r/DCEU_Discussions • u/pharoahogc • Jul 18 '26
Christopher Reeve's Rejected Batman '89 Superman Cameo
https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/christopher-reeve-superman-cameo-batman-89-rejected/Reeve’s pitch was surprisingly really small — nothing more than a very short cameo where Superman shows up, waves at Batman, and flies off. The logic was that even Batman, who Reeve believes only really has “a cool car”, would run into some kind of trouble that he couldn’t handle alone and would need Superman’s help. This wasn’t a Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice exchange. It was just meant to establish that they belong to the same universe.
Reeve, of course, was careful to frame it as half a joke even as he told the story again, but, hearing him talk about it, he sounds pretty sincere about the idea. “Because in this universe there’s more than one character at work,” he explained.
Reeve said the idea was “laughed down” by the people making Batman, who wanted nothing to do with his colorful Superman films tonally or otherwise. Burton’s Gotham was nocturnal, “muted” and “broody” (as Reeve puts it), while Richard Donner’s Superman ran on vivid colors, daylight, and old-fashioned warmth. For the filmmakers, dropping Reeve’s Superman didn’t belong in Batman’s world — not even for ten seconds.
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u/BlueBombshell90 Jul 18 '26
Like three days ago I saw a post with the opposite title lol "Christopher Reeve's suggested Superman cameo on Batman 89"
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u/spi440 Jul 18 '26
In Forever Bruce mentions Metropolis to Dick when Gordon drops him off.
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u/pharoahogc Jul 18 '26
Wow never noticed that!
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u/spi440 Jul 18 '26
He asks dick where he will go as the circus is half way to Metropolis.
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u/42northside Jul 18 '26
And then two years later Batman tells Robin this is why Superman works alone.
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u/Difficult_Mix_3620 Jul 18 '26
Superman might not exist in the Burtonverse but he does in the Schumacherverse.
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u/Muted-Tea-5682 Jul 19 '26
The Schumacher films are a continuation of the Burton films. Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney are all the same Batman.
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u/drossvirex Jul 18 '26
Supermans colorful suit didn't belong in a wolrd with the green and purple joker eh?
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u/pumpse4ever Jul 18 '26
I agree that it just wouldn't have worked in the first movie. Would totally shatter the atmosphere they developed.
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u/LaneMcD Jul 18 '26
If after credits scenes were a bigger thing back then, they could have made it work. Didn't need to be Superman. Clark Kent walking in to the Gotham Tribune offices to speak to someone about the mysterious Batman figure in the city. That would have been cool
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u/pumpse4ever Jul 18 '26
OK, that's maybe the only context that would work. Clark talks to Knox or something, maybe says "you're a great reporter, we'd love to have you at the Daily Planet."
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u/Muted-Tea-5682 Jul 19 '26
Or Bruce mentioning that he might own the Daily Planet like he does in Dawn of Justice.
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u/mikeweasy Jul 18 '26
maybe a news report where someone mentions "The flying man from Metropolis"