I found this whole story to be very interesting.  Apparently there was a new "Superman" film planned for Release on July 4th, 1998, and even got as far as to releasing Teaser Posters of the Movie to Theaters during the Summer of 1997

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ad/Superman_reborn.jpg

Basically, the new Superman that comes out Next Month, was supposed to be made back in the Mid/Late '90s originally (With a slightly different story of Superman dying and coming back stronger than ever)

The script was finished in 1994 and the film went into pre-production around 1996 and Kevin Smith (aka, Silent Bob) re-wrote a much better script and finished in it Early 1997 and they Greenlit the film to start Filming during the Spring/Summer of 1997

So Kevin Smith suggested they get Tim Burton to Direct it, and they approved and Tim Burton accepted and came aboard.  Some weeks later, Burton has the company Fire Kevin Smith because Burton wanted to use his own Script for the film

Long story short, once Kevin Smith was kicked off the project, the movie went through Pre-Production Hell for about 3 years and was finally Canned

Apparently Kevin Smith's Script was leaked on the Internet in Late 1997 and it got Much Praise from fans as well as Roger Ebert himself

I personally think this could have been the Best Superhero Adaptation yet had they stuck with Kevin Smith's Script, but they decided to get rid of him because they were more concerned with making money than making a qulity film.  Which in the end, came back to bite them in the butt and the movie never came about

This movie would have been HUGE in the Summer of 1998.  I would have much rather have seen that one made than the one coming out Next Month.  What does everyone else think about it?  Which would you have preferred?

By the way, at the bottom of that Wikipedia link, they have a link to Kevin Smith's Script.  Check it out if you have the time (Here is the link to the entire story of the film's production history)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_Lives

And here is a Video of Kevin Smith explaining the whole thing at some Convention or something (It's hilarious!)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgYhLIThTvk

Oh yeah, also, the Actors who were cast to originally play Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the "Superman Lives" movie were Nicholas Cage and Sandra Bullock  ;D

Oh yeah, also, the Actors who were cast to originally play Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the "Superman Lives" movie were Nicholas Cage and Sandra Bullock  ;D


I remember hearing about that.  Nic Cage as Superman?  That's like John Goodman in the role as the Thin Man ;D