The trailer for “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” features the late actor Christopher Reeve reflecting on the devastating aftermath of his horse-riding accident in May 1995, which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Feeling defeated, he recalls the impactful words from his wife, Dana, that inspired him to persevere.
“I ruined my life and everybody else’s,” Reeve expresses. “I won’t be able to ski, sail, throw a ball to Will, won’t be able to make love to Dana. Maybe we should let me go. And then she said the words that saved my life, ‘You’re still you and I love you.’”
The emotionally charged trailer outlines Reeve’s iconic performance as Clark Kent, the tragic accident that turned him into a quadriplegic, and his significant advocacy for spinal cord research and disability rights. It features a blend of archival footage and interviews with Reeve’s three children: Matthew, Alexandra, and William.
“Everybody’s looking for a hero,” Reeve remarks in the trailer. “I am not a hero. That was a part. I played a part. I’m not that man.”
The documentary also includes insights from notable figures like Susan Sarandon, who recalls Reeve’s friendship with Robin Williams, their mutual challenges, and their understanding of struggle and hardship.
“Brother Chris is fighting like crazy,” the late Williams asserts in the trailer. “When you find people who fight like that, but still keep their humanity, that gives you great hope.”
Reeve was chosen from 200 applicants to embody Superman in the 1978 film and went on to reprise his role in four additional Superman movies. As an advocate for disability rights, he was actively involved in lobbying efforts in Congress, participated in the 68th Academy Awards, and served as the host for the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta.
The DC Studios documentary will premiere in select theaters on September 21, with an encore screening scheduled for September 25, coinciding with Reeve’s birthday.