Superman Saga

! 1993 Warner
Brothers acquires
the rights to the
film, and burns
through multiple
script attempts,
including one
from comic book
fanboy and Clerks
writer/director
Kevin Smith.
Some of the discarded
plot points
include Superman
dying but first
impregnating Lois
Lane with his spirit,
Superman losing
his ability to fly and
Superman ditching
his tights for an allblack
costume.
! 1997 Tim Burton
begins pre-production
on a version
called Superman
Lives, with Nicolas
Cage in the tights.
Then, without
warning, the studio
cancels the $140
million film. Due to
his contract, Cage
makes his full $20
million fee without
working a day.



! 2004 Charlie’s
Angels director
McG signs on to
film a script written
by Lost and Alias
creator J.J. Abrams.
At the last minute,
McG quits, reportedly
because the
studio insists on
filming in Australia
and he’s afraid to
fly. Weeks later,
director Bryan
Singer walks away
from his X-Men
trilogy to helm
Superman Returns.
Between that film’s
budget and the
cash put into failed
attempts, the studio
has reportedly
spent close to
$300 million on
Superman.