him, so we got together and I said, “Tim, I read Kevin Smith’s script…” and before I finished he said, “I don’t want to talk about that script.”
However, Warner Bros. ordered to keep some plot details written by Smith for Superman Lives. The studio wanted the film to maintain the story arc of Superman’s death.
But Burton had to deal with another problem if he wanted to shoot the new Superman movie: constant meddling from the producer. Jon Peterswith whom he worked in Batman. Peters was a controller who used to closely supervise the directors he worked with, something Burton disliked and did not want to repeat the experience.
The Man of Steel That Never Was
Since it became known that Cage would be the new Superman, speculation began about whether he would be the right actor to play the Man of Steel.
Back then, the actor was at the most prolific moment of his career. He had won the Oscar for Best Actor for leaving las vegas in 1995. Between 1996 and 1997 he appreciated in great successes as The Rock, With air and Face/Off.
The actor did not get to shoot any scene in the Superman project. Cage barely stayed in the preliminary wardrobe fittings. The photos that were released caused a stir and his detractors used them to make fun of his appearance.
The cameo that would have gone down in history
There is a detail that deserves to be told and that is that Michael Keaton, the actor who played Batman in Burton’s tapes, was going to make a cameo in Superman Lives.
The scene was planned to take place on the streets of metropolis, in the midst of the sadness of the people for the death of Superman. In the main square, a giant screen broadcast the funeral services. So Batman took control of this signal, and directs a message to the population of Metropolis:
“It has been said that he fought an endless battle for truth, justice and the American way of life. Honor this fallen soldier well, keeping his memory alive in the face of this adversity ”was Batman’s speech in a short scene.
A project destined to fail
The pre-production of Superman Lives lasted about a year. The expenses it was generating (estimated to be between $10 million and $12 million) caused concern among studio executives, who did not believe they would be able to recoup their investment. So Warner Bros. decided to cancel Superman Lives definitely.
According to Jon Peters, the call to end the project came with just three weeks to go before shooting began. “It was like being hit by a car. I went with Terry Semel [por entonces copresidente y CEO de Warner Bros.] and I threatened to throw him out of a window,” he said.
It must be taken into account that the study had a series of failed premieres that ended up influencing the decision to cancel. Superman Lives. It must also be said that at that time superhero movies did not have the appeal that they enjoy today.
The only thing left from production are photos of Nicolas Cage in costume fittings, some set and character designs (for example, a skull-shaped ship for Brainiac, who would be one of Superman’s antagonists).
Together with Cage, they would be in the main roles Sandra Bullock like lois lane Kevin Spacey like Lex Luthor and Jim Carrey like Brainiac.
Superman Lives it’s one of those rare cases where a never-filmed movie becomes almost something of a legend in its own right. We will never know how superhero filmography would have changed with this product. Only the imagination is capable of answering this fascinating question.
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