What If: Superman lll (1983)

What if Superman 3 had been released the way it SHOULD have been?

Superman III is a 1983 superhero film based on the DC Comics character Superman, portrayed by Christopher Reeve. It is the third installment in the Superman film series and the sequel to Superman II (1980). Directed by Richard Lester and written by David and Leslie Newman, it was produced by the film stars Reeve, David Bowie, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn, Margot Kidder, and Helen Slater.

This film differs significantly from the final film, focusing on cosmic threats rather than corporate sabotage. In the film, Brainiac was the main villain, shrinking cities and possessing a mechanical bird. Supergirl appears, but this time not as a cousin, but as a New Kryptonian and interdimensional adventurer, Mr. Mxyzptlk. The fifth-dimensional imp is incorporated into the plot to sow chaos. Brainiac brings chaos to Earth, leading to a confrontation between Superman, Brainiac, and Mxyzptlk. Superman battles Brainiac and Mister Mxyzptlk. Supergirl makes a cameo appearance. So, here, the plot is expanded on a smaller scale, with the outline envisioning a father-daughter relationship between Brainiac and Supergirl. This is a much better story than what we actually get.

The film would be released in 1983, produced by Dovemead Ltd. and International Film Production, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. As a result, the film, like its predecessors, becomes a box office success and receives positive reviews. The result: 1984's Supergirl goes to Warner Bros. instead of TriStar Pictures, and Superman IV is released as a 135-minute film with higher profits and doesn't go to Cannon.