Superman Lives is one of the most tantalizing ‘what-ifs’ in comic-book movie history. After Tim Burton reinvigorated Batman and made countless millions for Warner Bros., hopes were high that he could do the same for Superman. Partially adapting “The Death and Return of Superman” arc from the comics – a hugely significant story – the film would have found Nicolas Cage’s Man of Steel alienated by humanity, while simultaneously battling Lex Luthor, Brainiac and Doomsday.
This plotline would have also involved Superman dying (presumably at the hands of Doomsday), only to be brought back by a regenerative Kryptonian suit dubbed the resurrection suit. We’ve seen glimpses of it before, but now, we’ve got our best look at it yet courtesy of DreadCentral and FX artist Steve Johnson, who’ve shared the video you’ll see up above.
I’ve got to admit, this looks pretty damn cool. Perhaps it’s just the fact that it’s an actual suit and not CGI, but the way the light plays across the inside of it looks genuinely alien and pretty effective. If Superman were wearing this the entire movie then maybe we’d have a problem, but as a special suit near the climax? I’m down with it.
Of course, even if this suit were to have made it to cinemas, the film around it very well could have been disastrous. Kevin Smith, brought on to rewrite the script, has famously recounted the production nightmare he faced – including demands from producer Jon Peters that Superman never fly or appear in his costume, that Superman MUST fight a giant spider at some point, that the film includes a “marketable space dog pet” and that Brainiac fight two polar bears (for no reason). Hilariously, Christopher Nolan reportedly banned Jon Peters from the Man of Steel set.
I’ve got to say, even though that sounds hideous, at least it sounds like a pretty interesting variety of hideous. At this stage, I just hope we get to see more of Superman Lives, as the more I learn about it the more the project intrigues me.