The Adventures of Superman (radio) twice a week on June 5, 1950, continuing on ABC until March 1, 1951. In all, 2,088 original episodes of "The Adventures of Superman" aired on American radio. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Man of Steel first appeared in "Action Comics" #1 in 1938. The following year, the newspaper comic strip began and four audition radio programs were prepared to sell "Superman" as a radio series. When Superman was first heard on radio less than two years after the comic book appearance, the character took on an added dimension with Bud Collyer in the title role. During
Superman in film and Burton signed on with a pay-or-play contract of $5 million. Warner Bros. originally planned on a theatrical release date for summer 1998, the 60th anniversary of the character's debut in "Action Comics". Nicolas Cage, a comic book fan, signed on as Superman with a $20 million pay-or-play contract, believing he could "reconceive the character." Peters felt Cage could "convince audiences he [Superman] came from outer space." Burton explained Cage's casting would be "the first time you would believe that nobody could recognize Clark Kent as Superman, he [Cage] could physically change his persona." Kevin Spacey was approached for the