Kevin Smith

Smith's animated cameo in Superman: Doomsday.

Kevin Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, comic book writer, podcast host and comedian. He is best known for having helmed such films as Clerks (1994), Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), and Jersey Girl (2004).

Smith was hired in the 1990s to pen a script for a Superman film series reboot titled Superman Lives. When the project was cancelled following production issues, Smith has since spoken often and openly of the problems Superman Lives faced.

Superman works

• Superman Lives was intended to include a monster called a "Thanagarian Snare Beast" which resembled an Earth spider. The monster was created to satisfy the demands of producer Jon Peters, who insisted that Superman battle a giant spider. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. asked Smith to change its name so they don't refer to it as a spider. He came up with the title "Superman Lives", believing it to be better than Superman Reborn. The confirmed details of Smith's script can be seen in detail at the article entry on Kevin Smith Wiki. Smith threw out the idea of getting Tim Burton to direct. Ironically, this would cause Smith to be booted from the project after Burton was actually hired, as Burton strongly disliked his script.

• Smith appeared in an animated cameo in Superman: Doomsday, where he comments about the Superman clone busting up a mechanical spider, calling it lame.

• Smith directed the Supergirl second season episode "Supergirl Lives". The episode featured references to parts of the Superman Lives script such as the Thanagarian Snare Beast. The episode also featured his daughter Harley Quinn Smith in a role.

Trivia

• Smith provided the voice of Hal Jordan in the Duck Dodgers (2003) episode "The Green Loontern".
• Smith has frequently collaborated with Ben Affleck, whom he personally wanted to cast as Superman in Superman Lives.