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July 11, 2025 15 mins

Welcome to Never Coming Soon, the podcast that dives into the most fascinating stories of films that were in development, but never made it to the big screen.

In this episode, we're taking diving into one of the most talked about unmade superhero films in Hollywood history: Superman Lives.

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In this episode:

  • How Superman became the blueprint for all superheroes, from Action Comics #1 to the symbol of hope we know today
  • A look back at Superman’s cinematic history: Reeve, Routh, Cavill... and nearly, Nicolas Cage
  • The wild production journey of Superman Lives — from Kevin Smith’s comic-faithful script to Tim Burton’s surreal vision
  • The infamous demands of producer Jon Peters (yes, including giant spiders and polar bears)
  • Casting rumors from Johnny Depp to Sandra Bullock
  • Why the film was ultimately grounded: clashing egos, ballooning budgets, and studio panic after Batman & Robin
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    Sources & References:

    Superman Wiki, Collider, Screen Rant, The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?, various accounts of interviews with those involved, and more.

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    Host: Guy at the Movies
    --Visit guyatthemovies.com for movie reviews, insights, and more fun.

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    Follow us on socials:

    • Instagram: @guyatthemovies
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    Want more deep dives into the films that were Never Coming Soon? Let us know

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