Dean Cain's Superman Gets A Sharp Modern Redesign In DC Fan Art 26 Years After His Last Appearance
Fans have given Dean Cain's Superman a modern redesign, 26 years after his last appearance. This article explores the fan art, the reasons behind Dean Cain's absence as Superman, and the potential for his return in the DCU.
The Modern Redesign of Dean Cain's Superman
It has been 26 years since Dean Cain donned the blue and red suit of Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, but that hasn't stopped fans from giving him a sharp redesign depicting what he could look like in a modern appearance.
Lois (Terri Hatcher) & Clark (Dean Cain) promo shot for The New Adventures of Superman
David Coresnwet has been officially cast as the DCU's version of Clark Kent, but with so many callback cameos occurring in the DCU and MCU recently, fans have taken it upon themselves to theorize what modern iterations of these erstwhile heroes would look like. Dean Cain is the latest to receive the treatment, despite being one of the less well-known actors to portray Superman.
A post shared by @buffy2ville on Instagram revealed a small gallery of a now older Dean Cain back in the classic get-up but with several modern upgrades to the original. Several have borrowed from the mesh-like texture of Henry Cavill's supersuit, which is often lauded as one of the best Superman suits to appear on-screen. One of the more unique designs, meanwhile, has introduced a neon glow to the outline of his chest symbol. One thing that is for sure is that however these images were created, an older Cain still pulls off the look pretty well.
Instagram article posted by buffy2ville
Why Dean Cain's Superman Hasn't Appeared Again In Live Action
When even Nicolas Cage, whose doomed Superman project never even made it to the silver screen, has 'reprised' his role as an alternate-timeline Superman, it begs the question of why Dean Cain hasn't done the same.
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ran for nearly four years before it was canceled by ABC, but the Emmy-nominated show was popular viewing in the '90s. With that being said, Cain - who has appeared in relatively understated projects since his tenure as Superman - doesn't quite have the same star power as other Superman actors.
Interestingly, Cain has appeared in the Arrowverse - but not as Superman. Instead, he played the role of Jeremiah Danvers in Supergirl, which would have most likely precluded him from appearing in Crisis as Clark Kent. Another reason why Dean Cain has not reappeared as Superman could be, quite simply, that he is not interested. Either way, with James Gunn recently sparking debates over the concept of 'cameo porn' (i.e. cameos that are shoehorned in with no impact on the plot), it's incredibly unlikely that Cain will be a part of the DCU as Superman, meaning that Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was likely the last time.
The Potential for Dean Cain's Return as Superman
Dean Cain's absence as Superman in recent live-action adaptations has left fans wondering about the potential for his return. With the resurgence of interest in previous superhero actors, such as Nicolas Cage's upcoming role as Superman in an alternate timeline, the possibility of Dean Cain reprising his role cannot be ruled out.
While Cain's stardom may have waned compared to other Superman actors, his legacy as the Man of Steel in the '90s has not been forgotten. The fan art and discussions surrounding his modern redesign are a testament to the enduring appeal of his portrayal.
As the DCU and MCU continue to integrate past and present iterations of iconic characters, there may be opportunities for Dean Cain to make a cameo appearance as Superman, albeit in a meaningful and impactful way. Whether it's in a standalone Superman project or a crossover event, the prospect of Dean Cain returning as Superman remains a topic of interest among fans and industry insiders alike.
