The Insane Story of Tim Burton’s ‘Superman’ Movie

Over the years, I’ve been captivated by the concept of DC Comics movies that never quite saw the light of day. Among these unrealized projects, the one that stands out as the most intriguing and downright peculiar is Tim Burton’s proposed film, “Superman Lives”. This cinematic venture was scripted by Kevin Smith, the genius behind “Clerks”, produced by the legendary Jon Peters, and starred Nicolas Cage in a unique portrayal of Superman – a Man of Steel who ultimately met his demise.

Ultimately, we caught a glimpse (in a small role) of Nicolas Cage’s interpretation of Superman in the film The Flash. However, the movie itself would have been incredibly unconventional – much like the behind-the-scenes drama that surrounded its production. As the premiere of James Gunn’s Superman approaches, we revisit the tumultuous journey of Superman Lives, complete with battle scenes involving polar bears and colossal spiders.

Watch the insane story of the greatest Superman movie never made below:

If you enjoyed the video about Tim Burton’s untold Superman story, don’t forget to check out more videos below! We have one delving into James Gunn’s challenges with DC’s Batman movie, another highlighting the Easter eggs in the trailer for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, and a breakdown of the previous Superman trailer. You can find even more content over at ScreenCrush’s YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated on all our future episodes. Mark your calendars, as James Gunn’s Superman is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

’80s Foods We Wish They Still Made

Bonkers

In the 1980s, this sticky, fruity sweet was a common sight in stores. It gained fame for its peculiar advertisements, showcasing an ordinary, spectacled woman debunking myths about Bonkers (it’s not gum!), while gigantic fruits rained down, often hitting her family members. Quite bizarre — and it’s just as surprising that Bonkers were so well-liked during the decade, only to see a significant drop in market share shortly after, leading to its complete discontinuation a few years later. The most popular Bonkers flavors included grape, strawberry, but my personal preference was watermelon, which cleverly utilized the candy’s two-tone design, featuring a green exterior and a chewy red core.

C-3PO’s

For those who grew up as early fans of ‘Star Wars’, it’s highly likely you’re familiar with this breakfast treat. C-3PO characters were part of the merchandise wave tied to ‘Return of the Jedi’, and they were quite a hit in the mid-1980s. The cereal itself was rather ordinary – the oat, wheat, and corn pieces resembled two squashed Cheerios, with no connection to ‘Star Wars’. However, the boxes were fascinating. They had cut-out masks of popular characters on the back, and children of the ’80s would obsess over these masks, often wearing them rather than eating the cereal. This uneaten cereal, unfortunately, would sit untouched for months in pantries all across the galaxy.

Disney Pops

At Disney Parks and supermarkets worldwide, Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars continue to be a beloved treat from the past. However, during the 1980s, you could also find Disney-themed ice pops in stores. These fruit-flavored popsicles were available in grape, cherry, and orange flavors, shaped like Mickey, Donald, or Goofy. It’s a mystery why they stopped being produced, but the demand for Disney-themed ice pops remains strong today. I’d give just about anything to have a grape Donald one right now!

Ecto Cooler

In the annals of food products linked to movies, Ecto Cooler stands out as a legendary choice. This citrus-flavored, neon green drink, resembling juice but with a unique twist, was launched in the late ’80s, riding on the wave of popularity for the Ghostbusters cartoon. Despite the cancellation of the series and pauses in Ghostbusters movie production, Hi-C continued manufacturing Ecto Cooler into the early 2000s. In recent times, it has reappeared as a temporary offering around new Ghostbusters movie releases. The demand for this sugary beverage is so high that when it returns, bottles are often resold for tens or even hundreds of dollars, making it quite a chilling prospect!

Five Alive

Discussing citrus-based drinks: If you’re not fond of drinks associated with Ghostbusters, an alternative would be Five Alive. The name was derived from the five juices included in the drink (orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, and pineapple). Unfortunately, it was discontinued in the U.S. during the 1990s; however, it’s still available in Canada. If you happen to travel there, could you possibly pick up a carton for me? I’d really enjoy a glass of Five Alive at the moment.

