Line #16 Trivia/ManOfSteel


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2	* AbilityOverAppearance: The RaceLift in casting Creator/LaurenceFishburne as Perry White had few complaints as Fishburne is exactly the kind of actor you'd want for the role.
3	* ApprovalOfGod: Dan Jurgens, who wrote and drew several ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics, has said that [[spoiler:Zod's death]] was "handled better than in the comics".
4	* BackedByThePentagon: The US military was very helpful with their portrayal in the film. Makes sense as they ultimately help [[AmericaSavesTheDay save the planet alongside Superman.]]
5	* CaliforniaDoubling:
6	** Chicago stands in for the fictional city of Metropolis, similar to ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' and ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. [[spoiler:Kal finally kills Zod]] in the Great Hall of Chicago Union Station.
7	** Plano, Illinois stands in for the fictional Smallville in Kansas. Kansas was not at any point an actual filming location.
8	* CreatorPreferredAdaptation: [[http://comicbook.com/2015/07/06/superman-legend-dan-jurgens-man-of-steel-handled-zods-death-bett/ Unlike]] some other ''Superman'' writers, Dan Jurgens (of ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' fame) [[spoiler: has no problem with Superman killing Zod and actually ''prefers'' how Zod's death was handled as something done in the heat of the moment to protect a family Zod was actively threatening as opposed to Superman outright executing a depowered Zod at the end of ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlSaga''.]]
9	* CreatorsFavoriteEpisode: ''Man of Steel'' is Creator/HenryCavill's favorite out of all the DC films he played in as Superman.
10	* DawsonCasting: Henry Cavill also portrayed teenage Clark in the flashback. Also slightly inverted, as Superman says he's been on Earth for 33 years, yet Cavill was only 30, though considering how [[ComicBookTime Clark ages]], it might all be irrelevant.
11	* DeletedScene:
12	** A longer battle scene on Krypton that would have featured more of Kelex.
13	** A scene with an infant Clark being treated by a pediatrician was filmed but cut. David Goyer explained, "There's a scene, placed between Kal-El's rocket ship crash-landing in Kansas and an adult Clark working at the fishing boat, where Jonathan and Martha take baby Clark to a pediatrician, because he's acting strange, due to his superpowers beginning to develop. The doctor decides to check baby Clark's hearing by emitting sounds into his ear canal. Due to the super-hearing, baby Clark lets out a cry that shatters all of the hospital's windows as well as setting off alarms of all cars nearby. It was filmed, but cut because it felt out of place."
14	** An extended oil rig scene where Clark is searching for the trapped.
15	** A small scene of Clark petting a dog in Canada.
16	** A scene of General Zod attacking other Earth cities.
17	** A scene with Lois being interrogated by the FBI following Zod's announcement, and refuses to talk.
18	** A scene of Clark leaving the church after speaking to Father Leone in which there's dialogue, "I won't betray them." and "You already have." cut. This dialogue was used in the promotional trailer.
19	** After Clark is bullied, Jonathan Kent takes him fishing without telling Martha.
20	** A scene set in Canada where Clark tries to hitchhike.
21	** A scene showing the Kent Farm covered in fog.
22	* DevelopmentHell: The sequel to 2006's ''Film/SupermanReturns'', tentatively titled ''Superman: Man of Steel'' sat in limbo before becoming ''Man of Steel'' in 2010 as David S. Goyer and Creator/ChristopherNolan were writing ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', and started shooting one year later.
23	* DisownedAdaptation:
24	** With regards to [[spoiler: Superman killing Zod near the end of the movie]]:
25	*** Creator/MarkWaid, the writer of ''ComicBook/SupermanBirthright'' and ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'', hated it so much that he nearly walked out from the theater after that scene was played.
26	*** Creator/MarkMillar, writer of ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'', said that film was "traumatizing," and it led to minor CreatorBreakdown for him.
27	*** While they did not react as strongly as Millar or Waid, Creator/GrantMorrison wasn't [[http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/movienewsandreviews/news/?a=84536 too happy about the scene either]]. A somewhat ironic position coming from the writer of [[ComicBook/FinalCrisis the book]] that gave us the TropeNamer of BatmanGrabsAGun.
