Fans are currently experiencing the golden age of on-screen superhero storytelling. With the historic success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the entire genre has become beloved by countless people worldwide. Despite all the love for those comic heroes, one of the biggest icons to ever exist has been shafted for years now: Superman. Henry Cavil was the last actor to wear the cape on the big screen, but he hasn't stepped into those boots for quite some time—excluding Zack Snyder's Justice League.
The future of the character is foggier than it ever has been before. When it comes to the big screen, there isn't any sign of Clark's return—instead, Sasha Calle's Supergirl looks to be taking over the role by the time credits finish rolling for The Flash.
But with that same Ezra Miller-starring film bringing back Michael Keaton's Batman thanks to Multiverse shenanigans, could Superman get a similar treatment? Past Superman actors Brandon Routh or Tom Welling could return and serve as a de-facto Man of Steel across from Keaton; it could even be Nicolas Cage.
At one point and time, Cage would have played the famous Kryptonian for Superman Lives, a Tim Burton film back in the late 1990s that never made it to production. While nothing was filmed for the project, concept art has leaked online over the years; there are even pictures of Cage screen-testing his unique Superman suit.
With the Multiverse being all the rage recently, and its inherent ability to play off of nostalgia, what are the odds that fans might see the Superman that never was, but could have been?
Will Nicolas Cage Wear The Cape?
In an interview with GQ, actor Nicolas Cage commented on whether there were any chance fans might one day see his Superman that never came to be.
Going undercover on Reddit, the actor responded to a question asking if the cancelled Superman Lives movie could be revived. Cage teased how "there might still be a chance:"
"Would it matter how much time I appeared as the character? There might still be a chance."
The actor was originally set to portray the Man of Steel in Tim Burton's Superman Lives in 1998, but the project never took flight.
The World Needs a Superman
The Multiverse is the perfect tool for almost any occasion. While some may think its use could get out of hand over the next few years, it can also make dream projects and team-ups a reality if utilized properly.
Many whispers have indicated that during Barry Allen's timeline shenanigans in The Flash, he will be visiting various universes. This is the perfect excuse to have Flash run into Cage's Superman. However, the specific wording of "would it matter how much time I appeared as the character," seems to be a clear tease of a shorter cameo, rather than a larger role—which seems like a perfect opportunity.
There were also fan theories that Sasha Calle's new Supergirl was actually the daughter of Cage's unseen Superman; if true, the idea is a crazy one.
With how popular Nicolas Cage is and has become, fans should expect him to show up at some point in upcoming superhero projects, either in an old role or something entirely new. Maybe his Ghost Rider will make a cameo in the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as well.
Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters on May 6 later this year, while The Flash hits theaters on June 23, 2023.
