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The modern landscape of superheroes owes a lot to Christopher Reeve’s Superman, who went on to inspire a generation of comic book fans, as his legacy lives on to this day. However, becoming such a cultural icon wasn’t easy for the legendary actor, as leading a superhero film at a time when they were mostly seen as a joke, was a risky move that very few were willing to take.
Although the world now sees Christopher Reeve as the definitive Superman, in the beginning, not even the actor’s closest pals were delighted by the actor’s decision to pursue a superhero role.
Also read:“I don’t worship at the altar of Marlon Brando”: Christopher Reeve Didn’t Get Along With Superman Star in Iconic DC Film Because of His Lousy Work Ethic
Christopher Reeve’s decision to star inSupermanwas met with criticisms
By the timeChristopher Reevewas offered to star in Richard Donner’sSuperman, he was already an accomplished theatre actor, and accepting the project was a risky move. Reflecting on the situation, theSupermanstar revealed not many were on board with his decision to pursue this project and believed that it will mean the end of his career. However, after reading the script of the film, Reeve was assured that the film was meant to be a success and rolled in with the project. He stated,
“A lot of them said, ‘That is it, boy. Down the drain. Bye-bye. It’s boots forever. Take it while you may.’ But they hadn’t read the material. And I took the gamble that the material was actually straight enough and classy enough that I could get away with it. So it was a calculated risk that actually accelerated the pace of my career.”
The actor’s brave decision was ultimately met with extreme success, as Christopher Reeve cemented himself as an icon in the superhero industry. And even though he went on to star in 4 Superman projects in the span of a decade, the 1978 film remained the best and still serves as a blueprint and inspiration for many modern-day comic book flicks.
Also read:Arnold Schwarzenegger Lost the Role of Superman to Christopher Reeve After Marlon Brando Voted Against the Mr. Olympia Because of His Accent
James Gunn is set to bring Superman back to his original roots
Although modern times have witnessed Superman’s character taking a more grey and grim approach in contrast to Donner’s hopeful theme, things are about to change for the best. WithJames Gunnnow in charge of the DCU and the upcoming iteration of Superman, the director assured that his Superman will be more inclined towards Reeve’s iteration of the character. Being a huge fan of Richard Donner’sSuperman, which pushed Gunn into the realm of filmmaking, Gunn is now set to bring the iconic character back to his roots withSuperman: Legacy.
Also read:“He was not exactly a big steaming heap of sexuality”: Christopher Reeve’s Lois Lane Ditched Him As She Confessed Her Love For Henry Cavill’s Superman
Even though there have been a plethora of actors who went on take the mantle of Superman, even after 4 decades, Christopher Reeve remains the face of the Last Son of Krypton.
Supermanis available to stream on Max.
Source:The Dick Cavett Show
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2542
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
