History Trivia / ManOfSteel

** A scene with a infant Superman 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".

** A scene with Lois being interrogated by the FBI following Zod’s announcement, and refuses to talk.
** A scene of Clark leaving the church after speaking to Father Leone in which there's dialogue, “I won’t betray them.”, “You already have.” cut. This dialogue was used in the promotional trailer.

---> "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- 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]]

*** And after it hits the theatres, ''[[Film/TheDarkKnightRises The Krypton Knight Rises]]''.

** "The Dubstep Machine" or "Dubstep Engine" for the World Engine because of the distinctive sounds it makes.

** 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''). Said to have called all his friends and family when he heard that he'd landed this one.

-->''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.''

** 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 [[AuthorExistenceFailure following his death in a car crash]]) and Sylvia Salustti as Lois Lane, a character she voiced in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' (she also dubbed over Amy Adams on occasion, such as ''Film/CharlieWilsonsWar'' and the singing in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'').

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/HenryCavill.

* RoleReprise: In the French dub, Superman is voiced by Adrien Antoine, reprising his role from ''Film/SupermanReturns''.

** ''Man of Murder'' and ''Man of Shit'' by detractors of the movie, including {{troll}}s. There's also ''Man of Sears'' because of the ProductPlacement.

* 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).

*** Creator/ChristopherNolan was against the scene but he changed his mind when he was convinced that it would show Superman as being a raw and still unformed superhero who had not yet fully become the experienced hero he can be.

*** While he did not react as strongly as 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.

* CreatorsFavorite: It is Creator/HenryCavill's favorite out of all the DC films he played in as Superman.

* DawsonCasting: Creator/HenryCavill 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.

--> "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- 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]]

** Creator/ChristopherNolan was against the scene but he changed his mind when he was convinced that it would show Superman as being a raw and still unformed superhero who had not yet fully become the experienced hero he can be.
** 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.
** While he did not react as strongly as 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.

** With regards to [[spoiler: Superman killing Zod near the end of the movie]], 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. Initially, Creator/ChristopherNolan was also against that scene but he changed his mind when he was convinced that it would show Superman as being a raw and still unformed superhero who had not yet fully become the experienced hero he can be.

* 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 as opposed to Superman outright executing a depowered Zod at the end of ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlSaga''.]]

* RecycledTrailerMusic: Fans have been quick to note that the music in the first pair of teasers is from ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Fellowship of the Ring]]''.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[WhatCouldHaveBeen/DCExtendedUniverse Enough for its own page]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/MattBomer was the first choice for the role of [[Comicbook/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]] before Creator/HenryCavill was cast. Bomer previously voiced the character in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanUnbound'' and would eventually go on to portray Negative Man in ''[[Series/DoomPatrol2019 Doom Patrol]]'' set within the Series/{{Titansverse}}.
*** Creator/JoeManganiello had discussions with Creator/ZackSnyder about the titular part, but scheduling commitments to ''Series/TrueBlood'' caused him to back down. Manganiello would later go on to portray [[ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} Slade Wilson]] in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.
*** [[Series/{{Grimm}} David Giuntoli]] screen-tested for the role Clark Kent as well, but believes he lost out on it after considering himself "too short" for Superman (The character is usually portrayed as 6'3" while Giuntoli is only 5'11").
*** Creator/ColinODonoghue, Creator/MatthewGoode, Creator/ArmieHammer, and Creator/ZacEfron were also considered for Clark Kent before the casting of Cavill.
** Creator/ZoeSaldana was the runner-up for the part of [[Comicbook/LoisLane Lois Lane]] before the casting of Creator/AmyAdams.
*** Creator/AmandaSeyfried, Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/DiannaAgron, Creator/KristenStewart, Creator/JessicaBiel, and Creator/MalinAkerman screen-tested for the part of Lois Lane as well. Åkerman previously collaborated with Creator/ZackSnyder on ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'' as Silk Spectre II.
*** Creator/OliviaWilde, Creator/EmmyRossum, Creator/SaoirseRonan, [[Film/EasyVirtue Charlotte Riley]], Creator/AnneHathaway, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/SandraBullock, Creator/MilaKunis, Creator/KayaScodelario, and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead were also considered for Lois Lane before the casting of Adams. Winstead would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020''.
** Creator/ViggoMortensen and Creator/EdgarRamirez were considered for the part of General Zod before Creator/MichaelShannon was cast.
** Creator/GalGadot was approached for the role of Faora, but declined due to her pregnancy at the time. Gadot would later go on to play Comicbook/WonderWoman in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.
*** Creator/AliceEve, Creator/DianeKruger, Creator/RosamundPike, and Creator/KateMara were considered for Faora as well before the casting of Creator/AntjeTraue.
** Creator/BenAffleck, of all people, was offered the chance to direct the film, but politely declined. Affleck has previously portrayed the actor [[Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperman George Reeves, whose roles included Superman,]] in ''Film/{{Hollywoodland}}''. Ironically, Affleck eventually went on to play Franchise/{{Batman}} in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.
*** 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'' [[Main/DevelopmentHell which was later shelved.]]
*** Creator/MattReeves, Creator/DuncanJones, Creator/DarrenAronofsky, Creator/TonyScott, and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 Jonathan Liebesman]] were considered to direct the film as well before Creator/ZackSnyder was hired. Reeves would eventually go on to direct ''The Batman''.
** 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.
** 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.]] When [=McG=] left due to fear of flying on a plane (seriously), Creator/BryanSinger came onboard and changed the project to a sequel to the earlier Creator/ChristopherReeve films. He went with Routh because he looked more like Reeve.
** Creator/MarkMillar (with Creator/MatthewVaughn directing) wanted to do a three movie, eight hour epic that detailed Superman's entire life, from the early days on Krypton right up to when he's the last living thing on Earth as the Sun goes supernova.
** According to Zack Snyder, he tried very hard to keep Superman's red trunks as part of his costume, but failed.
** 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.
** Initially, the original ending was supposed to be [[spoiler: Zod, being thrown into the Phantom Zone]]. But Snyder and Goyer decided to have [[spoiler: Superman, killing Zod instead]]. Nolan was against the idea, at first, until Goyer convinced him otherwise.
** As originally shot, the film would have ended on the reveal that General Swanwick, played by Creator/HarryLennix, was actually a disguised ComicBook/MartianManhunter. Unfortunately, all references to this was left on the cutting room floor, effectively erasing the Manhunter from the DCEU before he even got a chance to appear. What effect this reveal would have had on ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' is thus the realm of speculation.

