Imagine a world where Superman, the iconic symbol of truth and justice, is reimagined as a gritty, intense antihero battling a giant spider in a gladiatorial arena. Sounds bizarre, right? But this was almost a reality in the mid-1990s, thanks to the eccentric vision of Hollywood producer Jon Peters. Before Nicolas Cage was cast as the Man of Steel in the ill-fated Superman Lives, Peters had his sights set on a very different actor: Sean Penn. And this is where the story takes a wild turn, blending Hollywood lore, creative clashes, and a surprising cameo in 2023’s The Flash that reignited the debate over what could have been.
In the final moments of Andy Muschietti’s The Flash, Ezra Miller’s speedster breaks the fabric of time, stumbling into a multiverse of alternate realities. Among the glimpses of iconic Superman portrayals—from Christopher Reeve’s classic hero to George Reeves’s vintage iteration—is a mind-bending cameo: Nicolas Cage’s Superman, locked in battle with a giant spider. This wasn’t just a random Easter egg; it was a nod to Superman Lives, a project so infamous it’s become Hollywood legend. Directed by Tim Burton and produced by Peters, the film was envisioned as a dark, edgy reboot of the Superman saga. Scripts were written, costumes designed, and Cage was ready to don the cape—until the project collapsed under its own weight.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Jon Peters, the man behind the curtain, had a vision for Superman that was, well, unconventional. According to filmmaker Kevin Smith, who was briefly hired to write a draft, Peters despised the idea of Superman flying, hated the classic costume, and insisted on a quirky sidekick reminiscent of Smith’s own Chasing Amy. Most bafflingly, Peters was obsessed with pitting Superman against a giant spider—a concept so outlandish it’s hard to take seriously. Yet, Peters’s influence didn’t end with Superman Lives; he later produced Wild Wild West, which featured a giant mechanical tarantula. Coincidence? Probably not.
Smith’s anecdotes about Peters have become the stuff of legend, but one detail stands out: Peters wanted Sean Penn to play Superman, inspired by his performance in Dead Man Walking. Peters saw in Penn’s eyes “the intensity of a caged killer,” a far cry from the wholesome farm boy from Kansas we’re used to. Smith, however, pushed for Cage, arguing that his passion for the character and knowledge of the comics made him the better choice. When Burton came on board and cast Cage, Smith felt vindicated—briefly. But the project’s demise left us wondering: What if Penn had played Superman? Would it have worked, or would it have been a disaster?
And this is the part most people miss: Despite Smith’s initial skepticism about the giant spider idea, he admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that the CGI sequence in The Flash actually impressed him. “It looked badass,” he confessed. “Maybe Peters wasn’t wrong.” This raises a thought-provoking question: Are we too quick to dismiss unconventional ideas in storytelling? Or was Peters’s vision simply too far removed from what Superman represents?
Since Superman Lives was shelved, the franchise has been rebooted multiple times—Superman Returns, Man of Steel, and the upcoming 2025 Superman—each offering a unique take on the character. Yet, none have dared to include a giant spider battle. Is this a missed opportunity, or a bullet dodged? What do you think? Would Sean Penn’s Superman have been a stroke of genius, or a catastrophic misstep? And should Superman ever face off against a giant spider? Let’s debate in the comments!
