Christopher Reeve will go down in history as one of the most iconic interpretations of Superman ever put to cinema; and while he may be gone, his story continues to inspire, not just Reeve as the Man of Steel, but also Reeve as the person who persevered through a tragic accident.
Just in, WB Pictures has dropped a trailer for the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve story, which looks to tell the story of Reeve during his rise as a pop-culture figure, and after his fateful accident which left his whole body paralyzed. Check this out:
The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from unknown actor to iconic movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the benchmark for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate cinema today. Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care – all while continuing his career in cinema in front of and behind the camera and dedicating himself to his beloved family.
It’s actually quite amazing that Reeve managed to keep trudging along after his accident. He may have been at the peak of his physicality when he was Superman, but nobody was expecting him to actually help inspire others like him after he got into an accident.
Not only does the documentary feature members of Reeves’ family, but there are also other actors and peers who knew him personally, talking about how it was like for Reeves before and after he lost control of his body.
With a new Superman set to hit theaters next year, it’s pretty great to look back and see who was in the role before and how they managed to affect some real-world change.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is set to come out in theaters on Sept. 21.
