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What if it had been a Superman instead of Supergirl?

posted a year ago by bozo_500 (13219)
8 replies | jump to latest

the studio obviously thought Keaton would be the big name of the movie (and rightly as Batman 89 was a phenomenon), but I guess beyond the hard fans the general audience just didn't care or they figured it was more about The Flash (obviously) than Keaton Batman. But since the studio figured Keaton Batman would be the big name draw it no matter so much about an unknown Supergirl to round off the 3 main characters

, but what if thered been a SuperMAN there instead .. obviously not Cavill as the threat of the story relies on the fact they haven't got his ultra powerful version there to take on Zod, so a much less powerful Superman, drained by long term exposure to kryptonite , not trained up over 30years, and had been held a prisoner (like SG was in the movie).. I'm thinking the Flash and Batman get to Siberia open up the kryptonite prison cell and find... Nicolas Cage Superman! (which would make all kinds of sense as its the Tim Burton Superman) somehow captured by the Soviets when he was a young kid (with the help of Lex Luthor, played by say Johnny Depp in flashback, further tying into the Tim Burton-verse), held prisoner for like 25 years (since his film was supposed to come out, he'd look older due to the effects of long term kryptonite exposure).. Now all unsure unsteady neurotic and long haired and suddenly having to take on this huge threat of Zod with Batman and Flash.. Then you'd have Keaton Batman and Cage Superman basically headlining the movie and bouncing off one another.. also unlike SG in the movie you could have Cage Superman (rejuvenated and deaged slightly) actually succeed in defeating Zod (with Batman's help).. But its like a hollow victory as the timeline/alt reality then comes crashing down due to alt Barry, and 'prime' Barry has to go back to the speedforce to try fix everything (leading to all the cameos etc)

Keaton Batman with Cage Superman probably would made alot more box office..

[–] DoctorThirteen (14415) a year ago

Cage may have helped as far as name recognition goes; then again, the same could be said if they'd got a 'name' actress for Supergirl (not saying that I think they should have done). But I don't think the fact of it being a Superman instead of a Supergirl would in itself have made any difference. This was all initiated back when Warners were leaning into the idea of a new, all-female Trinity, with Sasha Calle's Supergirl replacing Superman, and Leslie Grace's Batgirl taking over from a retiring Batman, following the now shelved Batgirl (with Keaton's Bruce staying on as mentor). I was very happy with all the casting for this movie. Even Miller, whose previous Flash outings I didn't like, works for me here.

[–] bozo_500 (13219) a year ago

Actually thinking about it more, beyond the hard core fanbase the general audience most likely dont even know (or care) about Cage's Superman history of the cancelled Tim Burton movie, they'd just think it was abit weird that kooky 60y old Nicolas Cage was playing Superman in this when it should be Cavill. and Cage in another iconic role (Dracula) didnt do anything at the box office

I doubt a big name for Supergirl wouldve helped either , taylor swift? lol

[–] DoctorThirteen (14415) a year ago

'I doubt a big name for Supergirl wouldve helped either , taylor swift? lol'

Actually shuddered when I read that.

[–] hurricane (1962) a year ago

Without Cavill being a main star, probably best they go the Supergirl route than recast Superman.

There wasn't really anybody you could get in to play Superman that had the same nostalgia as Michael Keaton anyway. Not without using CGI all movie anyway. Christopher Reeve died, Dean Cain I think isn't really up for doing it any more. That leaves Brandon Routh and Tyler Hoechlin. Brandon, I liked in Legends Of Tomorrow, and I am sure can do a job. But he was in one Superman film that wasn't hugely popular. I don't really see he'd bring enough nostalgia to carry a big role with it. A cameo might've worked, but not really as a main selling point. Tyler Hoechlin as a parallel dimension Superman might work. But would they want the TV Superman in a film, just for the sake of having Superman in it? Keaton was already bringing the nostalgia anyway, so why bring in a Superman actor who is current-ish anyway, if you're not bringing in Cavill?

There'd be no point giving a completely new actor the role either, just for the sake of having Superman in it.

Whereas Supergirl, they're planning a new movie for anyway. It makes more sense to introduce her new actress so they can move forward.

[–] bozo_500 (13219) a year ago

Routh couldve been a cool choice had they not already used him for Crisis on Infinite Earths on tv , as a result he didn't even get a cameo

[–] hurricane (1962) a year ago

A cameo would've been cool. I don't know why they didn't. A CGI Dean Cain would've been cool, as well.

I don't think the fact that he was in Cirsis On Infinite Earths would make much of a difference. Though, I suppose maybe seeing him reappear for a second time, what novelty there was would've worn off a bit.

I actually quite liked Brandon Routh as Superman, but my point was, if you had Keaton returning for the nostalgia hit, I don't think adding Routh as a main lead really accomplished anything. His movie wasn't as popular as Michael Keaton's Batman. So he'd have just felt like a lesser addition if he was in a main role. Even without Superman's cameo in The Arrowverse, he'd have felt like he was playing second fiddle to Keaton.

It was better going forward that they added Supergirl, as it serves as an introduction if they make future films with her in.

[–] bozo_500 (13219) 8 months ago

alternativity they couldve just played out as was with supergirl defeated/dead, Keaton batman dead, Barry trying to fix it over and over until the multiverse implodes. Cage Superman (fresh from fighting the giant spider) flys into the 'Chronobowl' to see wtf is happening, stops the Barrys fighting. Barry explains whats going down, and then after some convincing Cage Superman goes with the Barrys to 2013 and takes on Zod defeating him and saving supergirl and batman (Keaton to Cage like 'you're superman??' and Cage be like 'yeah and you're batman?!' as a sort of fun nod to how there was a fan backlash against both Burtons quirky casting at the time) .. then cage superman tells Barry even though they've saved the multiverse and this earth is now safe from Zod he still has to go back and repair his timeline and set things straight as look how things turn out even if just a minor change/he caused all this trying to save his mom, Barry agrees and just wants to go back to his own timeline by now (his mom will still be alive for alt Barry), he says farewell to 2013 Barry and supergirl/batman leaving them to form the new JL of that reality citing Wonder Woman would still be still out there, before they leave Cage superman be like 'oh you don't have a Wonder Woman yet? Try looking ..' and tells them where to find her and then shows a pic/footage of his WW on his super smartphone revealing a young Lynda Carter.. Keaton: 'wow I'm on it' Barry: 'that's., not exactly the WW i know..', Then Superman and Barry leave for their own timelines/universes, Barry goes back set things right as in the movie. ends with Clooney.

Cage wouldve had like 10-15 minutes screen time at the end , I guess they'd want to keep it under wraps, but maybe they'd just announce him as one of the main cast, put him on the later posters/trailers etc to try drum up extra interest/excitement for the box office (like Brando in STM, Crowe in MoS had limited screentime but were billed as the major stars of those movies) and thered still be the surprise of Reeve/Slater, Clooney and the other cameos to keep secret.. Who knows, maybe it'd have broken 300m ww with Cage!

[–] HarlemEagle42 (18060) 7 months ago

That would had been awesome.