Cinescape Online breaks with a full-length feature on the behind-the-scenes struggle to bring one of the most anticipated remakes in years to life. Superman Lives screenwriter Kevin Smith speaks with Edward Gross about his contributions to the troubled film and the battles he waged to keep the spirit of Superman intact, while executives pondered nothing but merchandising as far as the eye could see. While the full story of what’s happening won’t be published until this site is activated on February 23, here are two comments from Smith:

“There’s a scene [in my script] where Superman and Lois are on Mt. Rushmore,” explains Kevin Smith. “[It’s] probably the best dialogue scene in the movie because it really sets up the disparity in their relationship. I was told the scene had to be cut because the script was too long. I said, ‘Look, you’re insane. We can lose some lines, but don’t cut that scene, it’s the heart of the picture,'” Smith remembers.

“We fought about it and I almost quit twice. I hate to be a prima donna, but you can’t sacrifice story in favor of page count. The flight between Superman and Lois Lane in the first movie was everything, it really brought it home. You WERE Lois Lane in that scene. They said, ‘Kevin, what you don’t understand is that this is a corporate movie. It doesn’t matter how good the dialogue is between Lois and Clark, it’s about how many toys we can sell.’ That was just a real soul-killer, man. Sell all the toys you want, but tell a good story in the process.”