Superman Lives

TimBurtonSuperman — The main emblem that was to be used on most of the various costumes in the film.

"It was called Superman Lives. I was pushing for it to be Superman. I always hated those titles like Batman Forever. I thought, 'Batman Forever, that sounds like a tattoo that somebody would get when they're on drugs or something,' or something some kid would write in the yearbook to somebody else. I have high problems with some of those titles."

―Tim Burton^[src]

Superman Lives (previously titled Superman Reborn) was another DC superhero film that was to be directed by Tim Burton. It was going to star Nicolas Cage as Superman, Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen, Sandra Bullock as Lois Lane, and Christohper Walken as Brainiac. Batman was in the Kevin Smith drafts, appearing only in Superman's funeral after the Doomsday rampage.^[1]^[2]

Warner Bros. and Jon Peters aimed to repeat the amount of success they achieved with the original Batman. After Kevin Smith had been hired to write the film, he suggested Burton to direct. Burton was convinced to join the project, but again faced creative difference with Peters. Burton chose the script doctor of Batman Returns, Wesley Strick, to rewrite Smith's script when he was involved. Strick himself was later replaced by Dan Gilroy.

The film's production later became the subject of the feature length documentary, The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?

Anthology veterans involved[]

Tim Burton (director)
Wesley Strick (screenwriter)
Rick Heinrichs (production designer)
Jon Peters (producer)
Marty Kline (concept artist)
Jacques Rey (concept artist)
James Carson (concept artist)
Harald Belker (concept artist)
Christopher Walken (actor)
Jim Carrey (actor)
Rick Baker (effects artist)

Development[]

Scripts[]

Wesley Strick[]

After Kevin Smith turned in his draft, Tim Burton knew that it was just no good, and he hired Wesley Strick to do a new one.

Dan Gilroy

Dan Gilroy was brought in by Tim Burton and Warner Bros. to make the script less expensive before the film was put in development limbo, due to budgetary reasons.^[3]

Designing[]

Kal-El — Nicolas Cage wardrobe test, suit sculpted by Jose Fernandez.

Conceptual illustration[]

The concept illustrations were done by Harald Belker, James Carson, and Marty Kline. Newcomer illustrators included noted film concept artist Sylvain Despretz and comic book artist Kerry Gammill.

Costume fabrication[]

A traditional style suit was made for Cage by Jose Fernandez.^[4] A regenerating 'K' suit was made by Steve Johnson and his studio. Various other costumes were made, specific individuals involved are unknown.

Cancellation[]

Trivia[]

Batman mentioned Superman by name in Batman & Robin, released a year prior to this film's projected release year.
Christopher Walken and Jim Carrey were choices for Brainiac.
Nicholas Cage was wanted by Joel Schumacher for the Scarecrow in the also cancelled Batman Unchained.
Kevin Spacey would eventually play Lex Luthor in 2006's Superman Returns.