Man of Steel's most controversial scene. Directed by Zack Snyder, the 2013 Man of Steel kicked off the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Although the film received mixed reviews upon release, critics and fans praised Henry Cavill's portrayal of the titular superhero. The actor subsequently reprised the role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League (2017).
Snyder and screenwriter, David S. Goyer's, more grounded approach to Superman polarized much of the audience. The film uses a non-linear narrative approach to dissect Clark Kent's psyche and what makes him the superhero he needs to be to defeat General Zod (Michael Shannon). With the Kryptonian warrior and Superman fighting for the future of the Earth, Clark realized that he needed to kill Zod to save everyone. The act caused immense pain for superhero but also proved to be one of the most controversial moments in Superman's cinematic history.
While sharing his opinions to GQ regarding past Superman and Batman portrayals in the film and television, Smith defended Man of Steel's most controversial scene. The director acknowledged that many of the moment's detractors argue that Superman is a person who doesn't kill. However, Smith recalled that Man of Steel was not the only movie the character killed another on-screen previously. In fact, Superman killed Zod in the beloved Superman II starring Christopher Reeve. Read what Smith said below:
His Superman very controversially snapped General Zod's neck, which I didn't quite understand was controversial because in Superman II, General Zod is also killed in the Fortress of Solitude. They just presumably leave his body.
So, when people are like, "Hey man, this ain't Superman," I'm like, "I don't know. Superman was killing people in the 70s and the 80s, as well."
Would Superman Still Be This Dark In A Man Of Steel 2 Movie?
Smith's confusion at Superman's decision to kill in Man of Steel is apt as fans have previously shown no issue regarding Zod's murder in Superman II. Taking into the context surrounding both scenes, the Superman II moment seems particularly worse than its Man of Steel counterpart. In Snyder's film, Zod was threatening a family trapped in the path of his heat vision. If Superman did not kill him at that moment, the family would die a brutal death. To save the family, and eventually the human race, Superman had to kill Zod. However, in Superman II, Clark removed Zod's powers, effectively turning him into a human. Superman then casually lifts the Kryptonian general and throws him down a seemingly bottomless chasm, killing him. With Zod no longer posing Superman a threat at that moment, the villain's murder seems particularly cruel.
Earlier this week, Warner Bros. revealed that the studio was looking to continue the Man of Steel story with a sequel. However, considering the backlash to Zod's death, and the overall dark and joyless tone of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, some have speculated if the potential sequel will maintain its predecessor's darker tone, or follow in the footsteps of DCEU films like Shazam! and Aquaman which took an even-handed page from the lighter-toned approach of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the debate over Zod's death still raging in certain corners of DCEU fandom, perhaps the Man of Steel sequel can address the controversy head-on to illustrate how such a drastic action affected the hero's development.
Source: GQ
