Imagine this: Nicolas Cage, as Superman, battling a giant spider! Sounds like a fever dream, right? Well, it almost happened. In the mid-90s, before the world got to see the Man of Steel soar again, a gritty reboot titled "Superman Lives" was in the works. And the producer, Jon Peters, had some very specific ideas about what Superman should do.
The recent film "The Flash" offered a glimpse into alternate realities, including a fleeting moment of Nicolas Cage as Superman fighting a giant spider. This was a nod to the infamous, never-made "Superman Lives" project. The movie, directed by Tim Burton, was set to be a radical departure from the classic Superman we knew. Cage was cast, costumes were designed, and the project seemed to be moving forward.
But here's where it gets controversial: the film never saw the light of day. The details of "Superman Lives" have become legendary, thanks to the 2015 documentary "The Death of 'Superman Lives'" and the anecdotes of filmmaker Kevin Smith, who was once hired to write a script. Smith's stories are wild, and Peters' obsessions were even wilder.
One of the most surprising revelations? Peters wanted Sean Penn to play Superman! He was apparently captivated by Penn's performance in "Dead Man Walking," seeing in Penn's eyes the "eyes of a violent animal, a caged killer." Smith, however, championed Cage for the role.
And this is the part most people miss: Peters had some very unconventional ideas about Superman. He allegedly didn't like the character's costume, wanted fewer flying scenes, and even envisioned a queer sidekick. Most famously, he insisted on a scene where Superman would fight a giant spider in a gladiatorial arena.
The project eventually collapsed, but Peters' vision lived on in a way. He went on to produce the 1999 film "Wild Wild West," which, you guessed it, featured a giant mechanical tarantula.
Kevin Smith, who initially poked fun at the giant spider idea, admitted that the CGI sequence in "The Flash" actually looked pretty cool. It seems Peters' vision, though unconventional, might have actually worked.
What do you think? Would Sean Penn have made a good Superman? Do you think the giant spider battle could have been a success? Let me know in the comments!
