Brendan Fraser Calls JJ Abrams’ Canceled Superman Film Epic

The Untold Story of "Superman: Flyby"

Back in 2002, J.J. Abrams was working on a Superman feature film that he called "Superman: Flyby." This movie aimed to retell the origin story of Superman, but with a unique twist. It spent a significant amount of time on Krypton, where Superman’s father, Jor-El, was involved in a years-long Civil War with his own brother, Kata-Zor. The story was epic and ambitious.

According to various fan websites, Jor-El was set to lose the Civil War and be sent to prison, where he would take his own life. His infant son, Kal-El, would then be sent to Earth, where he would be adopted by the Kent family, just like in the original comics. However, many aspects of the Superman story that followed were different from the traditional narrative.

For instance, when Superman/Clark Kent grew up, he did get a job as a reporter at the Daily Planet, but Lois Lane was not the plucky reporter she is known for. Instead, she was more like Dana Scully from "The X-Files," obsessed with finding the truth about UFOs. Another notable change was that Clark wouldn’t keep his secret identity, eventually revealing himself to the world. The villains of the film were to be Kata-Zor, his son Ty-Zor, and three other rogue Kryptonians. Additionally, Krypton was not destroyed but overtaken by fascists.

Brendan Fraser’s Experience

In a recent episode of the Happy. Sad. Confused. podcast, actor Brendan Fraser revealed that he had been offered the role of Superman for "Flyby" and was permitted to read Abrams’ script. The project ultimately fell through, mutating and being rethought until it became Bryan Singer’s "Superman Returns," a retro sequel to the films that came before it. Fraser, however, was deeply impressed with the "Flyby" script he read, even comparing it to Shakespeare.

Fraser shared details about the script, saying:

"I loved that screenplay. […] They let me read it. They locked me in an empty office in some studio lot, I signed an NDA. It was printed black on crimson paper, so you couldn’t photocopy it or sneak it out the door inconspicuously. I mean, it was Shakespeare in space. It was a really good screenplay."

He also mentioned that he even tried on Superman suits during the development of the film. No pictures exist, however, as there was a lot of secrecy around the project. Fraser also expressed some trepidation about taking the "Flyby" gig, noting that he knew it would pigeonhole him.

"I also remember thinking: ‘If I do get this job, then, well, I think Superman’s gonna be chipped on my gravestone.’ There’s an element of, you are that for the rest of your days, your career. And that’s not a bad thing; I’m not saying it’s gonna kill me any time soon, but it is something that becomes part of your entire brand, who you are. And I don’t know if I was ready to take that on then."

The project ended up falling apart, so Fraser didn’t have to make the decision.

Other Actors and Directors

Fraser was one of three high-profile actors who nearly played the Man of Steel in "Superman: Flyby." Matt Bomer also auditioned for the part, and both Ashton Kutcher and Paul Walker were offered it. Kutcher turned it down because he was wrapping up "That ’70s Show" at the time and couldn’t walk away. Jerry O’Connell said he wanted to play Superman, while David Boreanaz auditioned but ultimately passed, also because of scheduling issues.

Brett Ratner was slated to direct, and he had other actors in mind for the project. He talked to Jude Law and even offered Josh Hartnett a sweetheart $100 million deal for three movies. Ratner also talked to Christopher Walker about playing Perry White, and wanted Anthony Hopkins and Ralph Fiennes to play Jor-El and Lex Luthor, respectively. Hopkins and Fiennes, incidentally, would both star in Ratner’s "Silence of the Lambs" prequel, "Red Dragon" in 2002. Eventually, Ratner dropped out, as he kept butting heads with the film’s producer, Jon Peters.

The Evolution of the Project

The project passed from Ratner to McG, and then finally over to Bryan Singer, who turned it into "Superman Returns." It was quite a saga, but at least we got a kinda-forgettable "Superman" movie out of it.

The Epic Details of "Superman: Flyby"

Further details culled from online fan sites also revealed other epic details of "Superman: Flyby." Shockingly, the film’s Kryptonian villains were actually going to murder Superman during a climactic fight. Superman would then go to the Kryptonian after to converse with his father. He would then be resurrected just in time to stop the bad guys and save the day. It certainly sounds large and exciting in the superhero blockbuster mold.

A Unique Vision

The project sounded pretty epic, and in 2002, it was high time to return to Superman. The vision for "Flyby" was ambitious, with a unique take on the Superman mythos. However, despite the promising script and the involvement of high-profile actors, the project never saw the light of day.

Conclusion

While "Superman: Flyby" never made it to the big screen, its story remains a fascinating chapter in the history of superhero films. The creative vision of J.J. Abrams, the potential casting of actors like Brendan Fraser, and the eventual transformation into "Superman Returns" all contribute to the rich tapestry of Superman’s cinematic legacy.