In the mid-1990s, Warner Bros.planned a bold reboot of the Superman franchise called 'Superman Lives,' directed by Tim Burton and starring Nicolas Cage as Clark Kent.The film, inspired by the 'Death of Superman' comic storyline, was set to feature iconic villains such as Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and Doomsday.The plot involved Superman’s death at Doomsday’s hands and his subsequent resurrection through a high-tech Kryptonian suit known as The Eradicator.The proposed cast also included Sandra Bullock as Lois Lane, Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen, and Christopher Walken as Brainiac.

The production was infamous for producer Jon Peters’ unusual creative demands, including prohibiting Superman from flying, changing the classic costume, and ending the film with a battle against a giant spider.

Despite $30 million spent on pre-production, including elaborate glowing suits, the film was canceled in 1998 due to budget concerns and the disappointing performance of other superhero films of the era.While never released, leaked screen-test footage of Cage in the Superman suit has become legendary among fans.

Cage later referenced the project with a cameo in the 2023 film 'The Flash,' which included a nod to the giant spider fight originally planned for the unproduced film.