Superman (1991)

### Starring

Nicolas CageCourtney CoxSean ConneryChris RockGlenn CloseRobert RedfordChristopher Reeve

### Distributor

Warner Bros

Plot

On the planet Krypton, Jor-El of the Kryptonian high council, is running as he sees lasers strike the red desolated planet Just before Kryoton's destruction, Jor-El and his wife Lara send their infant son Kal-El, where his dense molecular structure will give him superhuman strength and other powers as the small ship evacuates it hits the phantom zone smashing it open as 2 figures are free after years of trapped in the phantom zone.

Kal-El's spaceship lands near Smallville, Kansas. Kal-El, now about three Earth years old, is found by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who are astonished when he lifts their truck to help Jonathan replace a flat tire. They decide to raise him as their own, naming him Clark after Martha's maiden name. Jonathan tells the boy he must have been sent to Earth for "a reason".

At 18, As he grows older, he develops superhuman powers that Jonathan urges him to keep hidden, after saving a group a kids from a bus nearly going over the edge of a cliff, as a little girl sees the strange figure save them as she's revealed to be Lois Lane.

Cast

* Nicolas Cage as Clark Kent/Superman
	+ River Phoenix as Young Clark Kent
* Courtney Cox as Lois Lane
	+ TBD as Young Lois Lane
* Sean Connery as Dru-Zod
* Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen
* Robert Redford as Jonathan Kent
* Glenn Close as Martha Kent
* Sidney Poitier as Perry White
* Vincent Price as Jor-El
* Diane Keaton as Lara Lor-Van
* Uma Thurman as Ursa: General Zod's second in command and consort,
* Christopher Reeve as Mayor Don Canada
* TBD as Bus Driver
* as Teacher
* as Principal
* Billy Zane as Alexander Luthor (post-credit cameo)

Production

After the successful hit of Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman Warner Bros wanted to throw in more of the heavy hitter superheroes believing it to help expand Burton’s ideal vision on Batman. Apparently Tim did have an idea for the next film as he wanted to do a Superman project while he was busy developing the follow up to Batman. Thus wanting it to develop into a big DC Universe. Sam Hayes returned to write the script and produce the film while Burton served as director. The tone they wanted for the Superman was to be the opposite of Michael Keaton’s Batman. For it to be light hearted and dependent. Burton read various comic books for inspiration along with the original 1978 film under the same name.

## Casting

Johnny Depp was the first name considered for the role of Clark Kent selected by Warner Bros. seeing as the two worked together in Edward Scissorhands and being close friends. Yet Depp never auditioned. Other actors considered included Billy Campbell, Dean Cain and Bill Pullman. Nicolas Cage accepted the role of Superman as Burton wanted to work with Nicolas Cage on this Superman project. To which Cage stated that Superman was a big dream role for him. Some fans were skeptical thinking it’s another Keaton casting situation with some fans believing the casting is ridiculous yet some finding an interest in how Cage could pull it off

Sandra Bullock originally was the top choice to portray Lois Lane yet she declined the role.

Actor River Phoenix was a name listed to portray Jimmy Olsen yet WB was wanting Chris Rock giving the character a different appeal for the character. However River did get cast in the role of Young Clark Kent. Jonathan Taylor Thomas was also a name listed on playing Jimmy Olsen yet couldn’t accept due to scheduling conflicts with the hit Television series Home Improvement. Comedian Rick Moranis was also a name considered for Jimmy Olsen as well

Christopher Lee was the first choice in mind to portray General Zod yet Lee wasn’t interested he stated “I told the studio as much as I was interested in playing General Zod, I wasn’t wanting to portray another villain at the time. And said to go ask Gary Oldman or Sean Connery”

To which Sean Connery accepted and was cast.

Robin Williams who was baited as The Joker was given an apology to him by Tim Burton for using him as bait for Nicholson and offered the role of Jonathan Kent to him. To which Williams forgave him yet he didn’t star in Superman as Kent due to scheduling conflicts with Cadillac Man and Awakenings. Thus, giving Robert Redford the role but would keep Williams in mind for a future DC Project

In terms of respect to the Original Superman fans. Burton wanted Christopher Reeve to return but as Jor-El. Marlon Brando was the second name Burton wanted to reprise as Jor-El but Reeve declined yet did appear portraying Mayor Don Canada. the role of Jor-El was also written with Marlon Brando in mind yet he declined not wanting to return as Jor-El. and thus the role was given to Vincent Price who was a friend of Price working together on Edward Scissorhands casted him as Jor-El

### Reception

The box office grossed 110.678 during the weekend as it tallied up nearly beating Terminator 2’s box office weekend It was the second highest-grossing film based on a DC comic

### Critical response

The film holds a 83% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics saying it was better than Tim Burton’s Batman. Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave the film Two Thumbs Up stating it not only was better than Batman but really enjoyed all the background effects and performances although the one thing that couldn’t surpass them with Ebert saying “the film was just a standard reboot on the Original Superman but I do gotta give the film credit for also trying something new then just rehashing the original storyline the way The 1978 Superman pulled off.” Gene Shallit stated that the film was very uplifting and wonderful. Even surprised Tim Burton was doing the opposite of his usual film works such as Beetlejuice and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Also including this is a film for both kids and adults something each of them will cherish.

Marketing

McDonalds promoted the film in the state of Happy Meal Toys released in 1991