Superman Returns: Revisiting Brandon Routh's Man of Steel

https://youtu.be/kQZaRVHvYsk

Bryan Singer=E2=80=99s Superman Returns is perhaps the most divisive Superm=
an movie. When the movie came out in 2006, it was widely expected to launch=
 an all-new franchise, reinventing the character for the 21st century. It c=
ame out with a lot of buzz attached to it, with Singer famously turning Mar=
vel=E2=80=99s X-Men into a viable film franchise. Brandon Routh, who played=
 the Man of Steel, was plucked from obscurity and was widely expected to be=
come the next big thing, but the film was a notable underperformer.

While it still made $200 million domestically, the film probably lost money=
 for the studio, given the budget. Even worse, fan reaction was decidedly c=
ool, with many wondering why Singer opted to make the film a sequel to the =
first two Richard Donner Superman movies rather than a soft reboot. Singer=
=E2=80=99s gentle film, which never featured The Man of Steel throwing a pu=
nch, was considered old-fashioned, and planned sequels were abandoned.

In the years since, the film=E2=80=99s reputation has not been helped by th=
e fact that two of its most prominent players have been =E2=80=9Ccancelled,=
=E2=80=9D with Bryan Singer and Kevin Spacey (who played Lex Luthor) both n=
otoriously radioactive following allegations of abuse. However, many have c=
ome around to Routh=E2=80=99s sensitive portrayal of the hero, with him par=
leying the role into a part as The Atom in the CW=E2=80=99s DC shows. At th=
e same time, he also reprised his role as Superman in the Arrowverse =E2=80=
=9CCrisis on Infinite Earths=E2=80=9D adaptation. While he never became a s=
tar, he=E2=80=99s worked steadily and is a popular figure among fans.

In this episode of DC Revisited (written, narrated and edited by Tyler Nich=
ols), we examine the making of Superman Returns and its legacy as a one-off=
 Superman movie.