ELSEWORDS: Alexander Salkind's treatment of Donner halted the project. (in truth, his treatment resulted in campy portions of Superman 2, largely thanks to Hackman's loyalty to Donner. Superman 3 and 4 are all Salkind's monstrosity) back to ELSEWORDS:
The backlash of Salkind's ignorance led to studios picking up the gritty neal Adams' based Batman starring Christopher Lambert in 1984. With the idea that DC's super heroes could come together in a live action movie, Superman would soar through Hollywood once again, in 1986.
Luthor's focus is now, almost entirely, on his scientific exploits. He successfully creates Metallo, a dirty journalists hit by a car after trying to escape Superman after a murder; so there's your big fight.
Bruno Mannheim and intergang aren't just city criminals, they're working for a higher purpose of which Superman doesn't find out; leading into a sequel.
No need for Lana Lang.
Craig Sheffer (age 26) as Superman
One life to Live; That was Then... This is Now
I found the perfect Superman. Would he be a good Kent? I think so. He has the good looks and dark, yet All-American, features needed. He's 6'2" and Lambert is 6'1"
Andie Mandowell (age 28) as Lois Lane
Greystoke: The Legend...; St Elmo's Fire
I don't want a damsel ALL of the time, so to find a woman that can be in trouble and need a rescue 1 scene and then tell Luthor, Kent, White, or whomever, to shove it the very next you need a great, believable actress, with stunning good looks.
Anthony Michael Hall (18) as Jimmy Olsen
National Lampoon's Vacation; various "Brat Pack" movies
He personifies Olsen more than any other person of this era. This is spot on casting.
Jack Lemmon (59) as Pa Kent
The Odd Couple; Avanti!
An extraordinary actor with a father-like quality. He looks like (1) a farmer and (2) a man that could raise a super-man. Face it, if he died, viewers would be very teary-eyed
Angela Lansbury (59) as Ma Kent
The Manchurian Candidate; Murder, She Wrote
She blows me away in every performance. She is, at least, in my top 10 best actresses ever. She would devastate as Ma Kent. There's only 1 set of shoulders that can bare the tears of the Man of Tomorrow, they belong to Lansbury.
Rip Torn (55) as Perry White
Beach Red; Coma
It's his voice, honestly. He's very funny in his delivery and I would enjoy him as that stereotypical, loud boss. "KENT, LANE, OLSEN GET IN HERE NOW!" "WHERE IS KENT?"
William Forsythe (30) as Metallo
Once Upon a Time in America; Savage Dawn
Somewhere I read something along the lines of "If you were the hero to his villainy, you'd be known as one of the greatest heroes ever." Something like that.
Harvey Keitel (46) as Bruno Mannheim
Mean Streets; Taxi Driver
The Baddest of the Bad. Keitel is a nut and might just be able to terrify the Big Blue Boy Scout.
Ben Kingsley (42) as Lex Luthor
Gandhi; Silas Marner
I wanted a younger, fresher Luthor, yet still weathered, stressed, and hungry. Kingsley could bring all of those and still personify the scientific side of luthor whilst not forgetting the "evil Donald Trump" persona.
Darkseid will be mentioned by Bruno, never yet seen.