** Creator/ViggoMortensen was considered for the part of General Zod before Creator/MichaelShannon was cast.

*** Creator/MattReeves, Creator/DuncanJones, Creator/DarrenAronofsky, Creator/TonyScott, and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 Jonathan Liebesman]] were considered to direct the film as well before Creator/ZackSnyder was hired. Reeves would eventually get a chance at directing a comic book movie with the upcoming ''Batman'' reboot set within the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.

*** Creator/ColinODonoghue, [[Film/{{Watchmen}} Matthew Goode]], Creator/ArmieHammer, and Creator/ZacEfron were also considered for Clark Kent before the casting of Cavill.

*** Creator/ColinODonoghue, Creator/MatthewGoode, Creator/ArmieHammer, and Creator/ZacEfron were also considered for Clark Kent before the casting of Cavill.
** Creator/ZoeSaldana was the runner-up for the part of Comicbook/LoisLane before the casting of Creator/AmyAdams.

*** Creator/OliviaWilde, Creator/EmmyRossum, Creator/SaoirseRonan, Creator/AnneHathaway, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/SandraBullock, Creator/MilaKunis, Creator/KayaScodelario, and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead were also considered for Lois Lane before the casting of Adams. Winstead would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020''.

*** 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.]]
*** Creator/MattReeves, Creator/DuncanJones, Creator/DarrenAronofsky and Creator/TonyScott were considered to direct the film as well before Creator/ZackSnyder was hired. Reeves would eventually get a chance at directing a comic book movie with the upcoming ''Batman'' reboot set within the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.

*** Creator/ColinODonoghue, [[Film/{{Watchmen}} Matthew Goode]], Creator/ArmieHammer, and Creator/ZacEfron were also considered for Clark Kent before the casting of Cavill.

*** Creator/OliviaWilde, Creator/EmmyRossum, Creator/SaoirseRonan, [[Film/EasyVirtue Charlotte Riley]], Creator/AnneHathaway, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/SandraBullock, Creator/MilaKunis, Creator/KayaScodelario, and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead were also considered for Lois Lane before the casting of Adams. Winstead would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020''.

*** 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'' [[Main/DevelopmentHell which was later shelved.]]
*** Creator/MattReeves, Creator/DuncanJones, Creator/DarrenAronofsky, Creator/TonyScott, and [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 Jonathan Liebesman]] were considered to direct the film as well before Creator/ZackSnyder was hired. Reeves would eventually get a chance at directing a comic book movie with the upcoming ''Batman'' reboot set within the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.

* VindicatedByCable: Downplayed version. 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).

** As originally shot, the film would have ended on the reveal that General Swanwick, played by Creator/HarryLennix, was actually a disguised ComicBook/MartianManhunter. Unfortunately, all references to this was left on the cutting room floor, effectively erasing the Manhunter from the DCEU before he even got a chance to appear. What effect this reveal would have had on the ''Film/JusticeLeague'' film is thus the realm of speculation.

* VindicatedByCable: Downplayed version. 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).

* RoleReprisal: In the French dub, Superman is voiced by Adrien Antoine, reprising his role from ''Film/SupermanReturns''.

*** Creator/OliviaWilde, Creator/EmmyRossum, Creator/SaoirseRonan, [[Film/EasyVirtue Charlotte Riley]], Creator/AnneHathaway, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/SandraBullock, Creator/MilaKunis, Creator/KayaScodelario, Ceator/KristenBell and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead were also considered for Lois Lane before the casting of Adams. Winstead would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020''.

*** [[Series/{{Grimm}} David Giuntoli]] screen-tested for the role Clark Kent as well, but believes he lost out on it after considering himself "too short" for Superman (The character is usually portrayed as 6'3" while Giuntoli is only 5'11").

** Creator/ZoeSaldana was the runner-up for the part of [[Comicbook/LoisLane Lois Lane]] before the casting of Creator/AmyAdams.

*** Creator/OliviaWilde, Creator/EmmyRossum, Creator/SaoirseRonan, [[Film/EasyVirtue Charlotte Riley]], Creator/AnneHathaway, Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/SandraBullock, Creator/MilaKunis, Creator/KayaScodelario, and Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead were also considered for Lois Lane before the casting of Adams. Winstead would eventually go on to portray [[Comicbook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020''.

*** Creator/RobertZemeckis and Creator/GuillermoDelToro were also approached to direct the movie. The latter turned down the offer in order to helm a film adaptation of ''Literature/AtTheMountainsOfMadness'' [[Main/DevelopmentHell which was later shelved.]]

** Chicago stands in for the fictional city of Metropolis, similar to ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'' and ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. [[spoiler:Kal finally kills Zod]] in the Great Hall of Chicago Union Station.

** Creator/ChristopherNolan wrote/produced/directed ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga''.

** Music/HansZimmer scored ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'' films[[note]]Though in the case of the first two, he composed it alongside Music/JamesNewtonHoward[[/note]].