We open on the bustling streets of METROPOLIS, a modern American city:
Inside his small apartment, we watch
CLARK KENT amidst his morning routine (shaving with heat vision, putting on his lead-speckled glasses, etc.) as he catches up with
MA and
PA KENT via FaceTime / Skype. Ma is excited by Clark’s recent heroics (highlighted in Daily Planet newspaper clippings plastered across his apartment wall)—
“How’s the suit fit? Is it riding up in the crotch?”
We meet Clark’s neighbors, army vet
JOHN HENRY IRONS and his young niece
NATASHA. Clark and John are good friends; they have plans for drinks later.
We follow Clark on his morning commute, purposefully choosing not to use his super speed. But the peace is interrupted by
RUDY JONES / PARASITE who is terrorizing downtown, absorbing the life forces of unfortunate commuters and eventually the electricity from the train tracks itself.
Looks like a job for
SUPERMAN. Clark sneaks away and re-emerges as Metropolis’ hero in a reimagined adaptation of the classic Fleischer suit.
In action against Parasite, Superman is effective but still inexperienced. Where he succeeds is his
compassion—Clark sees that Jones is frightened, lashing out for help as his thirst grows unquenchable. Superman subdues Jones with a non-violent approach (using his freeze breath) just in time as the major crimes unit led by
MAGGIE SAWYER and
LT. DAN TURPIN arrive to secure the area.
When gathered press and bystanders question Superman about the property damage and lives lost in the fight and why he doesn't try to "fix the world" with his power, he responds earnestly in a speech emphasizing the folly of lawless violence and the greater good that is found within everyone. His response is live-streamed:
“My Pa used to teach me that the grace of mankind is everywhere, you just have to be open to seeing it. Humanity has a limitless potential for good…I just want to help us reach that potential.”
Later at the Daily Planet, Clark arrives amidst journalists bustling back-and-forth in response to Superman’s speech, which is trending across the globe. Before
PERRY WHITE can yell at Clark for being late, he submits his already-written article on Superman/Parasite much to the annoyance and bewilderment of rival reporter
LOIS LANE. We also meet the rest of the Daily Planet cast: photographer
JIMMY OLSEN who flaunts his wristwatch given to him by Superman, managing editor
RON TROUPE, and gossip columnist
CAT GRANT who openly flirts with Clark in the bullpen.
Meanwhile inside LexCorp tower, the tallest building on the Eastern seaboard, we meet
LEX LUTHOR in his office and learn he was involved in the Parasite incident in an effort to draw out Superman to study him. Across a bank of monitors is a freeze frame of Superman addressing the people. Luthor’s personal assistant and bodyguard,
MERCY GRAVES, takes notes.
“Set up a meeting, Mercy. It’s time we had some heroes of our own.”
Later, Clark, John, and Jimmy bump into Lois at Bibbo’s Bar. Before Lois can make a quick exit, she’s convinced into having a round with them. Clark and Lois have a playful banter and rivalry but she’s more interested in Superman, and taking down Lex Luthor. She’s been investigating and has learned that Rudy Jones was a former employee of LexCorp that went missing 3 months ago, and might be connected to rumors of metahuman testing…
A breaking new story involving the war in Biaalya and Quaraac on the television catches their attention with reports of a mysterious bio-weapon on site. Clark excuses himself, and Lois and Jimmy leave for LexCorp immediately after—Lois was at the bar to pickpocket
DABNEY DONOVAN’s security badge, which she’s been holding in her purse this whole time.
John, now sitting alone, orders another round from
BIBBO BIBBOWSKI.
In Bialya, Superman arrives to find both civilians and soldiers fleeing from the deployed BIO-WEAPON, a techno-organic monstrosity that’s destroying the city.
[We meanwhile follow Lois and Jimmy as they sneak into LexCorp tower to the genetics labs using Dabney’s badge.]
As Superman faces against the bio-weapon, he’s assisted by the sudden appearance of new heroes:
-
MANCHESTER BLACK, telepath & telekinetic
-
COLDCAST, electro manipulation
-
MENAGERIE, symbiotic alien parasites
-
HAT, magician
[Inside LexCorp, Lois and Jimmy find the lab already scrubbed of any incriminating evidence. Luthor was prepared. They’re captured by security and brought before Luthor who, after denying any involvement in the Parasite incident, gives Lois and Jimmy the full exclusive for earth’s newest heroic craze— THE ELITE.]
MONTAGE showcasing The Elite’s heroics, punctuated with Luthor’s many media appearances and interviews to spread the group's popularity— “Lex Luthor’s own Supermen”
Clark remains cautiously optimistic— even if Luthor is trying to spite Superman, the Elite are still doing good across the globe. He observes their activities along one of his robotic
KELEX drones at the Fortress of Solitude. He hopes he’s doing enough to make his parents proud…
Lois meanwhile continues to investigate. An analysis provided by Star Labs shows a link between Parasite and bio-weapon energy signatures—proving a potential link to the two, but not to Luthor. She thinks Luthor was staging events to manipulate public opinion.
Secretly, Clark’s excited by the possibility of others like him (expressing as much to Ma on their weekly phone call).
