Brandon Routh’s Man of Metal

Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns is probably essentially the most divisive Superman film. When the film got here out in 2006, it was extensively anticipated to launch an all-new franchise, reinventing the character for the twenty first century. It got here out with loads of buzz connected to it, with Singer famously turning Marvel’s X-Males right into a viable movie franchise. Brandon Routh, who performed the Man of Metal, was plucked from obscurity and was extensively anticipated to develop into the subsequent massive factor, however the movie was a notable underperformer.

Whereas it nonetheless made $200 million domestically, the movie in all probability misplaced cash for the studio, given the funds. Even worse, fan response was decidedly cool, with many questioning why Singer opted to make the movie a sequel to the primary two Richard Donner Superman motion pictures fairly than a gentle reboot. Singer’s mild movie, which by no means featured The Man of Metal throwing a punch, was thought of old style, and deliberate sequels had been deserted.

Within the years since, the movie’s status has not been helped by the truth that two of its most distinguished gamers have been “cancelled,” with Bryan Singer and Kevin Spacey (who performed Lex Luthor) each notoriously radioactive following allegations of abuse. Nonetheless, many have come round to Routh’s delicate portrayal of the hero, with him parleying the position into a component as The Atom within the CW’s DC exhibits. On the identical time, he additionally reprised his position as Superman within the Arrowverse “Disaster on Infinite Earths” adaptation. Whereas he by no means turned a star, he’s labored steadily and is a well-liked determine amongst followers.

On this episode of DC Revisited (written, narrated and edited by Tyler Nichols), we study the making of Superman Returns and its legacy as a one-off Superman film.