By Charles Wilson Coming off the success of The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan, who served as a producer on Man of Steel, recommended Zack Snyder for a gritty and grounded Superman story. Nolan, who has been an admirer of Snyder’s knack for iconography, deemed the conversation between a young Clark Kent and Pa Kent, played by Kevin Costner, his favorite scene (via THR).
The moment in Man of Steel where Kevin Costner tells young Clark that whatever his origin, he’s still his son puts a lump in my throat every time,
It’s easy to see where Nolan is coming from, as witnessing a parent’s unconditional love for their child unfold onscreen can truly touch heartstrings. But beyond Pa Kent’s love for his son, it’s the advice that preceded that statement that had divided fans, the suggestion that Clark should’ve let the kids die to protect his identity.
While it’s understandable why Pa Kent won’t want Clark’s powers to be exposed, his comments are a departure from what fans have come to expect from Pa Kent, who often offers guidance for his son.
Christopher Nolan Initially Had Reservations About Man of Steel‘s Ending
Although Nolan didn’t explicitly discuss his take on the entire conversation between Pa Kent and Clark, he did have reservations about the most polarizing moment in the movie, the ending.
Superman snapping Zod’s neck was a major no-no for fans of the character, not to mention the destruction and loss of lives in Metropolis. Interestingly, Christopher Nolan himself wasn’t too thrilled by the prospect of Superman killing Zod in cold blood, and the original ending would’ve seen Zod and his army being sucked into the Phantom Zone.
David S. Goyer revealed that both he and Snyder found the conclusion unsatisfying, and eventually convinced Nolan to incorporate the uncomfortable scene by putting Superman in a corner.
Killing Zod was a big thing and Chris Nolan, originally, said there’s no way you can do this… Originally Chris didn’t even want to let us try to write it and Zack and I said, ‘We think we can figure out a way that you’ll buy it.’
Even with the DCEU buried, the ending and gloomy approach to Superman continue to spark debates among fans.
Were Audiences Too Harsh on Man of Steel‘s Depiction of Pa Kent
Coming back to Pa Kent and his controversial words for a young Clark, this interpretation has indeed left a lasting impression, but not for the right reasons. Although one could argue, it fits the bill for a more grounded and jaded reality as opposed to more traditional versions, like James Gunn’s Superman, the way Pa Kent was handled still left a lot to be desired.
Apart from Pa Kent’s word of wisdom, the way he dies stands as another divisive moment. Even though it’s not uncommon for him to die in comics and movies, the issue here relies on the way it was executed. Unlike Christopher Reeve’s Superman, where Pa Kent dies because of a heart attack, teaching Clark that even with all his powers, he just can’t save everybody, in Snyder’s version, he dies from a tornado.
What made the moment in the 1978 movie hit hard because Clark could literally do nothing, but in the 2013 movie, Pa Kent asks Clark not to reveal his true identity to the world, and honestly, it doesn’t have the same impact.
Hopefully, with enough distance from the movie and the Snyderverse as a whole, we will be able to experience it in a new light once the DCU finally delivers us an authentic DC universe.
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Man of Steel is currently streaming on Max (USA).
