Superman Was in Therapy in Tim Burton's SUPERMAN LIVES
We've learned some new information about Tim Burton's cancelled Superman Lives film project that many of you might find interesting. I know I did! According to screenwriter Dan Gilroy, one of the main aspects he brought to the story was Clark Kent, aka Superman, being in therapy. In his version of the story, Jor-El never tells his son Kal-El where he came from. So basically there's just this guy on earth with superpowers, and he has no idea how he got them. That drives him to therapy. Gilroy offered some more details about this in an interview with IndieWire.
"His biggest fear is that he's an alien. Our Superman was in therapy at the beginning of the film. He's in a relationship with Lois Lane and he can't commit. Or he was maybe in couple's therapy. But he can't commit because he doesn't know who he is or what is going on with him. He's hoping that he has some physiological condition that gives him these powers but that he's still human. It becomes very apparent, though, early in the script, when Lex Luthor uncovers the remnants of the spacecraft, he suddenly realizes – ‘Oh my god, I'm an alien.’ It was all about the psychological trauma of it."
This is a very strange and different concept, and I've gotta say, it's one of my least favorite things that I've heard about the movie. Gilroy also reveals that Jimmy Olsen would have played a part in the story, and that the part would have been played by Chris Rock! That's just crazy to think about. Nicholas Cage as Superman in therapy, and Chris Rock as Jimmy Olsen… sounds like something that was shaping up to be a comedy sketch on Saturday Night Live.
Just as a bonus, here is a previously released video showing off some test footage of one of Superman's light up costumes.