28	---> "In fact, the more you think about it, unless you're in one of the Armed Forces, [[spoiler: killing]] is illegal and immoral. Why would we want our superheroes to do that?"[[note]]As far as the legality of the act goes, Morrison is wrong - [[KillingInSelfDefense in the circumstances presented]], killing Zod was entirely justified and legal, [[http://lawandthemultiverse.com/2015/08/06/law-and-the-multiverse-retcon-10/ as discussed here by a legal expert.]][[/note]]
29	* DyeingForYourArt:
30	** Henry Cavill worked out and dyed his hair black for the role.
31	** Averted for Amy Adams. She said she was prepared to dye her hair to play Lois Lane, but Zack Snyder preferred to leave her as a redhead.
32	* ExecutiveMeddling: Attempted, but failed with good reason. Writer David S. Goyer was instructed that Superman’s escape pod couldn’t be destroyed in the climax because it left Superman with no method of returning to Krypton. After a moment of StunnedSilence, Goyer had to explain that Krypton [[EarthShatteringKaboom blew up]] at the beginning of the movie, and the execs dropped the order.
33	* FakeAmerican: The British Henry Cavill is the first non-American to play the America-raised Superman.
34	* FanCommunityNicknames: "[[Creator/HenryCavill Cavillry]]"
35	* FollowTheLeader: Though not set in the same continuity, the direction Warner Bros. took this film in trying to created a more grounded and serious version of the mythos was informed by the prior success of their Batman films directed by Creator/ChristopherNolan starting with ''Film/BatmanBegins'' who went on to be a writer for this one.
36	* HeAlsoDid: The show's staff is certainly experienced in comic book film adaptations:
37	** Creator/ZackSnyder directed the film adaptations of ''Film/ThreeHundred'' and ''Film/{{Watchmen}}''.
38	** Creator/ChristopherNolan wrote/produced/directed ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''.
39	** David S. Goyer assisted with the former project, also writing the scripts for ''Film/GhostRider2007'' and the ''Film/BladeTrilogy''.
40	** Music/HansZimmer scored ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' films[[note]]Though in the case of the first two, he composed it alongside Music/JamesNewtonHoward[[/note]].
41	* MeaningfulReleaseDate: The film was released in June 2013, the 75th anniversary of Supes' debut in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #1 (June 1938).
42	* PopCultureUrbanLegends: For a time, it was believed that frames of Creator/ChristopherReeve's face were superimposed over Creator/HenryCavill's during the scene where he's about to destroy the World Engine as an EasterEgg. Creator/ZackSnyder later denied this.
43	* PredecessorCastingGag: In the European French dub, Superman's biological father Jor-El is voiced by Creator/EmmanuelJacomy. He voiced Superman himself in the French dub of the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse, a few video games, and several other animated adaptations such as many of the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies.
44	* PresumedFlop: With the DCEU dying by with a string of flops, many have blamed this film for setting a bad foundation, and think it did poorly as a result of the association. It was also often unfavorably compared to Marvel's contemporary output. In reality, ''Man of Steel'' was a massive success by almost any metric: following decades of flops for Superman (and non-Batman DC in general) it grossed $668 million in 2013 USD.[[note]]$900 million in 2023.[[/note]] Not only is this more than most MCU films (including the first two ''Iron Man'' films), it's Superman's second highest grossing movie adjusted for inflation. It also seemed to leave a good path for future films if anything, as the next few DCEU films all had very high opening weekends (notable in the case of ''Batman v Superman'' as it quickly dropped off in it second weekend, implying goodwill from this movie was initially present and then dispelled by the bad word of mouth of that one).
45	* PromotedFanboy:
46	** Henry Cavill auditioned for the role of Superman once before and didn't make it to the final cut (the project was aborted and replaced with ''Superman Returns''). He later said he called all his friends and family when he heard that he'd landed this one.
47	** Amy Adams was a huge fan of the Superman films since childhood and wanted to play Lois Lane for just as long; she had auditioned for Lois twice before, one being a failed Creator/BrettRatner project and the other being ''Film/SupermanReturns'' (not to mention getting a taste of the Superman universe with her appearance in ''Series/{{Smallville}}''). On going out for ''Man Of Steel'':
48	-->"I just never saw myself as any other character than Lois Lane and I figured it was a very Lois-y thing to do to try again."
49	* RecycledTrailerMusic:
50	** Fans were quick to note that the music in the first pair of teasers was from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing''.
