Michael Rosenbaum, who famously played Lex Luthor on the TV series Smallville, turned down an offer to appear as the character in the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event. While fans were disappointed, Rosenbaum explained his decision was a matter of self-respect.

According to Rosenbaum, the offer from Warner Bros. came at the last minute with three key problems:

1. No Script: He was given no script and had no idea what his character would be doing or saying in the scene.
2. No Details: He had no information on the context of the cameo or how it would fit into the larger story.
3. No Money: The financial offer was negligible and, in his view, disrespectful for the time and legacy he would be bringing back to the role.

Rosenbaum described the studio's offer as a "slap in the face" and felt they were simply trying to get a quick, cheap cameo without the professional courtesy of a proper script or fair compensation. He clarified that he would have "died to do it" if he had been approached with a good script and a respectable offer, but ultimately had to decline based on how it was handled.

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The article reviews and praises a clip from a fan-made, proof-of-concept film titled Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The central argument is that this short clip perfectly captures the true essence of the Fantastic Four by focusing on their family dynamic, something previous film adaptations have struggled with. The clip shows Reed Richards and Sue Storm on a space mission having a heartfelt video call with their young son, Franklin, who is back on Earth with the robot H.E.R.B.I.E.

This touching family moment turns ominous as Franklin's powerful psychic abilities manifest, allowing him to sense the terrifying approach of the world-devourer, Galactus.

The author praises the fan film for:

• Prioritizing Family: It establishes the Fantastic Four as a family first, a core element of their identity in the comics.
• A Perfect Introduction: Using Franklin's childhood fear to introduce a cosmic threat like Galactus is seen as a brilliant and effective storytelling choice.
• An Ideal Blueprint: The article concludes that this approach—grounding an epic, cosmic story in a personal, emotional moment—is the "perfect first step" and an ideal model for how the official MCU Fantastic Four movie should begin.

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The article from Nerdist highlights that James Gunn's upcoming film, Superman, will focus on two central themes: Superman's identity as an immigrant and his fundamental kindness.

Gunn's approach will explore the duality of Superman's heritage—how he balances being the last son of the aristocratic Kryptonian society with his humble upbringing by Kansas farmers. The article frames this as a classic immigrant narrative, where an outsider must reconcile their ancestral roots with the culture that adopted them.

This marks a significant shift from recent, darker portrayals of the character. Instead of a conflicted, god-like figure, Gunn's version will emphasize "basic human kindness" and compassion as Superman's defining trait and greatest strength. His goodness is not a weakness but the very core of who he is, inspired by the love and values instilled by his adoptive human parents.

Ultimately, the article sees Gunn's vision as a hopeful and necessary return to the optimistic essence of the character, promising a film that champions decency and compassion.

Visit https://nerdist.com/article/james-gunn-superman-tells-immigrant-story-highlights-basic-human-kindness/ to read or listen to the article.

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