Mission: Impossible Director Details Scrapped Man of Steel 2 With Henry Cavill’s Superman & Green Lantern Movie

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Christopher McQuarrie faced an arduous task: launching a Superman film within DC Films. Known for his work on the ‘Mission: Impossible’ series, where he served as co-writer, writer, and director for the last four installments starring Tom Cruise, including ‘The Final Reckoning’, McQuarrie had been connected to a potential ‘Man of Steel 2‘ since 2018. This was when Henry Cavill, who played Superman at the time, portrayed the mustached antagonist in ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’. During this period, McQuarrie and Cavill had brainstormed ideas for a sequel to the Zack Snyder-directed reboot that commenced the DC Extended Universe in 2013.

McQuarrie responded to Warner Bros., saying in effect, “They already know how to reach me if they want my help,” implying that he’s ready and willing, even though no one has officially asked yet.

In a recent interview tied to “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” McQuarrie hinted about his Superman concept without revealing details. He suggested, “I’ll never disclose it. I promise you that, but let me tell you, it was exceptional. Truly remarkable.

He shared that the opening scene of his Superman film, similar to Pixar’s Up, would have been a dialogue-free sequence. This setup would have immediately shown what drives Superman, what he fears most, and why he makes certain decisions. If executed, this five-minute scene would have greatly enhanced the movie’s grandeur and impact.

In 2018, McQuarrie disclosed that he had discussions with the initial DC Films leadership, who were then led by Jon Berg (known for Justice League) and Geoff Johns (famous for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), regarding a potential Green Lantern adaptation. This was intended to be the second film adaptation following the 2011 movie starring Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, whose performance as the power ring-wielding hero didn’t fare well at the box office.

In an interview with Happy Sad Confused, McQuarrie shared that “Green Lantern” was the project he took on, and he found it to be quite demanding. He added, “The power in Green Lantern is tough to handle, but I managed.” He went on to say that working on this character was enjoyable, particularly watching him learn to use his power effectively. McQuarrie also mentioned that they gave the power a weakness so it wasn’t an invincible force. (In the comics, Green Lantern’s emerald power ring is vulnerable to yellow and has another flaw: the rings need to be recharged at a power battery before their limitless willpower runs out.)

He clarified that the essence of Green Lantern lies in the ring needing to be recharged, which isn’t a flaw but a design aspect. Just like any battery, it has limited power, and this can cause issues at awkward moments. For him, this aspect addresses the Green Lantern challenge entirely. As for the costume, that’s another matter you can work out on your own.

McQuarrie’s primary focus was on developing the character, specifically finding ways to create tension and high-stakes situations for this character, while addressing the unique challenge of portraying Superman in an engaging manner.

Henry offered his perspective, and it struck me that Superman and Green Lantern shared some remarkable parallels, leading to intense conflicts. Yet, their clash resulted in a breathtaking, universe-enlarging conclusion,” he added further.

McQuarrie compared his Superman/Green Lantern production to the grand action sequences in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. His aim was for viewers who watched and enjoyed this movie, especially at its end, to leave with a sense of satisfaction similar to what he intends.

The essence of Superman lies in hope, inspiration, and the delight he brought into people’s lives. You don’t have to strive to emulate the 1978 movie or Richard Donner’s direction, nor John Williams’ iconic score. However, it’s crucial to understand that this film embodied more effectively than any subsequent interpretation the core of the Superman character.

McQuarrie further explained that “the challenge with Superman lies in continually devising larger and larger hurdles for a character who possesses limitless power. Donner grasped this, and the most effective scenes in Superman reflect this understanding, as they demonstrate that Superman’s toughest adversary is himself. This could also apply to Green Lantern.

He went on to say, “It’s readily available, simply waiting for someone to take action,” and he made it clear that he wouldn’t request it again, as evidenced by his statement in 2020 on social media: “I asked once, I will never ask again.

In the revamped DC Studios, led by James Gunn (“The Suicide Squad”) and Peter Safran (“Aquaman”), will debut James Gunn’s “Superman” as the inaugural movie in the fresh DC Universe on July 11. David Corenswet portrays Superman in this film, with Nathan Fillion stepping into the role of Guy Gardner Green Lantern. First appearing in the upcoming season 2 of “Peacemaker,” Fillion will then reprise his character in HBO’s “Lanterns” series in 2026, alongside John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan (portrayed by Kyle Chandler).

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2025-05-26 22:10