Fruit Corners Fruit Bars

In the 1980s, the launch of Fruit Roll-Ups ignited a fruit snack craze that lasted the entire decade. Manufacturers like Fruit Corners, who produced Roll-Ups, along with their competitors, all tried to cash in on the seemingly healthy children’s junk food market. People were surprised to find that fruit could be unhealthy given its name!

Among all the imitators of Roll-Ups from this era, I, a person who lived through it and tasted each one, believe Fruit Corners Fruit Bars were the best. They combined the essence of Roll-Ups with the shape of a granola bar. The initial flavors included strawberry, cherry, grape, and orange-pineapple. To this day, I’ve been searching for a replacement for the taste of the cherries Fruit Bars, and I’m not kidding when I say I’ve been on this quest for decades. Fortunately, Today’s That’s It Apple and Cherry bars come pretty close!

Fruit Wrinkles

If Roll-Ups were too flattened out and Fruit Bars took on overly geometric shapes, there was also an option called Fruit Wrinkles that resembled jelly beans. Advertisements for this product highlighted its higher fruit content and lower sugar levels compared to similar products. Additionally, it had a greater number of wrinkles, it seems.

However, as the demand for more intricately shaped fruit snacks grew, often tied to popular children’s media, these simple Wrinkles lost their appeal and were eventually phased out.

Giggles

In recent times, Oreos dominate the sandwich cookie market, almost monopolizing an entire snack aisle segment, boasting an overwhelming variety of flavors. (The introduction of Sour Patch Kids Oreos was the last straw for me, I must admit.) Contrastingly, the 1980s saw a more diverse sandwich cookie market. One notable competitor was Giggles, resembling Oreos but filled with both chocolate and vanilla cream, along with a smiley face cookie (available in vanilla or chocolate versions). Frankly, given that Oreos are currently launching around 60 new flavors each week, it’s surprising they haven’t introduced one featuring both vanilla and chocolate fillings. It truly is an intriguing idea.

Hostess Pudding Pies

Hostess continues to be a dominant force in the snack food industry, famous for their variety of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and other single-serving cakes and goodies. They still produce Fruit Pies, but locating one of their popular pudding pies from the ’80s, which came in Vanilla or Chocolate flavors, could prove challenging.

One potential explanation for their disappearance: They were packed with fats and other unhealthy ingredients. Even today’s apple pies aren’t particularly nutritious; Hostess’ own website reveals that a single serving of their cherry pie contains eight grams of saturated fat and 25 grams of added sugars, which is half the daily recommended intake. (On the other hand: They were so delicious, who could resist?)

Jell-O Pudding Pops

In the 80s, it seemed like pudding was an obsession. Was it because there were no other dessert options? Regardless of the cause, pudding could be found in numerous forms: cups, pies, and even popsicles called Pudding Pops by Jell-O. They invested heavily in advertising these treats, offering flavors like vanilla, chocolate, or swirl. Bill Cosby was often seen in their commercials (they’ve held up surprisingly well). In a single year, Jell-O sold $100 million worth of Pudding Pops. However, as with all fads, the craze eventually died down, and the product line was discontinued.

Kudos

Do you recall the popular snack, Kudos? In the 80’s, it was a top-selling granola bar. The initial lineup included Chocolate Chip, Nutty Fudge, and Peanut Butter flavors, all produced by Mars. They were a unique blend of healthier granola bars and candy bars. People loved them, and for good reason! They continued to be manufactured until the 2010s when they were ultimately discontinued.

Mr. T Cereal

In the 1980s, Mr. T was one of the most prominent and puzzling figures in pop culture, primarily due to his roles in Rocky III and The A-Team, as well as his distinctive appearance with a mohawk, denim attire, and an impressive collection of gold chains. This fame extended to children’s entertainment, resulting in an unusual animated TV series where Mr. T portrayed a gymnastics coach who teamed up with his students to solve mysteries.

Later on, pieces shaped like the letter ‘T’ made from corn and oats, inspired by the show, became a popular cereal produced by Quaker. This cereal was sold between 1984 and 1993, and it even played a significant role in the opening sequence of Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, ensuring its popularity for many years.

