Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, is expected to sell to Warner Brothers after a well-received debut at the Sundance Film Festival. Should they complete the sale, Warner Brothers would make a poetic story, as they were the studio that produced the original Superman films in the 1970s and 1980s, in which the late Reeve starred as the titular hero.
According to Deadline and Variety, sources close to the deal say that the documentary would be distributed under the new DC Studios banner, a sub-studio constructed after James Gunn and Peter Safran took over. Additionally, the documentary is expected to premiere on news network CNN and the streaming service Max.
Super/Man is set to tell Reeve’s story, from his time portraying the Man of Tomorrow to his tragic accident, which left him quadriplegic, and the advocacy he did for people with disabilities until he died in 2004. Reeve became disabled after a horse riding accident and spent the rest of his life using a wheelchair and ventilator. Reeve’s family, who was heavily involved in the making of the documentary, understand the importance of his story.
Reeve’s daughter Alexandra believed he was very conscious of that irony and ‘Superman’s’ legacy when people viewed his story and thought about him after the accident. He talked about redefining what it is to be a hero, “it’s an everyday person who survives despite overwhelming obstacles.”
According to director Bonhote, “Christopher said the one minority anyone can become part of in an instant is disability.” The film aims to change the conversation around disability rights and highlight the life of this incredible man.
Super/Man would not be the only Superman-adjacent project under the DC Studios banner. The upcoming Superman: Legacy, written and directed by Gunn, is set to begin a new DC Universe on film and reintroduce the iconic character to modern audiences. David Corenswet is set to take on the cape in Legacy, following in Reeve’s cinematic flight path. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, and many other iconic DC characters are all set to appear. Superman: Legacy is set to premiere in 2025.
Check out Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story at Sundance.
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