Hope. It is in short supply. And when there is no hope, it is too easy to let despair set in. But in difficult times, I – and countless others like me – look to heroes who can serve as beacons and guide us out of the darkness.
Superman has been one of those heroes for decades. In fact, every generation has its own Superman, from Henry Cavill or Tyler Hoechlin to the soon-to-be-introduced David Corenswet. Mine was Christopher Reeve, the star of some the best Superman movies ever made. And he will be the focus of one of the best films You will see in 2024. Watch the trailer for the upcoming documentary Superman above.
Christopher Reeve played Superman for director Richard Donner starting in 1978. As the film’s tagline promised, Reeve helped us believe that a man could fly. Audiences had seen other actors play Superman roles over the years, but Reeve fit the character in a way you never thought possible. He embodied the kindness, the purity and the goodness that defined Superman. You couldn’t separate him from him. the actor from the role.
If you know Reeve’s story, you know it took a tragic turn. In 1995, he was involved in a horseback riding accident. Reeve was thrown from his horse and landed on his head, shattering his first and second vertebrae. Reeve would be paralyzed for the rest of his life.
But as the spectacular new documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story proves that the accident was not the end of Reeve’s life. It was merely an indication of a change. And after watching the documentary, I can tell you that by adopting the strength, spirit and toughness of Superman, Reeve made him a fighter in his own life, and a hero to all who watched his miraculous journey.
And what a journey it is. To see Christopher Reeve fight his way back from the brink of death and continue to live a life of love and devotion is more than inspiring. It is truly life changing. In the trailer, the documentary shows how Reeve went from being part of Superman to fully understanding and accepting what the person means to a global community. By then accepting his fate and not letting it defeat him, he became a role model for a new community of warriors who needed their own motivation to fight. As Glenn Close says in the Superman Trailer:
The fact that Superman was in a wheelchair and was willing to make it public was enormous.
The Reeve family will forever be linked to the Superman legacy. Reeve himself almost guest appearance in Lois and Clark before his accident. And Will Reeve, Chris’ son, will a cameo role in James Gunn’s Superman film, which will be released in 2025. But this emotional, beautiful documentary confirms that Reeve was so much more than Superman. He will forever be remembered as Superman.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Events plan to release Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story in select theaters on September 21, followed by a repeat showing on Christopher Reeve’s birthday on September 25.
