Summary

• Wes Craven almost directed Superman IV, but left due to creative differences with Christopher Reeve.
• Craven's dark sensibilities could have revitalized the Superman character and offered a unique take.
• If Craven had directed Superman IV, the film might have been darker or satirical in tone.

Wes Craven is widely revered as a horror auteur, but the Nightmare on Elm Street director could have once helmed a live-action Superman movie, Craven had already directed the 1982 cult classic Swamp Thing. Based on the DC comic series of the same name, Craven’s superhero movie initially polarized critics but became a major success on home video and cable, and even spawned the 1989 sequel The Return of Swamp Thing.

But while Swamp Thing is a more niche character, Superman is one of DC’s flagship heroes. With Richard Donner directing the first two the pantheon of Superman movies.

Wes Craven Almost Made Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

The Horror Director Left Due To Creative Differences With Christopher Reeve

Following the release of Superman III, franchise producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind sold the rights to Cannon Films. This sale was the first red flag behind the production of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, as Cannon was known for low-budget action films. While their fast-paced, economic approach worked for cult movies like Lifeforce, it seemed like an unlikely studio to produce a fourth Superman movie. Wes Craven was roped in as a director for the project after having already directed classic horrors like The Hills Have Eyes and A Nightmare On Elm Street, and the superhero drama Swamp Thing.

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace was nominated for two Razzies: Worst ing Actress (Mariel Hemingway) and Worst Visual Effects.

Why Wes Craven Left Superman IV

Not much is known about the production details behind Wes Craven’s vision for Superman IV. The director reportedly quit the movie due to creative differences with Superman actor Christopher Reeve. As reported in the considered the worst Superman movie.

Could Wes Craven Have Saved Superman IV?

Craven’s Superman Movie Would Have Been Darker Or Satirical In Tone

Wes Craven was a director par excellence, but Cannon Film’s limited budget would have prevented him from helming the perfect Superman movie. After all, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’s final director, Sidney J Furie, was also a critically acclaimed auteur, having inspired future maestros like Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick. Even if Craven got his desired creative control, his filmography suggests that he might have made the fourth Superman movie darker or satirical in tone. From A Nightmare on Elm Street to Scream, Craven’s horror often subverted mainstream tropes with either creatively gruesome violence or meta self-aware humor.

But as Richard Donner’s case shows, Craven could have changed his trademark tone if he got the right budget and studio for a Superman movie. Much before 1978’s Superman and his acclaimed director’s cut of Superman II, Donner was known for directing the spine-chilling 1976 supernatural horror The Omen. Donner went down a polar opposite route with Superman, filling his narrative with “truth, justice and the American way.” So, Craven would have either directed Superman IV like a genre project in the same vein as his only DC movie, Swamp Thing, or he would have tried something totally different for the Superman movie.

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is available to stream on Max.