Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Supergirl (2026)
The DC Universe is new Supergirl movie may contain a rather unexpected reference to one of the most infamous chapters in DC film history (again). Although the new DCU film directed by Craig Gillespie is largely inspired by Tom King and Bilquis Evelys Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comics there are several deviations and changes. As such, one of them feels to me like a nod to Nicolas Cage and the infamous film Superman livesone of the most famous DC movies that never was.
Developed in the mid to late 90s, Superman lives is one of the biggest “what ifs” in comic book movie history. Set to be directed by Tim Burton and starring Nicolas Cage, the film’s ill-fated production features some pretty bizarre concept art, behind-the-scenes stories, and infamous producer demands. As such, there have been multiple references and homages in various DC projects was published, and the new Supergirl film may be the latest to continue the tradition.
Whether it’s intentional or not, there’s a key moment in the new DCU movie that could very well be an homage to Nicolas Cage’s Superman and the bizarre threats he was meant to fight, while also being a much better homage than the last one we saw in 2023’s. The Flash.
DCU’s Supergirl Movie Features Robot Spiders (Seriously)
One of Supergirl’s first action sequences feature the Sklarian Raiders, an all-female group of space pirates known for stealing advanced technology across the galaxy, first appearing in the comics back in 1977. However, the new DCU gives these raiders a new weapon not seen on the page: a horde of robotic spiders that crawled through the space shuttle while Kara and Ruthy passengers also crawled through the space shuttle while they could see the space bus. separate the tub piece by piece. As such, their inclusion feels like a fairly deliberate creative decision, especially considering one of the most infamous stories of Burton’s Superman lives.
Superman lives’ screenwriter Kevin Smith has repeatedly recounted how an overzealous studio executive insisted that Nicolas Cage’s Superman fight a giant robot spider, making the bizarre demand one of the most memorable parts of the unmade film’s production. Although Supergirl has much smaller robot spiders instead of a giant one, paralleling Supergirl taking them all on in this new DCU movie feels like more than just a coincidence.
Was this another homage to Nicolas Cage’s Superman life?
Although DC Studios has not confirmed the inspiration, the similarities are certainly enough to raise eyebrows. Robot spiders aren’t very common in the Superman mythology, which makes their sudden appearance in Supergirl feel like more than a coincidence.
If it was intentional, it also works as a much more natural homage than DC’s previous Nicolas Cage callback. In 2023’s The Flash, audiences briefly saw Cage’s Superman fight a giant spider during the multiverse sequence. Although the cameo generated plenty of headlines, it also received criticism for its CGI-heavy execution. Cage himself later revealed that the sequence was not representative of what he actually filmed, adding another layer of controversy to the already divisive scene.
There is also another fun connection. Kevin Smith, whose original Superman Lives script included the infamous spider after studio pressure, later directed an episode of the Arrowverse’s Supergirl titled “Supergirl Lives”. The episode even included a sly reference to a Thanagarian Snare Beast, the name Smith gave the giant spider he was required to include in his script.
Whether Supergirl’s robot spiders were intended as a direct nod or just a clever coincidence, they’re exactly the kind of deep-cut Easter eggs James Gunn’s DCU has become known for. For fans who have followed the long, strange history of Superman Lives, it’s another entertaining reminder that even Hollywood’s biggest unfinished superhero movie continues to leave its mark on the Man of Steel’s legacy.
Supergirl now playing in theaters from DC Studios.
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