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Was The Long Haired Superman Ever Really A Confirmed Thing?

posted 10 months ago by FootOfDavros (6734)
6 replies | jump to latest

It's kind of amusing because this famous image of Cage has now canonised long haired Superman in a way due his cameo appearance in a more recent movie...

However is it confirmed in this documentary or elsewhere that for certain that would have been the case?

Just watched some footage from this when his hair length is briefly discussed but it's basically costume test fittings. The footage where he has long hair is from 1997. However in subsequent footage from '98 (with a darker looking costume being examined) he has short hair again.

Now obviously Nic wouldn't have his hair length set in either of these fittings for Superman Lives filming but rather whatever he'd been filming at the time. Plus Burton's concept sketch doesn't really confirm either way - more of a spiky Edward Scissorhands look.

So the question is - had this been settled in any way before the production fully collapsed?

[–] davodikum (5971) 10 months ago

I doubt he would have kept the locks for the role.

[–] FootOfDavros (6734) 10 months ago

I doubt it was really a thing either - Nic Cage says something about liking the length he has it at one point but I don't think Burton replied with anything either way.

It's basically become a myth which has now become a reality purely from the costume test shots...

[–] davodikum (5971) 10 months ago

Pretty sure he just had to keep the locks cause he was simultaneously filming con air, I assume. But fuck me, I would kill to see nic cage as superman sporting that haircut .

[–] FootOfDavros (6734) 10 months ago

Pretty sure he just had to keep the locks cause he was simultaneously filming con air...

I had been thinking that as well - although apparently that was shot in '96 and Face / Off in early '97, so maybe he was growing it again after that... Or maybe the attributed dates on the documentary are just off.

[–] davodikum (5971) 10 months ago

I'd say they are off.

[–] FootOfDavros (6734) 10 months ago

Yeah, I think they are - I checked out the premiere photos from Con Air, Face / Off and the next couple of films Cage was credited with. All short hair.

So seems the documentary dates are off and that footage is from '96 - Therefore the legend of long hair Superman may only exist due to Con Air!