11) Nicolas Cage
Let’s start with the most famous almost-Superman ever. After the success of his Batman movies, Tim Burton was hired to helm a Superman reboot, Superman Lives. Despite the film going through several redrafts from different writers (including Kevin Smith) and a release date planned for 1998, the project eventually disintegrated. Nevertheless, Burton did hire his (peculiar) choice for the Man of Steel when the film was still operational – and it was none other than self-confessed comic book fan Nicolas Cage.
Though he didn’t get to shoot any material, Cage did attend several costume fittings. As you can see, he would have sported a mullet and a more metallic outfit. We’ve no idea how the actor would have fared in the role, but his casting has become the stuff of movie legend ever since.