Considered too dark, this cut scene which cost millions – literally – has sunk into oblivion… Back to one of the most expensive sequences in cinema that we will not see (well almost).
Scenes that are dear to the cinema, there are some, like the one in which Tom Cruise crosses Times Square in Vanilla Sky: 30 seconds that cost no less than a million dollars. But at least the money was well spent here, the scene having been part of the final cut. Unfortunately, not all expensive sequences are entitled to this fate: as our colleagues from SensaCine remind us, there is one in particular, six minutes long, taken from a DC film which was filmed, deleted and then completely forgotten…
Superman Returns starring Brandon Routh as Clark Kent, was released in theaters in 2006. Although the film received good reviews, box office results fell short of expectations and the feature film only garnered just over $391 million worldwide against a gross budget of $270 million – $10 million of which was for shooting a scene that ultimately didn’t make it into the movie!
The director, Bryan Singer, has indeed shot an opening scene totally different from the one we have seen in cinemas. It was a dark, dialogue-free sequence in which Clark Kent explores what’s left of his home planet, Krypton. While this is a particularly interesting time, Warner Bros. decided to delete it because it was too dark compared to the rest of the film, a fate that made it one of cinema’s most expensive deleted scenes.
For the curious, the scene has since been revealed and you can watch it below.
In the cast of Superman Returns, we could also find Kate Bosworth in the role of Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey in that of the villainous Lex Luthor. Unmemorable, the feature film is, in addition to that, today tarnished by two controversial names: Brian Singer And Kevin Spacey both of whom have been charged with harassment and sexual assault of minors. However, the film remains a satisfying adaptation that some do not fail to appreciate.
For those who would like to (re)watch it, Superman Returns is available on VOD.