O’Grady’s Chips

A victim of the 1980s potato chip rivalries: O’Grady’s, a brand that boasted about providing thicker sliced potatoes and a richer cheese flavor compared to regular chips. Devotees still rave about their Au Gratin chips, claiming they were significantly better (and more cheesy) than any comparable option available today.

Peanut Butter Boppers

This Reddit user perfectly describes the charm of this snack: “Boppers were essentially granola bars without the granola, but with all the goodness. As a peanut butter enthusiast, I still pine for Boppers today.” Indeed, those crunchy peanut butter-filled logs should make a comeback. Luckily, Nature Valley, the original manufacturer, provides a recipe for homemade Boppers on their website if you’d like to satisfy your craving in the interim.

Product 19

In the ’80s and ’90s, a peculiar cereal known as Product 19, packaged in a recognizable red box, was a regular sight on grocery store shelves. Kellogg’s marketed it by emphasizing its superior vitamin content, yet claiming it didn’t taste healthier than other cereals. Although some consumers might have bought cereals for their perceived nutritional value, this trend seems to have vanished, and Product 19 was ultimately discontinued in 2016.

Quackers

For several decades, children have relished the crunchy, cheesy flavor of Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish crackers. In an attempt to rival this product in the 1980s, Nabisco introduced Quackers – shaped like ducks instead of fish and offering a similar cheese taste. Interestingly, they also had a sour cream and onion version, which turned out to be quite tasty. However, by the late 1980s, Quackers had disappeared from the market, leaving Goldfish to swim unchallenged once more.

Slice

Pepsi occasionally launches a new lemon-lime soda to challenge Sprite from Coca-Cola and other competitors. Their current offering is Starry, with Sierra Mist coming before it, and Slice preceding that. Interestingly, Slice introduced additional flavors such as Mandarin Orange and Apple flavor after its debut (by the way, there’s a scarcity of apple-flavored sodas in the market).

When initially launched, Pepsi emphasized that Slice contained 10% fruit juice, making it a more natural option compared to other lemon-lime drinks. This strategy was successful for some time, but they eventually altered the drink’s formula and reduced the amount of juice. Despite this change in composition, Slice persisted through the 1990s, experimenting with different packaging designs and slogans before being replaced by Sierra Mist in Pepsi’s product portfolio in the early 2000s.

Sunkist Fun Fruits

Surprisingly, we’re not quite done with our walk down memory lane! Sunkist Fun Fruits, much like Wrinkles in appearance, were available in cherry, orange, strawberry, and grape flavors. Despite their Sunkist label, these delightful snacks were actually manufactured by Leaf Confections, who obtained the rights to use the Sunkist brand to lend an air of genuine sun-ripened sweetness to their product. Today, it’s General Mills who produces the modern versions of Sunkist Fruit Snacks.

Tato Skins

In the 1980s, there was just one unique potato chip product called Tato Skins, manufactured by Keebler. They made these chips using whole potatoes with skins on for a taste reminiscent of baked potatoes. The flavors available were Original, Sour Cream & Chives, Cheddar & Bacon, and Bar-B-Que. Although there’s a product resembling Tato Skins on the market today (known as “TGI Fridays Potato Skins Snacks”), die-hard fans of the original claim that nothing compares to the authentic taste of classic Tato Skins.

WWF Superstars of Wrestling Bars

In the 80’s, when Hulk Hogan and his wrestling comrades dominated the small screen, it was a golden opportunity to cash in on kids’ fascination with wrestling, and what better way than with a branded food item? The result was the delicious WWF Superstars Ice Cream Bars. These frozen delights were made from vanilla ice cream sandwiched between a vanilla cookie and a chocolate layer, topped with images of iconic wrestlers like “Macho Man” Randy Savage and the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase.

Though these treats were initially marketed during Hulkamania’s peak, they continued production even after the WWF’s popularity began to wane in the early 90’s. Despite being produced years after their initial success, these ice cream bars remained a favorite among fans. In fact, fond memories of these tasty treats sparked a brief revival in 2020, when Good Humor reintroduced a similar concept called “WWE Super Stars,” featuring modern wrestlers like John Cena and Roman Reigns on vanilla ice cream sandwiches (unfortunately not popsicles). While they were good, they didn’t last as long on store shelves as the original WWF ones.

2025-06-30 23:56