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One of the most baffling pre-release reveals about The Flash movie was including a fan-favorite Man of Steel who never was. Nicolas Cage suits up as Superman for a brief cameo in The Flash, inexplicably seen fighting a giant spider.

However, this is a deep-cut, inside joke for those aware of the first time DC and Warner Bros. tried to reboot Kal-El for the big screen.

The revelation of this character came not from leaks but in an interview with director Andy Muschietti. “Although the role was a cameo, [Nicolas Cage] dove into it… I dreamt all my life to work with him. I hope I can work with him again soon,” he said.

The longtime Superman fan finally gets to play the character after almost suiting up for the role in a late 1990s film directed by Tim Burton called Superman Lives. At the time, fans were confounded at Burton’s choice for Kal-El. However, audiences are now starting to appreciate the National Treasure actor for being one himself.

When fans finally saw him in action, Cage’s Superman appeared in a scene fighting a giant spider. To understand why, one must know about the movie Tim Burton almost directed, based on a script by filmmaker Kevin Smith.