51	** The trailer that debuted at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con used Zimmer's music from ''Film/TheThinRedLine''.
52	** The epic choir music heard in the second trailer is called "Storm" and was originally scored for ''Film/ElizabethTheGoldenAge''.
53	* RoleReprise:
54	** In the European French dub, Superman is voiced by Creator/AdrienAntoine, reprising his role from ''Film/SupermanReturns''.
55	** The Brazilian dub has Creator/GuilhermeBriggs returning as Superman following the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse (plus ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'', and the later seasons of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' - where [[TheOtherDarrin he replaced]] Alexandre Lippiani following his death in a car crash) and Sylvia Salustti as Lois Lane, a character she voiced in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' (she also dubbed over other Amy Adams characters on occasion, such as ''Film/CharlieWilsonsWar'' and the singing in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'').
56	* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Dylan Sprayberry, who portrayed Clark Kent as a young teen, looks as if a 13-year-old Henry Cavill briefly time-traveled from the mid-90s to 2011 for filming. You might also say the same for Cooper Timberline who played Clark at age 8.
57	* ShowAccuracyToyAccuracy: Russell Crowe remarked that the action figure of him looks more like Kenny Rogers.
58	* SoMyKidsCanWatch: In an [[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-2336146/Man-Of-Steels-Henry-Cavill-I-fat-kid-I-easy-target-How-actor-overcame-obesity-bullying-British-Superman.html interview]], one of the reasons why Russell Crowe took the role of Jor-El is that he wants his two sons to see him as a father figure in a movie catered to their age group.
59	* StarMakingRole: For Creator/HenryCavill. While he already had some attention with ''Series/TheTudors'' and ''Film/{{Immortals}}'', ''Man of Steel'' was the biggest boost to his career.
60	* ThrowItIn: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw08JBvYj7E In the soundtrack piece "Oil Rig"]], at about fifteen seconds in, you can faintly hear a young voice shout "Uh-oh!" That's Creator/ZackSnyder's daughter, whom he brought in to watch the recording session. It got picked up by the microphones, and was subsequently put into the final mix.
61	** Said "Uh-oh" can also be heard [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrppjGMgxAE during the WB logo at the very end of the credits.]]
62	* VindicatedByCable: The film had [[http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Man-of-Steel#tab=summary unusually strong]] DVD/Blu-Ray sales ($112 million domestic sales) and TV revenues despite its mixed reception, handily outperforming films that did far better than it at the box office and in critical reviews like ''[[http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Captain-America-The-Winter-Soldier#tab=summary Captain America: The Winter Soldier]]'' ($69 million domestic DVD/Blu-Ray revenues) and ''[[http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Iron-Man-3#tab=summary Iron Man 3]]'' ($82 million domestic DVD/Blu-Ray revenues).
63	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
64	** Creator/MattBomer was approached for the role of [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]] before Creator/HenryCavill was cast. Bomer previously voiced the titular character in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanUnbound'', and would go on to portray Negative Man in ''{{Series/Doom Patrol\|2019}}''.
65	*** Creator/JoeManganiello also had discussions for the part of Clark Kent, but backed out due to scheduling commitments to ''Series/TrueBlood''. Manganiello would later go on to play [[Comicbook/{{Deathstroke}} Slade Wilson]] in ''Film/{{Justice League\|2017}}'' and ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague''.
66	*** Creator/JamieDornan, Creator/DavidGiuntoli and Creator/TylerHoechlin auditioned for the role of Clark Kent as well. Guintoli would go on to voice [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]] in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanSoulOfTheDragon'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDoomThatCameToGotham'', while Hoechlin would portray Superman in ''Series/{{Supergirl\|2015}}'' and ''Series/SupermanAndLois''. Coincidentally, Giuntoli's wife, Creator/ElizabethTulloch, would star as Comicbook/LoisLane opposite Hoechlin.
67	*** Creator/ColinODonoghue, Creator/MatthewGoode, Creator/ArmieHammer and Creator/ZacEfron were also considered for the part of Superman before the casting of Cavill.
68	** Creator/ZoeSaldana was the runner-up for Comicbook/LoisLane before the casting of Creator/AmyAdams.
69	*** Creator/AmandaSeyfried, Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/DiannaAgron, Creator/KristenStewart, Creator/JessicaBiel and Creator/MalinAkerman screen-tested for the role of Lois Lane as well. Åkerman previously collaborated with Creator/ZackSnyder on ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'' as Silk Spectre II.
