Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Supergirl (2026)
The DC Universe's new Supergirl movie may feature a pretty unexpected reference to one of the most infamous chapters in DC movie history (again). Although the new DCU movie directed by Craig Gillespie is largely inspired by Tom King and Bilquis Evely's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic series, there are several deviations and changes. As such, one of them feels to me like a nod to Nicolas Cage and the infamous movie Superman Lives, one of the most well-known DC movies that never was.
Developed during the mid-to-late 90s, Superman Lives is one of the biggest "what ifs" in comic book movie history. Meant to be directed by Tim Burton and starring Nicolas Cage, the movie's ill-fated production has some pretty bizarre concept art, behind-the-scenes stories, and infamous demands from producers. As such, there have been several references and tributes featured in various DC projects that were released, and the new Supergirl movie may be the latest to continue the tradition.
Whether intentional or not, there is a key moment in the new DCU movie that may 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 tribute than the last one we saw in 2023's The Flash.
One of Supergirl's first action sequences features Sklarian Raiders, an all-female band of space pirates known for stealing advanced technologies across the galaxy, and first appeared 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 who crawl through the space bus Kara and Ruthye were on, seeking valuables from passengers while also taking apart the vessel piece by piece. As such, their inclusion feels like a pretty deliberate creative decision, especially considering one of the most infamous stories about 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 robotic spider, making the bizarre demand one of the most memorable parts of the unmade movie's production. Although Supergirl features much smaller robot spiders rather than one giant one, the parallel with Supergirl taking them all on in this new DCU movie feels like more than a mere coincidence.
While DC Studios hasn't confirmed the inspiration, the similarities are certainly enough to raise eyebrows. Robot spiders aren't especially common in Superman mythology, making 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 battling 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 wasn't representative of what he actually filmed, adding another layer of controversy to the already divisive scene.
There's another fun connection as well. Kevin Smith, whose original Superman Lives screenplay 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 robotic spiders were meant as a direct nod or simply a clever coincidence, they're exactly the kind of deep-cut Easter egg 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 greatest unfinished superhero movie continues to leave its mark on the Man of Steel's legacy.
Supergirl is now playing in theaters from DC Studios.
