Superman is one of the most iconic characters ever created. Bringing his story to the big screen in a satisfying way is a lot easier said than done. Whenever Warner Bros. is developing a new Superman movie, executives cast a wide net to find the perfect director whose vision will do Kal-El’s story justice.
Zack Snyder’s bleak, cynical portrayal of the Superman myth in Man of Steel has been deemed disingenuous by a lot of diehard fans. Whether Henry Cavill remains in the role of Clark Kent or not, the Superman movie franchise is in need of a makeover — and a new director.
Almost Did: Steven Spielberg (Superman: The Movie)
Fresh off the success of Jaws, Steven Spielberg was offered the chance to direct Superman: The Movie. However, he turned down the job because his representation and the studio couldn’t settle on an agreeable salary and he was committed to helming Close Encounters of the Third Kind after Jaws.
Surprisingly, the notorious Sam Peckinpah was also considered for the job. The producers withdrew him from consideration after he pulled out a gun in their meeting.
Should: Taika Waititi
In many ways, Thor is the Superman of the MCU, and Taika Waititi gave him his best solo movie with Ragnarok, a movie bursting at the seams with heart, humor, and spectacle.
The pulpy, colorful tone of Waititi’s movies — paired with the poignant social commentary he buries between the lines — would make him the perfect filmmaker to realize Superman’s story on the big screen.
Almost Did: Wes Craven (Superman IV: The Quest For Peace)
Wes Craven was originally lined up to direct Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Following creative differences with star Christopher Reeve, the Scream director was replaced.
The budget for Superman IV was initially set at $35 million, but the financially struggling studio The Cannon Group unexpectedly cut it in half right before production. It sounds like Craven dodged a bullet by losing the job.
Should: James Mangold
If Henry Cavill stays on as the DCEU’s Superman and his previous adventures remain canon, then the best way to proceed with the franchise is to deconstruct the Superman myth.
James Mangold already deconstructed one comic book myth when he helmed Wolverine’s final big-screen outing, Logan, as a neo-western in the model of Shane.
Almost Did: Tim Burton (Superman Lives)
Tim Burton was once lined up to direct Superman Lives — an unproduced movie that’s more well-known than a lot of actually produced Superman movies — with Nicolas Cage cast as Clark Kent and Chris Rock under consideration to play Jimmy Olsen.
Kevin Smith was one of many writers hired to work on the script. The producers forced Smith to include such inane concepts as a giant mechanical spider, which ended up being repurposed for Wild Wild West. In another version of the script, Supes was just a regular dude who got his powers from his costume.
Should: Jon Favreau
Although he’ll probably be wrapped up with Disney for a while, working on The Mandalorian, the MCU, and a handful of live-action remakes of animated classics, a Superman movie helmed by Jon Favreau could be really great.
He’s the director who shepherded Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark — one of the all-time greatest portrayals of a superhero — to the big screen. Iron Man’s sharp storytelling and semi-improvised dialogue gave it a unique energy that could do wonders for the stagnant Superman franchise.
Almost Did: George Lucas (Superman: The Movie)
George Lucas was offered the chance to direct Superman: The Movie before Richard Donner was hired, but the shooting schedule clashed with his passion project, Star Wars.
Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), William Friedkin (The Exorcist), and Norman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night) were all considered for the job prior to Donner being hired.
Should: Brad Bird
Lifelong DC fan Brad Bird is kind of a clichéd pick to direct a Superman movie, but there’s a reason for that. He’s already nailed the superhero mythos with The Incredibles, and helmed breathtaking action sequences for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.
With Bird’s background in animation, he could bring vibrant colors back to the Superman franchise after Zack Snyder washed it out with bleak, muted tones.
Almost Did: Matthew Vaughn (Eight-Hour Superman Trilogy)
Matthew Vaughn pitched an epic eight-hour Superman trilogy to Warner Bros. that he intended to write with Mark Millar. This trilogy would’ve followed Kal-El from his birth on Krypton to being the last life on Earth when the sun goes supernova.
Millar compared the trilogy to The Godfather saga and Charlie Cox was lined up to play Supes. However, the trilogy was scrapped when Warner Bros. greenlit the pitch for Man of Steel.
Should: Guillermo Del Toro
One of the most visionary filmmakers working today, Guillermo del Toro is a master of retelling classic myths in his own unique way. His singular take on the Superman story would be faithful to the source material, but wholly his own, like Nolan’s Batman or Raimi’s Spider-Man.
Del Toro’s movies tackle heavy themes, but he’s not a cynical filmmaker. His films go to some dark places, but they all ultimately tell sweet stories with a lot of heart.