Broken Frontier

With Superman Returns, just weeks away, Broken Frontier looks at the men who have played Superman over the past 30 years. Part One.

By the mid 1970s, exciting news began to circulate that Superman was being considered for a new motion picture. Producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind, director Richard Donner and storywriters Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton formed the creative nucleus that would bring the Man of Steel to life. From the beginning, the team agreed that the story would not be played for camp. The first major challenge they faced was the casting of Superman, as they needed someone who could carry the proper physical presence, but also transform into a convincingly humble Clark Kent. Additionally, they needed an actor who could convey the necessary sincerity for a Man of Steel that was to be taken seriously. While actors such as Robert Redford and Arnold Schwarzenegger were considered, the producers finally decided on unknown actor Christopher Reeve (born 1952).

Teaser posters proclaimed, “You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly!” and on December 15th, 1978 millions of people did believe as Superman: The Movie made its debut. Despite a somewhat patchwork script, the film resonated with moviegoers. While there is little argument that the score was powerful and the visual effects breathtaking, Christopher Reeve’s performance stands out as the greatest triumph of the film. Reeve altered his entire body language and voice as he transformed from Clark Kent to Superman. As the Man of Steel, Reeve delivered an honest and pure hero, with complete sincerity and credibility. Reeve returned to the role both in 1981 and 1983 sequels. After disappointing returns for Superman III, Reeve publicly stated that he was hanging up the tights and would never again play Superman.

Reeve was lured back in 1987, with the promise of writing the script for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Despite a well-intended story involving Superman’s responsibilities as a global citizen, the film was a complete disaster, hampered by a change in licensing to a low-budget-production company, many re-writes and a last minute editing that slashed the film from 134 to 90 minutes. 

Reeve continued acting, primarily for television, until a 1995 equestrian accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.  He was confined to a wheelchair and unable to breathe, except for short periods, without the assistance of a mechanical respirator. In the wake of his accident, Reeve used his celebrity status to increase public awareness of spinal cord injury and raise money to fund research for cures. Intensive rehabilitation eventually allowed Reeve to regain some sensation in his body and limited motion in his hand. Alongside his charity and public awareness work, Reeve renewed his acting career, starring in a TV remake of Rear Window and in the recurring role of Dr. Swann on Smallville. Unfortunately, complications surrounding his injury resulted in Reeve developing a serious infection in 2004. He slipped into a coma on October 10th of that year and passed away shortly after.
Not long after Superman IV, Alexander and Ilya Salkind re-aquired the license to Superman and set their goal to finally bring Superboy to television. Searching for an actor who would resemble a young Christopher Reeve, the father and son duo discovered a young stage actor named John Haymes Newton (born 1965).

After darkening his hair, Haymes landed the lead role of Superboy, which debuted in October 1988. The show was well received, focusing on a young Clark Kent’s adventures at Shuster College. Season 1 consisted of 26 episodes including ones written by Superman editors Mike Carlin and Andy Helfer and featuring comic book mainstays such as Mr. Mxyzptlk. As Superboy geared up for a second season however, Newton was released from his contract. Depending on sources, the reasons for this release ranged from increased salary demands to reduced budgets to concerns about the actor being an acceptable role model. Newton virtually disappeared from acting for a time, instead focusing on the study of martial arts and spirituality. The actor has since returned to show business and, in addition to several minor film roles, has played recurring characters on The Untouchables, Models Inc and Melrose Place.

Gerard Christopher (born 1959) was tapped as the next Superboy, a role the former model and commercial actor played for the next three years. In addition to the new lead, several other key roles were recast and many comic book villains (including Metallo and Bizarro) made their first live-screen appearances. By season three, the series was officially re-titled The Adventures of Superboy and featured more changes. The tone and setting of the series shifted as Lana and Clark took jobs as part of The Bureau for Extra-Normal Matters, leading to decidedly darker and complex stories. The fourth season saw relatively few changes in front of the camera, although there were significant guest appearances including Jack Larson and Noel Neill. Behind the scenes, J.M. DeMatteis and Christopher himself joined the creative team as writers (Christopher also became a producer and director).

The series finale (which was aired out of order) Obituary for a Super Hero was one of the most critically acclaimed episodes and featured the “death” of Superboy. From that point, the plan had been for the series to move on to a Young Superman motion picture (or TV movie), also starring Christopher. Around the same time, rumors were abound that there would be a Superman V movie with a plot involving an ecological theme and featuring Brainiac as the villain. None of these projects came to fruition however, as another interpretation of Superman was about to begin production.

