The trailer for “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” features Christopher Reeve sharing the difficult reality he faced after a horse-riding accident in May 1995 that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. During this challenging time, Reeve, feeling despondent, reflected on the support from his wife, Dana, whose words inspired him to persevere.
“I ruined my life and everybody else’s,” he expresses in the trailer. “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 poignant trailer outlines Reeve’s legendary role as Clark Kent, his tragic accident that resulted in quadriplegia, and his subsequent advocacy for spinal cord injuries and disability rights. It features archival footage alongside interviews with Reeve’s three children: Matthew, Alexandra, and William.
“Everybody’s looking for a hero,” Reeve states. “I am not a hero. That was a part. I played a part. I’m not that man.”
The film also highlights contributions from friends, including Susan Sarandon, who reflect on Reeve’s bond with Robin Williams, illustrating their shared challenges and experiences with dark times in their lives.
“Brother Chris is fighting like crazy,” the late Williams remarks 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 portray Superman in the 1978 film and went on to star in four additional Superman movies. He became a prominent disability advocate, lobbying Congress, participating in the 68th Academy Awards, and hosting the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta.
The documentary from DC Studios will premiere in select theaters on September 21, with a special encore presentation scheduled for September 25, coinciding with Reeve’s birthday.