He and The Elite rescue civilians on a subway train trapped underwater due to a terrorist attack. The terrorists are nearly killed by Manchester (who we’ve noticed becoming more radicalized during his heroics) but after Superman stops him, Hat teleports the Elite away, leaving Superman concerned about his newfound friends…
Back at base, The Elite are reprimanded by Luthor for the unsanctioned mission at the subway. But Manchester rebels, clearly radicalized, and tosses Luthor across the room before he and The Elite depart for parts unknown…
Later, Black broadcasts a message to the planet, announcing that the Elite intends to deal with villains…of all kind… lethally. Luthor does not panic but instead sees an opportunity and orders Mercy to orchestrate the escape of Parasite again, knowing it will pit his adversaries against each other.
Superman flies to stop Parasite but he’s inadvertently hit by a Coldcast-generated neutrino pulse that greatly weakens him. Superman is saved by the timely intervention of the the Elite.
Amidst the fight between Parasite and The Elite, John pushes his niece out of the way of falling debris but is injured as a result.
Superman spots a LexCorp transmitter on Parasite’s hide that’s causing him distress and incinerates it (along with any incriminating evidence), ending the mayhem. But when the crowd, including young Natasha Irons, demands vengeance, Parasite is executed by Manchester. Superman punches Manchester as a smile spreads across Luthor’s face…
The Elite inform Superman that, in the interests of peace, they have also killed both the Quaraac and Bialyan leaders, and regard Superman's adverse reaction as a declaration of war as the crowd cheers.
A defeated Superman returns home to Smallville and reconnects with Ma and Pa:
“Sometimes ‘truth, justice, and a better tomorrow’ just doesn’t make them feel better, son. They want easy answers. Quick results.”
“So is Black right? The best way to fight demons is to become one? Because it’s fast and easy?”
“Of course not, Clark. But you can’t just talk to someone like that. You have to
teach them there’s a better way.
Lead by example.”
Meanwhile, Lois is approached by
VERA BLACK who provides her with the truth about The Elite including detailed personnel files on the group, revealing their powers and weaknesses. Manchester Black grew up in an abusive home protecting his young sister (alluded to be Vera) before recruited by Luthor after the emergence of Superman two years ago. He and the other Elite members were granted immunity to use their powers for sanctioned missions.
Superman returns to confront Luthor about his involvement in Parasite and unleashing the Elite. But Luthor reminds Superman that he burned away any evidence tying him to Parasite and that Manchester Black is a soldier who left rank, so Luthor cannot implicated of any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, they’re momentarily aligned and he encourages Superman to fight the Elite— whoever loses, Luthor wins.
Lois uses Jimmy’s wrist watch to contact Superman and he leaves Luthor. On the roof of the Daily Planet, Lois gives Superman the information she has from Vera Black but urges him not to fight the Elite. He comforts her and takes the files before flying away, knowing what he must do…
The next day, Superman informs the Elite that he is willing to fight them but away from the civilian populace. So Hat teleports both parties to the Moon, and broadcasts the fight worldwide—with all of our characters watching, including impressionable young Natasha Irons in John’s hospital room.
While Superman is able to withstand and counter the attacks of Coldcast, Menagerie and Hat, he is brought to his knees by Manchester's telekinetic attack. Coldcast unleashes a massive blast of electromagnetic energy, seemingly obliterating Superman.
Moments later, the disconcerted voice of Superman begins to taunt the Elite, stating that he has finally been convinced that he needs to start killing villains— beginning with the Elite.
Manchester orders Hat to teleport them to Metropolis, hoping to use the innocent civilians as cover before Superman. Reappearing in a blur of movement, Superman begins to take out the Elite one by one; first, he injects Menagerie with a poison before seemingly throws Coldcast into orbit. Superman suffocates Hat with a super-speed generated whirlwind.
Superman reappears in person (Natasha cheers in front of the TV screen) and confronts an increasingly desperate Manchester. After a stunning battle, Superman is once again psychically attacked but the assault fails to harm him— he used his heat vision to partially lobotomise Manchester, stripping him of his powers.
Believing his death to be seconds away, Manchester tells Superman that the world knows he is no better than they are and thus unable to be trusted. However, Superman reveals that The Elite were not killed but transported to the Fortress of Solitude and stripped of their power (with Kelex’s help, and Vera’s notes).
“If you think I’ll just go in a jail cell and rot, you’re living in a dream world!”
“Good. Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us into something better. And until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice are a reality we all share, I’ll never stop fighting. Ever.”
The people of Earth realize that violence and killing were incompatible with the tenets of justice, and ultimately accept that Superman.
As the film concludes, Lois Lane gets the headline uncovering illegal genetic experiments at LexCorp but Luthor denies any involvement and instead throws Dabney Donovan under the bus.
Clark visits John in the hospital and speaks with Natasha, inspired by her confidence in Superman.
The film ends with Superman flying away, off to save the day.
SUPERMAN WILL RETURN.
POST CREDITS:
Luthor approaches John Irons recovering in his hospital room with
GENERAL WADE EILING.
“You want to be of use to your country, son?”
(teasing Steel story adaptation in sequel)
END.
