What ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ Would Have Looked Like If It Had Been Made in 1949

Diane Bullock and Mike Schuster used footage from classic Batman and Superman serials to create a new Vulture Remix imagining what the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film would have looked like if it had been made in 1949.

The 1940s were, in many ways, a better time for superhero filmmaking. The old black-and-white serials about Captain America, Batman, Superman, and the like were comfortingly simple. Instead of sleek armor, the heroes wore costumes that were lumpy and sacklike. Instead of grim brooding, the actors were given to wild exuberance and manic facial expressions. Instead of special effects, there was … uh, basically nothing. Something like Zack Snyder’s awkwardly titled, upcoming mega-blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice would’ve been unthinkable for audiences of the period.