For a number of years, one of DC Comics’ President Jeanette Kahn’s pet projects had been a new Superman television show. Taking advantage of the Lois/Clark relationship in the comic books, Kahn’s concept had the show focusing not on Superman, but rather Clark’s friendship, romance and eventual marriage to Lois. After much frustration, Lorimar Television and producer Deborah Joy LeVine came aboard and ABC picked up Lois Lane’s Daily Planet. As the show developed, Clark was envisioned a hip 20-something year old, a newcomer to Metropolis.

The producer’s first choice for Clark Kent in the re-titled Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman had been Gerard Christopher. When the casting director read Chistopher’s acting resume however, the actor was dismissed in favor of finding someone who would be new to the world of Superman. A short while later, Dean Cain (born 1966, whose most notable role at this point had been as a romantic interest for Brenda on Beverly Hills 90210) was cast to join Terri Hatcher as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively.

The show debuted in September of 1993 and met with critical acclaim. The storylines kept very close to the relationship concept, focusing primarily on the triangle between Clark, Lois and Lex. The season finale (which ended with the death of Luthor) also featured Phyllis Coates making an appearance as Lois’ mother. The second season continued in this direction, but had more villains from the comic books making appearances as it introduced Dr. Gretchen Kelly, the Prankster, the Toyman and Metallo. By the time the finale for season two arrived, Clark finally popped the question to Lois, creating a cliffhanging ending.

The third season of Lois and Clark revealed that Lois had known Clark’s duel ID and found the couple’s relationship mirroring the course their comic book counterparts had taken. By mid-season, Lois and Clark made it to the alter and wed. Unfortunately, it turned out that it wasn’t the real Lois. After several fake-outs involving amnesia and clones, fans began to reject the show for embracing a campy nature. By the 4th season episode, Swear to God, This Time We’re not Kidding, Lois and Clark were married. The episode, a confusing mess of slapstick mayhem (courtesy of guest villain, Delta Burke), forced sentimentality, and hokey pretentiousness is generally not remembered in a favorable light. The remainder of the season did feature a few highlights (including an appearance by Jack Larson, as an aged Jimmy Olsen, and a Christmas episode featuring Howie Mandel as Mr. Mxyzptlk), but was largely forgettable. The season finale featured a cliffhanging ending, which saw an infant wrapped in a Superman blanket left on Lois and Clark’s doorstep. The story was never concluded however, as ABC cancelled the fifth season of the show.

Since his time as Superman ended in 1997, Cain has started his own production company. In addition to appearing in several films and TV movies, Cain had a lengthy run as host of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Although Superman has yet to return to live-action television, Clark Kent made it back in 2001 with Smallville. Essentially written in continuity with the movie series, the series focuses on a teenaged Clark Kent as his powers are just beginning to develop. Starring Tom Welling (born 1977), a former model and recurring actor from Judging Amy, as Clark Kent the show received some criticism for being formulamatic in the first episodes, but quickly gained a strong following. While filming the series, Welling has appeared in several films, including both Cheaper By the Dozen movies and The Fog. Having recently concluded the fifth season, Smallville is planned to continue for at least another 2 years on the new CW Television Network. 

The latest addition to the Supermen alumni is Brandon Routh (born 1979), star of the upcoming movie, Superman Returns. A relative unknown, Routh was a regular on One Live to Live in the 2001/02 season. In addition to appearing in the video for Christina Aguilera’s What a Girl Wants, Routh has also appeared on Gilmore Girls, Cold Case and Will & Grace. On June 28, 2006, fans will finally get the opportunity to see Routh continue “the never-ending battle.”

All four of Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies are available on DVD. John Haymes Newton’s turn as Superboy will be released June 20th as Superboy – The Complete First Season. Gerard Chistopher’s Adventures of Superboy episodes have never been collected, but will presumably follow the release of Superboy – The Complete First Season. The first 2 seasons of Dean Cain’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman are currently available on DVD, with Season 3 arriving June 20th. Smallville Seasons 1-4 are all available on DVD, and Welling and company will return this fall for a 6th season on the CW network. Smallville – The Complete 5th Season is due on DVD in September. Finally, Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns was recently moved up to a June 28th theatrical release.