Christopher McQuarrie’s Epic Superman Vision Inspired by Pixar’s Up!

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Christopher McQuarrie, a skillful writer and director in the action genre, recently released Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). Despite his expertise, he hasn’t ventured into superhero movies yet. However, there was a point when he almost dabbled in this sub-genre by directing a Superman film. Remarkably, McQuarrie had plans to imbue the Superman project with an “epic” touch reminiscent of Pixar’s beloved movie, Up.

During the time when the DC Extended Universe was active, McQuarrie proposed Green Lantern and Superman films to Warner Bros. Pictures. Notably, his Superman project would have been a continuation of Man of Steel. Regarding the opening minutes of his movie, McQuarrie described how they would depict the life of Henry Cavill’s character, Kal-El/Clark Kent.

Initially, let me set the scene for the opening minutes of my Superman film – it’s reminiscent of Pixar’s animated masterpiece, Up, with a dialogue-free sequence that unfolds the backstory of Krypton. This introductory segment, lasting five minutes, served as an engaging setup. It revealed the core motivations and deepest fears of Superman, making it crystal clear why he acted as he did throughout the movie. The cinematic scope presented during these few minutes would have been nothing short of awe-inspiring, offering viewers an extraordinary glimpse into the grandeur of this iconic story.

In an interview on “Happy Sad Confused,” director Christopher McQuarrie discussed his vision for his Superman film, and mentioned that he’s already developed the storyline for Top Gun 3 as well. I can’t help but feel this would have been extraordinary, mirroring the poignant tone of Pixar’s “Up,” a film that beautifully depicts Carl and Ellie’s life journey (available to stream with a Disney+ subscription). Many share my sentiment that it remains one of the most moving introductions to any movie.

McQuarrie’s concept brings to mind Zack Snyder’s Watchmen film, which used its opening credits to narrate the history of superheroes from World War II to 1985, accompanied by Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” Here, I envision a similar sequence focusing on Superman’s more profound aspects and explaining why he uses his powers for the protection of innocents. Instead of kryptonite being his greatest fear, it might be that, despite his immense power, he can’t save everyone.

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Unfortunately, “Man of Steel 2” failed to take flight, but we did catch more of Henry Cavill’s Superman in films like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, both versions of “Justice League”, and “Black Adam”. It’s a shame that in our world, the DCEU didn’t continue with Christopher McQuarrie directing the Superman movie he described as “fantastic” during his interview with Josh Horowitz. However, I remain hopeful for a reality where such a film gets made someday.

Starting soon, a fresh chapter unfolds in Superman movie lore as James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ debuts on July 11, showcasing David Corenswet as the latest portrayal of the Kryptonian hero within the DC Universe. Additionally, we’ll spend time with his cousin Kara Zor-El, brought to life by Milly Alcock, in ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ set for release next year.

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2025-05-27 00:37