The Flash Director Reveals Crazy Cameo for a Character from an Aborted Movie

The Flash director Andy Muschietti reveals a major cameo for an unexpected actor, Nicolas Cage, who will at long last play Superman like in Lives from Tim Burton.

[This article really obviously has a major spoiler for The Flash, so if you care about an untarnished viewing experience, thanks for clicking this article — but go read something else instead.] The Flash arrives in theaters on June 16, and despite the self-destruction of the DC Extended Universe, the legal troubles of star Ezra Miller, and general superhero fatigue, the buzz surrounding the movie is really positive. Early reviews have claimed the movie packs genuine heart to match its thrills, and Warner Bros. has to be salivating at the financial potential of Michael Keaton returning as Batman. But via Variety, The Flash director Andy Muschietti has revealed that the movie contains a much crazier, more shocking cameo character: Nicolas Cage as Superman, stemming from the aborted ’90s movie Superman Lives.

Recommended Videos

Once upon a time, Tim Burton was set to direct a Superman movie called Superman Lives, a fact so well known that it received its own documentary. Nicolas Cage was to play a long-haired, vaguely “emo” Superman, and there is a photo of Cage in costume that has been floating around the internet for years. If emo Superman sounds strange, well, it gets much stranger than that thanks to the requirements of film producer Jon Peters, but that’s a separate conversation.

Regardless, Nicolas Cage is a huge comic book fan (as reflected in his performance in Kick-Ass), and about him somehow appearing as Superman in The Flash, Andy Muschietti said, “Nic was absolutely wonderful. Although the role was a cameo, he dove into it… I dreamt all my life to work with him. I hope I can work with him again soon.”

It’s nice to hear that someone who loves the source material so much is finally getting to live his dream, if briefly. I would be stone-cold lying if I said I wanted to see an actual movie starring Nicolas Cage as Superman though.


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Who Is the Beyonder In Marvel Canon?
The Beyonder in New Avengers: Illuminati #3, by Jim Cheung
Read Article X-Men ’97: Who Is Madelyne Pryor, AKA Goblin Queen?
Madelyne Pryor/Goblin Queen in X-Men '97, Season 1, Episode 3, "Fire Made Flesh"
Read Article Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14: Who Does Jinkx Monsoon Play?
Jinkx Monsoon as an unnamed villainous character in Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14
Related Content
Read Article Who Is the Beyonder In Marvel Canon?
The Beyonder in New Avengers: Illuminati #3, by Jim Cheung
Read Article X-Men ’97: Who Is Madelyne Pryor, AKA Goblin Queen?
Madelyne Pryor/Goblin Queen in X-Men '97, Season 1, Episode 3, "Fire Made Flesh"
Read Article Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14: Who Does Jinkx Monsoon Play?
Jinkx Monsoon as an unnamed villainous character in Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14
Author
John Friscia
Former Managing Editor at The Escapist. I have been writing about video games since 2018 and editing writing on IT, project management, and video games for around a decade. I have an English degree, but Google was a more valuable learning resource. I taught English in South Korea for a year in 2018, and it was exponentially more fun than living in Pennsylvania. My major passions in life are SNES, Japanese RPGs, Berserk, and K-pop. I'm currently developing the game Boss Saga with my brother, which is guaranteed to change your life and you should buy it.