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Back in 2013, Zack Snyder laid down the basic framework of the DCEU and set it in motion. Starring Henry Cavill and written by David S. Goyer,Man of Steelgave a new dimension to the iconic Big Blue. Their ambitious goal was to redefine Superman’s cinematic portrayal, stripping away the conventional superhero tropes and introducing a realistic, gritty twist. However, sometimes pushing boundaries means stepping on a few toes.
Christopher Nolan, the revered director of the iconicThe Dark Knighttrilogy, who produced Snyder’s $670.1 million film, initially wasn’t pleased with the divisive ending in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) was killed by Clark Kent. Known for his meticulous dedication to detail, Nolan’s involvement with the DC cinematic universe serves as an indicator of his artistic integrity. Little did we know that his moral code would clash withMan of Steel’s planned ending.
Also read:Superman: Legacy – James Gunn Won’t Repeat Same Mistake That Turned DC Fans Against Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel
Why Christopher Nolan Wasn’t Pleased WithMan Of Steel’s Ending
The ending ofHenry Cavill‘sMan of Steelhas received a lot of attention. The extent to which General Zod (Michael Shannon) and Superman fight levels Metropolis has dominated the conversation. Even though that creates a fantastic action sequence, it also begs the question of Superman’s accountability for the unspoken deaths of Metropolis residents caught up in the mayhem.Zack Snyder,Christopher Nolan, and writerDavid S. Goyerall had different opinions on that pivotal fight.
In an interview with theEmpire Magazinepodcast (The Playlist), Snyder and Goyer disclosed that General Zod was originally intended to be returned to the Phantom Zone. The former shared:
“But David, Chris and I had long talks about it, and I said that I really feel like we should kill Zod, and that Superman should kill him. The ‘Why?’ of it for me was that if was truly an origin story, his aversion to killing is unexplained… I wanted to create a scenario where Superman, either he’s going to see [Metropolis’ citizens] chopped in half, or he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.”
Goyer agreed with Snyder’s concept as well, but Nolan remained a stumbling block. TheDawn of the Deaddirector added:
“[Chris] originally said, ‘There’s no way you’re able to do this.’ After checking in with DC Comics about the change, to which they responded positively, Goyer was spurred forward. I came up with this idea of heat vision and these people about to die, and I wrote the scene, gave it to Chris, and he said, ‘Okay you’ve convinced me.’ ”
While Goyer and Snyder eventually convinced Nolan to agree,Superman: Birthrightwriter Mark Waid was not actually happy with the film’s outcome.
Also read:“The movie would be a little bit longer”: Zack Snyder Didn’t Include the Most Crucial Watchmen Scene to Include His Favorite Sequence in the Movie
Superman: BirthrightWriter’s Views onMan of SteelEnding
The DCEU’s first film,Man of Steel,introduced Warner Bros. to a shared universe of DC characters. The movie’s climax successfully sets up Superman and Clark Kent’s future roles in the DCEU.But it complicates the movie’s ending, in which Superman’s decision to kill Zod goes against the traditional reading of the character as a representation of hope and pure kindness. The film was even panned bySuperman Birthright’s writer Mark Waid. He wrote a critical review on Thrillbent (viaCinema Blend):
“Some crazy guy in front of us was muttering ‘Don’t do it…don’t do it…DON’T DO IT…’ and then Superman snapped Zod’s neck and that guy stood up and said in a very loud voice, ‘THAT’S IT, YOU LOST ME, I’M OUT,’ and his girlfriend had to literally pull him back into his seat and keep him from walking out and that crazy guy was me.”
Also read:David Corenswet Superman Will Replace Ben Affleck’s Batman as Nick Fury of DCU – Theory
Screen Rantclaims that Superman killing Zod is one of the most divisive plot points inMan of Steel.Drawing from Superman’s numerous DC Comics adventures, viewers believed that Clark did not need to murder someone to save Earth’s inhabitants. His choice to kill Zod was criticized because he is supposed to be the epitome of optimism, hope, and pure goodness.
Still, with a $668 million global box office haul,Man of Steelis now the ninth highest-grossing movie of 2013.
WatchMan of Steelon Netflix & Max.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
