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Nicolas Cage’s would-be Superman role has been discussed widely in recent times, as the role was featured in a CGI sequence inThe Flash. Interestingly, Cage revealed using his other superhuman role as a practice run for his potential Superman role.City of Angels, released in 1998, featured him as an angel who flies around the city of Los Angeles watching over humans.
Cage intentionally made his character less human, and he even refused to blink on camera in his angelic role. The film was loosely inspired by Wim Wenders’ 1987 filmWings of Desireand explored the theme of a ‘fallen angel’.
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Nicolas Cage Used TheCity of AngelsRole To Experiment For Superman
Nicolas Cagerecently made an appearance at the Red Sea Film Festival and discussed his potential Superman role in 1998. According toVariety, Cage revealed that he committed toCity of Angelsas a practice run to play Superman. Cage starred alongsideMeg Ryanin this romantic tragedy, exploring the story of an angel who transitions to human form to be with the woman he loves.
The film revolved around the idea that the immortality and superhuman nature of angels prevented them from understanding the human experience. to portray his angelic side, Cage made a conscious decision to not blink on camera. According to Cage, it was a subtle way to communicate the otherworldliness of an angel.
TheGhost Rideractor further shared that it was his first time playing a non-human character. Cage hoped to bring a similar approach intoTim Burton’sSuperman Lives, which was supposed to be his next project afterCity of Angels. Cage’s role in the film received positive reviews, withVarietycalling him“endlessly resourceful”. However, the film received a mixed reception despite its financial success.
Interestingly, the film was produced by Warner Bros., who were also set to produceSuperman Lives. They were criticized by the film’s director, Brad Silberling, claiming that there was no supervision from the studio during the writing or filming ofCity of Angels. Silberling alleged that the studio prioritized theirBatmanfilm franchise over his project.
Also Read:Nicolas Cage Remembers Dark Visions When He Was in His Mom’s Womb: “I can go all the way back to in utero”
What Happened To Nicolas Cage’sSuperman Lives?
The story ofSuperman Liveswas extensively told in the 2015 documentaryThe Death of “Superman Lives”: What Happened, directed by Jon Schnepp. The Tim Burton film was abandoned by Warner Bros. shortly before filming began in 1998. The studio had spent $30 million on prep works for Kevin Smith’s script. Cage even did the costume tests, and the photos have been widely circulated on the internet (via IndieWire).
While several factors contributed to the abandoned movie, it all boiled down to the creative differences between Burton, WB, and producer John Peters. Peters had some interesting demands for hisSupermanfilm, which didn’t sit well with Burton.The FlashCGI sequence features Superman fighting a giant spider, which was a fun take on Peters’ weird demands. He also hated the several planned scenes in the film, including Superman’s flying scenes.
Also Read:“I don’t have to keep leaving”: Nicolas Cage Has a More Personal Reason to Leave Movies Than Being Inspired by Bryan Cranston’s Breaking Bad
Superman was a dream role for Nicolas Cage, and he expressed his fascination with the character several times. According toVulture, he once owned a rare copy of Superman’s first comics appearance and even named his son Kal-El.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3020
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