70	*** Creator/OliviaWilde, Creator/EmmyRossum, Creator/SaoirseRonan, [[Film/EasyVirtue Charlotte Riley]], Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/KristenBell, Creator/SandraBullock, Creator/KayaScodelario, Creator/AnneHathaway and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead were also considered for Lois Lane before the casting of Adams. Hathaway previously played [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', while Winstead would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] in ''Film/{{Birds of Prey\|2020}}''.
71	** Creator/DanielDayLewis, Creator/ViggoMortensen and Creator/EdgarRamirez were considered for the part of [[Characters/SupermanGeneralZod General Zod]] before Creator/MichaelShannon was cast.
72	** Creator/GalGadot was approached for Faora before the casting of Creator/AntjeTraue, but turned it down due to her pregnancy at the time. Gadot would later go on to play Comicbook/WonderWoman in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.
73	*** Creator/AliceEve, Creator/DianeKruger, Creator/RosamundPike and Creator/KateMara were considered for the role of Faora as well before the casting of Traue.
74	** Creator/BenAffleck was offered to direct the film before Creator/ZackSnyder was hired, but declined due to his dissatisfactions with the script. Affleck previously portrayed Creator/GeorgeReeves, whose roles included Superman, in ''Film/{{Hollywoodland}}''. Affleck would go on to play [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]] in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.
75	*** Creator/RobertZemeckis and Creator/GuillermoDelToro were also approached to direct the movie. Del Toro turned down the offer in order to helm a film adaptation of ''Literature/AtTheMountainsOfMadness'', [[DevelopmentHell which was later shelved due to various reasons.]]
76	*** Creator/DarrenAronofsky, Creator/DuncanJones, Creator/TonyScott, [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 Jonathan Liebesman]] and Creator/MattReeves were considered to direct the film as well before Snyder was hired. Reeves would eventually go on to direct ''Film/{{The Batman\|2022}}''.
77	** A number of reboot ideas were thought up between ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'' and ''Film/SupermanReturns'', including ones with Creator/TimBurton, Creator/KevinSmith and Creator/JJAbrams respectively involved.
78	** Henry Cavill was almost cast as Superman in 2004 for the reboot ''[[http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2012/02/mcg-keen-to-see-henry-cavills.html Superman: Flyby]]'' (written by Creator/JJAbrams, with [=McG=] attached as director and Creator/RobertDowneyJr in talks for Lex Luthor), even getting down to the last two choices, [[DevelopmentHell before the project was redesigned]] as ''Film/SupermanReturns''. There's a picture of his screen test [[http://www.movieweb.com/news/henry-cavills-superman-flyby-screen-test-revealed in costume.]] The other top choice was none other than Creator/BrandonRouth, [[http://i.imgur.com/PDwjnm5.jpg who also screen-tested in costume.]]
79	** Creator/MarkMillar and Creator/MatthewVaughn wanted to do a three-movie, eight-hour epic that detailed Superman's entire life, with Creator/CharlieCox in mind for the part, from the early days on Krypton right up to when he's the last living thing on Earth as the Sun goes supernova.
80	** According to Zack Snyder, he tried very hard to keep Superman's red trunks as part of his costume, but ultimately couldn't.
81	** David Goyer mentioned there were supposed to be two scenes added in the movie: One where Jonathan and Martha Kent took the baby Kal-El to a pediatrician and have hearing test on him where the baby screams and it blows out all the windows. And two, where after Zod announces how powerful the Kryptonians are, Faora and Namek dropped into two foreign cities as a demonstration. The second one wasn't actually filmed.
82	** Initially, the original ending was supposed to have Zod being thrown into the PhantomZone alongside his soldiers. But Snyder and Goyer decided to have Superman kill Zod instead. Creator/ChristopherNolan was against the idea at first, until Goyer convinced him otherwise.
83	* WordOfGod: There was a brief mention of S.T.A.R. Labs, which David Goyer claims [[http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/david-s-goyer-says-man-of-steel-teases-cyborg-20130612 was meant as a nod]] to Comicbook/{{Cyborg}}.
84	* WorkingTitle: "Autumn Frost", named after Zack Snyder's daughter Autumn.

Context Trivia / ManOfSteel