Director Pitches Visionary Superman Film in 5 Minutes

Christopher McQuarrie, director of the Mission: Impossible series, still harbors mixed feelings about his scrapped Superman pitch from years ago. Best known for The Usual Suspects and Top Gun: Maverick, McQuarrie recently hinted at his bold vision during an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.

"I'll never spill all details, but damn—it was brilliant," McQuarrie told host Josh Horowitz. "Green Lantern actually grabbed me first—that concept is tricky. The power dynamics pose unique challenges."

"But I cracked it," he continued. "The fun came from showing the learning curve—introducing vulnerabilities into seemingly limitless abilities. The ring's recharge limitation isn't a flaw; it's genius. Infinite power with battery anxiety? That mechanic solves core story problems."

With characteristic humor, McQuarrie quipped, "The costume? Well... creative solutions exist!"

A Character-First Philosophy

McQuarrie's approach hinges on psychological depth rather than spectacle. "If you'd told childhood-me we'd have compelling Captain America or Thor films, I'd have laughed," he reflected. "That skepticism proves everything—when we reject concepts, we're rejecting our own limited understanding of them."

"Costumes aren't the hurdle—relatable stakes are," McQuarrie emphasized. "This realization reshaped how I approached Superman. Henry Cavill actually crystallized this—his character insights revealed incredible parallels between these heroes, creating natural conflict with universe-altering resolutions."

Unfilmed Visions

The director teased his ambitious opening sequence: "Picture Pixar's Up—five dialogue-free minutes establishing Superman's core fears and motivations through pure cinema. The scale would've been breathtaking."

While McQuarrie retains superhero bona fides (including uncredited work on Batman & Robin and X-Men), his Superman remains unrealized. Meanwhile, James Gunn's DCU reboot charts a fresh course with July's Superman relaunch.

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