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Steel (1997 film)

Steel
An image of the film poster featuring a small silhouette of the characters Susan Sparks and John Henry Irons in the center. Encompassing the background is a larger image of John Henry Irons in his Steel outfit. The bottom of the image shows the words "Shaq" and "Steel" in large catch phrases "Heroes Don't Come Any Bigger" and "Man Metal Hero" in smaller print. The bottom of the poster showcases the rest of the cast in crew.
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Kenneth Johnson
Produced by Quincy Jones
David Salzman
Joel Simon
Written by Kenneth Johnson
Based on Characters
by Louise Simonson
Jon Bogdanove
Starring
Music by Mervyn Warren
Cinematography Mark Irwin
Edited by John F. Link
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • August 15, 1997 (1997-08-15)
Running time
 97 minutes
Language English
Budget $16 million
Box office $1.7 million

Steel is a 1997 American superhero action film based on the DC Comics character Steel. The film stars Shaquille O'Neal as John Henry Irons and his alter-ego Steel, Annabeth Gish as his wheelchair-using partner Susan Sparks, and Judd Nelson as their rival Nathaniel Burke. The plot centers on an accident caused by Burke which leaves Sparks paralyzed. The accident results in Irons quitting his job. Burke begins mass-producing weapons and selling them to criminals. In order to stop Burke, Irons and Sparks create a suit of armor that leads Irons to become the superhero Steel.

Written and directed by Kenneth Johnson, the film separates itself from the comic book series (and John Henry Irons' status as a supporting character of Superman) by using original protagonists and antagonists. On its initial release, Steel was a box office bust and was panned by critics, noting the "cheesiness" and bad acting in the film.

John Henry Irons (Shaquille O'Neal) is a weapons designer who invents high-tech laser guns, protective armor, and sound cannons for the United States military. One soldier, Nathaniel Burke (Judd Nelson), decides to show just what Irons' weapons can do and sets one of Irons' sonic cannons at the highest power setting, firing the device at an abandoned building. However, the weapon backfires and destroys the building the team is situated in. Irons' partner, Susan "Sparky" Sparks (Annabeth Gish), is crushed by a large slab of concrete in the ensuing chaos. In court, Irons reveals Burke's role in the incident and Burke is dismissed from the military. Because his weapons resulted in Sparks becoming a paraplegic, Irons resigns in disgust. Meanwhile, Burke hatches a plot to sell Irons' weapons to criminal gangs, recruiting a video arcade manager to help him carry out this deed.


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