Ahead of the release of DC Studio’s Superman on July 11th, Londoners were treated to a dramatic installation that saw Superman suspended at the top of the Shard. 

Riffing on the film’s tagline, ‘Look Up’, the stunt encouraged onlookers to do exactly that. The striking spectacle saw a figure of Superman between the points of the Shard visible from up to 40 miles away.

The Superman statue was created by 3D scanning Superman actor David Corenswet, who was scanned during production. Suspended on London’s tallest building, the statue, displayed at over 300 metres high, is the highest ever display of a public sculpture.

The stunt was four months in the making and took over 2,000 man hours with a team of over 20 working around the clock. The 120kg sculpture had to be constructed from its 9 complex sections at the very top platform of the Shard, before being hoisted into position in the early hours of the morning by a team of over twenty.

As the figure was held in place, it was circled by two Daily Planet branded helicopters in a nod to the iconic newspaper in the film.

Three of the film’s stars, David Corenswet (Clarke Kent / Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), made an appearance on the spire’s highest platform beneath the sculpture.

"Superman has stood as a symbol of hope and heroism for generations — so it feels only fitting that he now watches over London from the top of one of its most iconic landmarks,” says Daniel Fulbrook, Head of Marketing for REM, asset manager of The Shard.

He continued: “To see him suspended within The Shard’s spire is truly surreal. We're incredibly proud to help bring this legendary figure to life in such a bold and breathtaking way."

Immersive cinematic campaigns have levelled up in recent times, with cinema reaching a significant bounce back post-pandemic. Wicked turned London green in ‘Greenwich’ stunt, while Tom Cruise scaled the BFI IMAX to promote the new Mission: Impossible.

The immersive sky-high stunt brings to life the power of Superman and successfully builds hype, making the much-awaited movie a cinematic event.