When Superman didn't fly

Now that Watchmen director Zack Snyder has been confirmed as the new director of the upcoming Superman reboot, we can look back once again at Tim Burton's planned offering and breathe a sigh of relief that he didn't get the job.

Before the underwhelming Superman Returns, Tim Burton, director of 1989's Batman, was prepping Superman Lives. It was a radical departure from the previous films and, as recently released footage shows, it might have been rather awful.

First problem: Superman was to be played by Nicolas Cage. A strange piece of miscasting yet it progressed far enough for Cage to attend a costume fitting.

Which brings us to the second problem: the costume. Looking like a cross between a Christmas tree and a fairground ride, it added far too many tweaks to the traditional red and blue suit.

It all proved to be a waste of time as the project never came to fruition. Burton called it one of the worst experiences of his life and only now do we have a clear idea of what was never to be.

You can take a look at the video below. Zack Snyder please note: Superman should be red and blue and devoid of LEDs. End of.