However, this is not the case, particularly with DC comics characters.
To learn more about Nicolas Cage as Superman, Joss Whedons Wonder Woman and much more, read on.
It was Brainiac and the city [of Kandor] encapsulated.
Their first idea wasSuperman Reborn a kid-friendly reboot with plenty of toy-based possibilities.
Count us glad to have missed out on this one.
Said demands became more and more ridiculous by the sounds of it, too.
The project becameSuperman Lives,and, as you probably already know, had a notoriously troubled development.
We looked at the leaked script ofSuperman Livesin far more detail than this list format allowshere.
Eventually, Tim Burton became involved and Kevin Smith was nudged out.
Bret Ratner was signed up to direct, but had trouble finding a star.
These casting issues, and problems with the films producer Jon Peters, sent Ratner out the door.
McG came and went.
Abrams was denied a chance to direct his script.
In the end, Bryan Singer came in and they started afresh withSuperman Returnsinstead.
Superman Returnsactually went and got made, obviously.
That doesnt mean there werent plans, though.
Well never know, of course.
Plans for aLobomovie, potentially directed by Guy Ritchie, also came and went around 2009.
Burton had planned an altogether different threequel, with Michael Keaton still heading the bill and Catwoman potentially returning.
The main difference between these two films is that, whileBatman Foreverproved survivable, its sequel did not.
Bat-nipples, logic flaws and puns aplenty were just too much to bounce back from.
Again, that didnt stop Hollywood from plotting.
Warner played with two different ideas after ditching their originalBatmancontinuity, the first of which was a prequel/origin story.
Specifically, there was talk of Darren Aronofsky tackling Frank Millers iconicBatman: Year Onearc from the comics.
Call him a sceptical bastard, but this writer thinks we might have dodged a bullet with this one.
Sounds like an interesting story, but not much like the Batman we know and love.
Seeing Aronofskys distinct visual style blending with Gotham couldve been a treat, though.
Ace the Bat-hound featured heavily in scripts, apparently.
Rumours of aBatman Beyondfilm also circulated after the conclusion ofThe Dark Knighttrilogy.
In the pitching stage beforeBatman Beginswent into production, Joss Whedon also had his eyes on aBatmanmovie.
Mine was a bit less epic.
It was more about the progression of him and it was more in Gotham City.
He didnt go to Tibet and meet cool people, but it was very similar in vibe.
It was more of a Hannibal Lector punch in.
He was somebody already in Arkham Asylum that Bruce went and sort of studied with.
It was a whole thing.
I get very emotional about it, I still love the story.
Maybe Ill get to do it as a comic one day, he mused.
It seems unlikely now, but wed certainly read that comic.
Other ditched DC superheroes
Heres one thats been in the news recently Terry Gilliams unsuccessfulWatchmenproject.
Ozymandias was, interestingly, rumoured to be played by formerDoctor Whostar Peter Davison.
On top of his aforementioned never-to-be-seenBatmanmovie, he also had a stab and putting together aWonder Womanproject.
Whedons script took a while to materialise, and he was reluctant to cast from an unfinished script.
Things eventually came to a head when execs didnt like Whedons outlined plot in 2007.
It sounds like quite a cool idea to us, like theArkham Asylumvideo game with a cinematic twist.
In 2007, a script was ordered for aJustice Leaguemovie.
The idea of using aBeowulf-style motion-capture technique was floated around.
Speaking ofGreen Lantern,theres a whole universe of crushed dreams here.
Back in 2010, those involved were throwing around ideas for a trilogy of movies.
You know the rest of story already, no doubt.
So, theres plenty of DC superhero movies weve missed out on.
