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Man of Steelis a 2013 superhero movie that is based on the DC Comic character of Superman. It was a box office success, and Henry Cavill as Superman was widely accepted because of how he looked as the character in the movie. But Zack Snyder’s film sparked controversy with its ending.
At the conclusion ofMan of Steel,after a brutal aerial battle in Metropolis with General Zod, Superman snaps Zod’s neck when the villain attacks a trapped family with his heat vision. The criticism of this scene mainly arises from the fact that Superman typically adheres to a strict “no-kill” rule (in the comics and other adaptations).
David S. Goyer, the screenwriter, already knew about the fan backlash triggered by the scene inMan of Steelwhere Superman kills Zod. He knew deviating from Superman’s “no-kill” rule (especially due to stress) would go against canon and be very distressing to fans.
No doubt, the deleted scene inMan of Steelcould have made Superman’s decision less traumatic and provided context for it. But according to the original plan, it could have also twisted the plot for the future course of action flick.
Also read:Man of Steel Star Amy Adams is the Only Actor Who Was Happy After Losing an Oscar
A Deleted Scene inMan of SteelCould Have Twisted the Storyline
Zack Snyder’s 2013Man of Steelstrongly introducesHenry Cavill‘s Superman in the DCEU. It delved into his backstory, including some tender scenes with his adoptive human parents — Jonathan and Martha Kent.
But a deleted scene from the movie would have depicted a young Clark Kent hunting with his father. As reported by theCollider, David S. Goyer, the screenwriter ofMan of Steel,said that after they kill a deer, Jonathan uses the moment to teach Clark about the gravity of taking a life.
This instills a strong moral code in him that would shape his career as Superman. This scene would have provided insight into Superman’s controversial decision to kill General Zod at the film’s end. As the writer said:
“Ironically there was a scene we wrote that didn’t get filmed in which Jonathan takes young Clark hunting and they kill a deer, and young Clark is just gutted by the act and Jonathan says, ‘It’s a powerful thing to take a life, even if you’re forced to take a life.'”
Goyer also clarified that the scene was never shot, so there’s no chance of it appearing in a Snyder cut or an alternate film version.
Also read:“I like this relationship”: Henry Cavill Was Glad Zack Snyder Didn’t Follow the Comics for His Affair With Amy Adams’ Lois Lane in Man of Steel
The Controversial Scene inMan of Steelwas Essential for Character Development
For years, fans have criticized Superman’s decision to kill Zod inMan of Steel. But David S. Goyer revealed that this controversial scene was always meant to be a central aspect of Superman’s character development. He said:
“I absolutely understand a lot of people had problems with it. When I have had a hand in adapting these things, you wanna be as respectful to the core material as possible but you also can’t protect against failure. You have to take big swings.”
Goyer admitted by adding that DC’s editorial staff also greenlighted the decision:
“It doesn’t mean it wasn’t a mistake, but if you sit there and you say, ‘I don’t wanna take any risk. I’m worried I might offend a portion of the audience,’ I don’t think that’s a particularly healthy way to attempt to make a film or a television show.”
So, it’s clear that Goyer was aware of the controversy triggered by the villain’s death. Not including a deleted scene (that was never shot) was his ultimate plan for the future course of character development.
WatchMan of Steelon Max.
Also read:“First and Last DCEU movie”: Zack Snyder Fans Go Insane Over Hidden Detail in Jason Momoa’s Aquaman 2 That Links Movie to Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
