When Avatar was released in 2009, it broke box office records and made 3D movies popular again. Unfortunately, its success created a troubling trend where studios lazily converted blockbusters into 3D, creating a murky (and often surprisingly flat) experience for theatergoers.
No one ever really put in the same level of effort as James Cameron, but Zack Snyder has now revealed that his fellow filmmaker pushed him to shoot Man of Steel in native 3D.
"We had a meeting with Jim Cameron - I think it was right before we did Superman - and he was wanting us to, shoot the movie natively in 3D," Snyder recalls. "And I was like, 'Uh, yes, Jim. That's a great idea.'"
"But then the film...that was problematic...because you need two cameras all the time. So that would have been...yeah," he concluded, suggesting the process was ultimately too complicated and expensive. Man of Steel was released in 3D, but it was another of the conversions that killed interest in the format before Avatar: The Way of Water came along last December.
Shooting Man of Steel in 3D would have made it a real sight to behold, especially during those scenes set on Krypton and the action-packed final battle.
It's easy enough to understand why Snyder decided against heading down this route, anyway, because he was busy enough clashing with Warner Bros. over the darker direction he was taking Superman in. Ultimately, the reboot was a moderate success, though it's become increasingly divisive in the years that followed, particularly with how Kal-El was portrayed in the final act.
In fact, we haven't had a solo Superman movie since, with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice taking the place of Man of Steel 2. However, James Gunn will start over with 2025's Superman: Legacy.
Would you like to see a true 3D superhero movie?