Hancock starred Will Smith in the titular role of an amnesiac and alcoholic superhero who eventually learns to be a real savior after encountering a quaint family that has ties to his past. The film played to Smith's comedic strength and was a moderate success at the box office; however, the film's original premise was much darker and largely considered unfilmable.
The spec script for Hancock went by the title Tonight, He Comes, and it follows a similar premise about a Superman-style hero who saved innocents but was the farthest thing from a role model. Here, Hancock was an alcoholic who taught children to smoke, watched adult videos and picked up sex workers in his private life. These vices exist because Hancock wants someone to rescue him in a similar manner to how he saves others. At a glance, his characterization is very similar to Homelander from The Boys.
Eventually, Hancock meets a small family and begins to spend more time with them. Unlike the film, where he becomes a better person over time, he teaches ttheir small son to smoke and kidnaps the wife to take advantage of her after believing she can "save" him. Ultimately, the action ends in the murder of multiple police officers and the woman's husband standing up to the super being to protect his family.
In the early 2000s, subject matter this grim wouldn't make it to the big or small screen. As superhero films finally found their stride with films like Iron Man and The Dark Knight, a movie like Tonight, He Comes would set the genre back massively. That being said, the genre has since matured and could even find a place in the more adult content that features superheroes.
For example, films like Brightburn and shows like The Boys have tackled the concept of an evil Superman. In fact, these projects have also made sure to ramp up the blood and gore that a being of that power would likely display. In contrast, shows like Invincible also exist to show more adult themes. More specifically, the show displays how innocents will often be killed in the crossfire despite the hero's best efforts.
Hancock's initial concept was undoubtedly dark for its time. Even now, the idea would likely unsettle some viewers. However, it's an easier pill to swallow with projects like The Boys and more mainstream characters like Zack Snyder's Superman. Whether or not Tonight, He Comes would be a hit, the film would likely turn heads. Even if it didn't reach massive heights as a dark superhero film, it would serve as a unique deconstruction of the Superman mythos.
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