This whole movie... what could've been. I always love going back and listening to Kevin Smith tell this story on An Evening with Kevin Smith.
What could go wrong on a movie where the writing was being guided by a man who started out as Barbara Streisand's hairdresser? I think the three rules were: Superman can't fly in the movie. The suit had to go, because it was too... I won't use the slur Peters used, but it's the one you're probably now thinking of. And, third, Superman has to fight a spider in Act III. ... at least Smith changed it in the script to a Thanagarian Snare Beast.
It's worth noting, Peters did at least get his Act III spider fight in a movie: Wild Wild West.