7 Superman Movie Secrets That Only Real Fans Know

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Take a look up there in the sky, it seems to be a bird or a plane, but wait, could it be a man suspended by wires? Movies often conceal secrets, and the Superman series is no exception. From Clark Kent’s hidden identity as an ordinary person to the techniques used to camouflage Superman’s flying harness on screen, these movies are all about deception. However, some secrets are commonplace, while others are highly specific; the hidden messages (Easter eggs) and behind-the-scenes stories that only true fans can discover by delving into Wikipedia and numerous bonus features on DVDs.

To pay tribute to James Gunn’s latest rendition of Superman, which is his seventh standalone box-office hit, we have compiled seven fascinating Superman film facts that even the most dedicated DC enthusiasts might not be aware of.

1) Marlon Brando Read His Lines off of a Baby’s Diaper (Superman: The Movie)

In acting circles, Marlon Brando is widely regarded as a legend, yet his approach to memorizing lines was anything but traditional. Instead of committing scripts to memory, he preferred to rely on improvisation, believing that genuine performances stemmed from spontaneity. This method was well-known, with him often using cue cards placed in his line of sight while filming. However, for the 1978 movie “Superman: The Movie,” Brando opted for a different strategy.

In the part of the story where Jor-El is getting ready to transport his newborn son to Earth, Brando successfully persuaded the movie creators to pen his dialogues on the diaper of baby Superman.

2) The Godfather Suggested Superman’s Iconic “S” Should Be of Kryptonian Origin

As a film enthusiast, let me share an intriguing tidbit about Marlon Brando, a legendary actor whose creativity knew no bounds. During the production of the original Superman movie, Brando, the esteemed Godfather star, proposed some eccentric ideas. One of these out-of-the-blue suggestions was that his character, Jor-El, should manifest as a chattering green bagel! Though it sounds bizarre, one of Brando’s whimsical ideas found its way into the enduring Superman lore permanently.

Based on various backstage stories, it was Brando who proposed that Jor-El wear the same “S” emblem as Superman, transforming its original significance from merely the initial letter of “Superman” into the official Kryptonian coat of arms for the House of El.

3) The First Superman Stole Its Ending From Superman II

It’s well-known among fans that the initial intention for the Christopher Reeve Superman films was to film both “Superman: The Movie” and “Superman II” consecutively. The first movie would have concluded on a suspenseful note, with General Zod and his cohorts being released from the Phantom Zone and heading towards Earth. The iconic scene of Superman traveling back in time by flying around the Earth until it spins backwards was meant to be featured at the end of “Superman II”.

As a film enthusiast, I must share my disappointment that the making of this iconic Superman sequel, Superman II, veered off course in terms of both time and money, leading the producers, the Salkinds, to prematurely halt filming. In such uncertain times, with no guarantee that the initial film, Superman: The Movie, would be a hit, they chose to prioritize its completion. Remarkably, instead of saving the costly time-reversal sequence for the sequel, they opted to conclude Superman: The Movie with this impressive special effect, making it a memorable part of the first film itself.

4) Superman III‘s Supercomputer Was Originally Brainiac

It turns out that Superman III didn’t have a smooth production process either. Originally, they planned to introduce iconic Superman villains Brainiac and Mr. Mxyzptlk, as well as Superman’s relative Supergirl in the movie. However, this initial concept was considered too costly, leading to a substantial reduction of the storyline for the final version of Superman III.

In a change of plans, actor Dudley Moore’s role as Mr. Mxyzptlk was discarded, along with Supergirl. Instead, Brainiac transformed into an unnamed supercomputer. After Superman III, Supergirl went on to star in her own solo movie, but Brainiac has yet to appear on the big screen. However, with DC Universe head James Gunn’s eagerness to incorporate elements from the Silver Age comics, it’s only a matter of time before we see the green-skinned cyborg in a future DCU film.

5) The Budget for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Was Cut in Half Right Before Production Started

It seemed quite unlikely that Cannon Films, known for their low-budget, B-movie classics like “Cauldron of Blood” and “Hard Rock Zombies”, could deliver a worthy sequel to the three Superman films produced by Salkind. With the production budget being reduced from $30 million to $17 million right before filming began, it was practically certain that “Superman IV” would flop at the box office.

It doesn’t mean that extra funds would have magically turned a notoriously bad sequel into a masterpiece. However, having more resources might have made the disastrous outcome appear more aesthetically pleasing.

6) Brandon Routh Had to Wear Blue Contacts (Superman Returns)

Initially, Superman Returns seemed like an outlier in the franchise, but it drew interest from big names such as Will Smith and Brendan Fraser. However, it was Brandon Routh, then relatively unknown, who ultimately landed the part. Remarkably, he beat out heavyweights like Will Smith, Brendan Fraser, Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker, and a young Henry Cavill for the role. In every aspect, from his demeanor to his well-defined jawline, Routh was an ideal choice as Superman, save for one significant detail – his eyes were the wrong color.

The workaround? Make Routh, who has brown eyes, use blue-tinted contact lenses instead – this isn’t much of a change since he already uses prescription contacts. However, according to Routh, the problem was that the contacts had white paint around them and would move whenever he blinked.

7) Henry Cavill Screen-Tested in Christopher Reeve’s Suit

Before sporting the more subdued, contemporary-style suit seen in Man of Steel, actor Henry Cavill initially tried on the same red and blue tights worn by Christopher Reeve during his performances as Superman. According to director Zack Snyder, the suit Cavill would eventually wear in Man of Steel hadn’t been created yet when he auditioned for the role. Consequently, Snyder had no choice but to improvise and have Cavill wear Reeve’s suit to help him visualize how the actor might appear as The Last Son of Krypton.

Both Snyder and Cavill expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Snyder excitedly exclaimed, “Wow, you’re Superman!”, while Cavill described the experience as “incredibly awesome” and even went as far as saying, “There’s nothing quite like it.” Despite the fact that Cavill’s suit from Man of Steel ended up being a better match for his portrayal of Superman, it’s intriguing to see him don such an iconic costume.

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2025-07-20 19:12