A trailer has been released for “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” which documents the late actor’s rise to fame and his commitment to helping the disabled following a horse riding accident in 1995.
In the 21st century, several actors have portrayed Superman, but Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of the Kryptonian has been praised by many, including the directors of a new documentary, the first trailer for which has been released.
The trailer for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story was released on Monday and gives a taste of what Reeve and Superman fans can expect when the film hits theaters on September 21 and 25.
“The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from unknown actor to legendary movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the standard for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate today’s cinema,” the trailer description reads.
The documentary, directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, goes beyond Reeves’ portrayal of Superman to examine his life before and after the near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. The film premiered at the 40th Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where it was met with tears, applause and a “tumultuous standing ovation,” according to The Guardian.
“This film features never-before-seen private home videos and an extraordinary wealth of personal archival material, as well as the first in-depth interviews ever filmed with Reeves’ three children about their father, as well as interviews with the Hollywood A-list actors who were Reeves’ colleagues and friends,” the trailer description states. “The film is a moving and vibrant cinematic telling of Reeves’ remarkable story.”
What does “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” show?
The three-and-a-half-minute trailer begins with clips from Reeves’ role as Clark Kent in the 1978 film “Superman.” The late actor can be heard saying, “I’m not a hero. That was just a role. I played the role. I’m not that man.”
The trailer then continues with more behind-the-scenes footage of Reeve, as well as words from Superman director Richard Donner and the actor’s son and daughter, Matthew and Alexandra Reeve.
“When I did something with my dad, it was all about activity and action,” says Matthew Reeve in the trailer. “Riding bikes, playing football, skiing. We said goodbye and he waved. That was the last time I saw him on his feet.”
Actors Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon also appear in the trailer and even talk about Reeve’s relationship with the late comedian Robin Williams. The trailer also gives a brief look at how Reeve founded the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is “dedicated to curing spinal cord injuries by advancing research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families affected by paralysis.”
“What is a hero? My answer was that a hero is someone who does a brave act without thinking about the consequences,” Reeve says in the trailer. “Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength to persevere and persevere despite overwhelming odds.”
When did Christopher Reeve die?
Reeve died of heart failure on October 12, 2004 at the age of 52. After spending years in a wheelchair, he had sustained a pressure wound that became severely infected.
The infection spread throughout Reeves’ body, causing the actor to fall into a coma, then suffer cardiac arrest and die, according to a 2004 New York Times report.
Dana Reeve, wife of Christopher Reeve, died of lung cancer on March 6, 2006, at the age of 44, CBS News reported. She was diagnosed with the disease on August 9, 2005, although she was a non-smoker.
Contributor: Saman Shafiq/USA TODAY
