Brendan Fraser Almost Played “Shakespeare in Space” SUPERMAN

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In the early 2000s, Warner Bros. was eager to restart the Superman movie franchise. They had previously canceled Tim Burton’s Superman Lives project in the 1990s, leaving them starting over. They approached J.J. Abrams, known for co-creating Alias and Lost, who wrote a script called Superman: Flyby intended to modernize the character for a new generation. Many popular actors auditioned for the role of Superman, including Brendan Fraser, who was gaining recognition for The Mummy films. Recently, while discussing his movie Rental Family on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast (as reported by Deadline), Fraser shared his experience of nearly playing Clark Kent and praised the ambitious, “Shakespearean” quality of Abrams’ script.

I was really impressed with the screenplay. They gave me a copy to read, but under strict conditions. I had to read it in a private office on a studio lot, and I signed a non-disclosure agreement. The pages were printed on bright red paper – they didn’t want anyone making copies or stealing it. Honestly, the story was amazing – it was like Shakespeare, but set in outer space. It was a truly well-written script.

Even with tight security, details of the new Superman script were leaked online, and fans strongly disliked the changes it made to the character’s history. J.J. Abrams’ version of the story drastically altered Superman’s origins: Krypton didn’t explode, but Superman’s father, Jor-El, sent him to Earth to fulfill a prophecy while ruling the planet. Jor-El was embroiled in a long-lasting civil war with his brother, Kata-Zor, and their conflict would continue on Earth with Kata-Zor’s children battling Superman, even leading to his (temporary) death. This echoed the popular 1992 ‘Death of Superman’ storyline, which filmmakers have tried to revisit ever since. The script also reimagined Lex Luthor as a CIA agent who was secretly a Kryptonian sleeper agent. The plan was to launch a trilogy focused on Superman’s efforts to free his home planet.

When fans reacted negatively to the proposed changes, Warner Bros. became hesitant about the project. Brett Ratner was originally set to direct. This situation was one of the first instances of passionate online fans influencing a film franchise’s direction – a trend that continues today. Warner Bros. then opted for a more traditional sequel, Superman Returns. However, many feel they didn’t truly recapture the magic until James Gunn’s Superman. Despite enjoying this particular take on the character, actor Fraser expressed relief that the original version didn’t happen, noting that playing Superman can often limit an actor’s future roles. We’d still love to see a picture of him in the suit – we’re sure he would have looked great!

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2025-11-25 00:33