CHAPTER 2:
DAWN OF REEVE
After Salkind got the rights for a Superman movie, a number of directors were in talks to take charge of the film. Francis Ford Coppola, William Friedkin, Richard Lester, Peter Yates, John Guillermin, Ronald Neame. George Lucas and Sam Peckinpah were all in talks to direct. Salkind wanted Speilberg to direct, but he wanted to wait and see how his film, Jaws would do. Jaws was a big hit and Salkind went to ask Speilberg to direct.
Yes, Speilberg was already set to direct Close Encounters of the Third Kind, so he couldn't direct Superman. So Guy Hamilton, famous for directing Bond films, was set to direct Superman. Meanwhile, Godfather writer, Mario Puzo, was hired to write a script. He ended up writing two Superman film scripts that were 500 pages long. His script was apparently supposed to have General Zod and his henchman, Jax-Ur.
Anyway, Brando signed on to play Jor-El in 1975, but in voice-only. A few days later, Gene Hackman signed on as Lex Luthor. As for the script, it had some rewrites, due to it being deemed "too long". Robert Benton and David Newman both signed on to rewrite the script. They submitted the script in 1976. Also, Richard Donner replaced Hamilton as director. Donner was able to convince to Brando to appear physically as Jor-El. He did this using flattery. Becuase actors have giant egos.
Now for casting. For Superman, they considered EVERYONE!!! They considered Robert Redford (who cost too much), Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood (who was busy), James Caan (who hated the suit), Sylvester Stallone, Muhammed Ali, Al Pachino, Warren Beatty, Burt Reynolds, Neil Diamond, Bruce Jenner, and more. In the end, Christopher Reeve got the role and the rest is history. History that I'm about to go through.
When the movie was released, it got great reviews. Most of the praise was toward the films' light-hearted tone and Chris Reeve's performance as Superman. The film was also a box-office hit, grossing $134 million.
Producion for Superman II started simulaneously with the first film, which probably ecxplains the sequel tease in the first film. However, it was post-poned after problems bewteen Donner and Salkind. However, Superman II was put on hold so Donner could focus on finish the first film.
Shortly after Superman's release, Salkind ried to find a director to replace Donner. They ended up replacing him with Richard Lester. The cast and crew of the film did not take this well. Gene Hackman, who filmed many of his scenes, left the project, and the rest of Lex Luthor's scenes had him played by a body double. Marlon Brando sued Salkind for $50 million, and won.
After Lester signed on, production continued in 1979. However, there were many problems on set. Lester had to reshoot several scenes that Donnor had already filmed. Plus, the films set designer died in the middle of production. Thus feeding into...
THE SUPERMAN CURSE!!!
Despite the production troubles and a more slapstick shift and tone, the film was still scene as cohesive story (Although, the Richard Donner cut is seen as a better film) .Anyway, the film got even more praise during it's release and was a box office hit. The same can't be said for the next two films...
Salkind wrote a treatment for Superman III with Brainiac, Mister Mxyzptlk, and Supergirl. Dudley Moore was considered for Mister Mxyzptlk which would be used for comedy relief. Also, Brainiac would be form the fictional planet of Colu. However, WB was not fond of this treatment. One wonders why they didn't like it. I mean, it had Brainiac have Supergirl as his adoped daughter, and he would end up falling in love with said daughter, but she didn't return his feelings, as she waned to get under Superman's cape. Okay, this sounds terrible.
The Newmans ended up writing a draft that would please WB. However, Gene Hackman and Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane, were angry with Salkind for firing Donner. Gene Hackman left Superman III, while Kidder spoke publicly about Salkind, causing her to be written out of the film. So instead, the film featurd Lana Lang as the love interestm and Lex Luthor clone as the villain. Also, Lester decided he wanted a more comedic take and he brought on Richard Pryor to costar.
When the film was released, it did okay at the box office, but not as good as the previous films. However, it got pretty bad reviews. Many critizing Pryor, the villains, and effects. That's what you getting for booting out Donner.
Here we have the final Chris Reeve Superman film, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Salkind didn't produce this one, as he sold it to the guys who made Breakin' 2 and thought Spider-Man was a horror movie monster, Golan and Globus. Gene Hackman and Margot Kidder returned, due to Salkind not being involved. And the film would be directed by Sidney J Furie, the director of Iron Eagle. When filming, Jon Cryer, who played Lenny Luthor in the film, was pulled aside by Reeve, who told Cryer that the whole thing would be "terrible".
There's not a lot of facts on this so I'll just cut to the chase. The film was a box office bomb and the critic showed this thing no mercy. It is considered by many to be one of the worst Comic Book Movies ever made. Thus putting an end, to the Donner Superman films.
Tragically. Christopher Reeve died in 2004 due to a horseback riding accident and Margot Kidder went insane. Thus feeding into...
THE SUPERMAN CURSE!!!
But enough about Superman. Let's go to Batman and see how his foray into feature film territory went.
TO BE CONTINUED...