Imagine a Superman movie where the Man of Steel can’t fly, ditches his iconic red and blue suit, and battles a giant spider instead of his arch-nemesis. Sounds absurd, right? But this was almost a reality 30 years ago, when Warner Bros. had a wildly controversial vision for a Superman reboot. In 1996, just as superheroes were cementing their place in Hollywood blockbusters, the studio tapped Kevin Smith, fresh off the success of Clerks, to write a script for Superman Lives. Teaming him up with Batman Returns director Tim Burton seemed like a match made in comic book heaven. Yet, the project was doomed from the start, thanks to some bizarre studio mandates that would have left fans scratching their heads.
And this is the part most people miss: The studio’s demands went beyond just stripping Superman of his powers and costume. Producer Jon Peters allegedly insisted on a third-act showdown with a giant spider—a trope he seemed oddly fixated on, as evidenced by its appearance in the box office flop Wild Wild West. Peters even reportedly wanted Superman’s villain, Brainiac, to fight a polar bear because, in his words, “polar bears are the fiercest killers in the animal kingdom.” Yes, you read that right.
While Peters denies these claims, Smith has consistently recounted these details in interviews and his DVD special An Evening With Kevin Smith. Adding to the strangeness, Tim Burton envisioned Nicolas Cage as Clark Kent/Superman—a casting choice that still sparks debate today. Thankfully, Superman Lives never saw the light of day, sparing fans a version of the hero that felt more like a parody than a tribute.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Despite its flaws, Superman Lives almost beat Superman: Man of Tomorrow to a major milestone. The film planned to introduce Brainiac, one of Superman’s most iconic villains, to the big screen for the first time. Fast forward to today, and James Gunn is finally bringing Brainiac to life in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow sequel. Would the villain’s debut feel as groundbreaking if he’d already appeared in a movie fighting a polar bear? Probably not.
On a lighter note, fans did get a taste of what could have been when Nicolas Cage briefly portrayed Superman in The Flash, during a multiverse-hopping scene. It was a small but satisfying nod to a project that, in another universe, might have actually happened.
What do you think? Would Superman Lives have been a disaster, or could it have been a cult classic? And does the idea of Superman battling a giant spider make you cringe or chuckle? Let us know in the comments below and join the debate in the ComicBook Forum!
