"Superman Returns": The Singer Cut
Fri, November 13, 2009 
If you are familiar with the back and forth enjoyed by internet fandom via forums and blogs it shouldn't be a surprise to you that "Superman Returns" split the fans right down the middle. Fans complained, they rejoiced, and then they complained again. They argued that Superman shouldn't be able to lift an island littered with kryptonite and whether or not Superman's kid was conceived in a silver Mylar bed in "Superman 2". I use the past tense but fans are still talking about it. In some respects it doesn't really matter that fans are still clamoring for more Superman, the general public has long since forgotten Singer's attempt to bring Superman back to the big screen. For one group of fans, they want more, the full "Superman Returns" experience if you will.
Latino Review has somehow unearthed a site called Superman Returns: The Bryan Singer Cut which encourages visitors to sign a petition to release "Superman Returns" as it was originally intended. Scenes that would be revealed include a lengthy sequence of Superman's journey to Krypton which was originally the opening of the film. Numerous additional scenes in Smallville that would help to cement Bryan Singer's original vision, which was the world had moved on without Superman. Some other notable scenes that were cut include a scene where Clark Kent changes into Superman inside a janitor's closet, a nod to classic comics and the television show. The scene was removed because Superman "coming out of the closet" didn't quite help with the marketing for the film. A video on the site splices together some of these scenes but has since been removed.
Let's be honest, even if these scenes were still in the film that we all either hated or loved in 2006, it wouldn't have made a difference. The movie would have been longer and still wouldn't have featured a supervillian or action involving said villian. Superman still would have had a kid and Singer still would have moved on to do Valkyrie instead of quickly jumping on a sequel to "Superman Returns" to beat the strike. Bryan Singer has said that the version of "Superman Returns" that was released was the director's cut.
"The director’s cut. No, this is the director’s cut. You just saw it. They don’t tell me what to cut. I’m not a place in my career that anyone tells me that I have to cut anything or put anything in.”
Whether you sign the petition or not these scenes were most likely be released somewhere down the road in some medium. Unless the rumors are true that Bryan is the only one who actually has the footage. Then things might get a little sticky
Phil Gee
Just to add to Peter's post. I have no doubt that we will see the deleted return to Krypton sequence one day. The majority of the deleted scenes were on the initial DVD so I don't see much of a point. Leave it to the over-eager fan-cutters to give us the, ahem 'Singer Cut'.
While we wait for the real thing though, you really should check this fan made version of it. With just the use of concept art and music, this guy really does a good job:
Reader Comments (1)
yes Singer said that this was hes directors cut.
but i was angry that they didnt realese the Krypton scene. i think Singer said that it was not on the DVD and BR because its meant to be seen on IMAX. if he really said this then he is stupid. i mean stupid like .....stupid.