Christopher Reeve’s children were actively involved in the making of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. They were also present when the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Now, the documentary is getting a special theatrical release on September 21, 2024, across select theatres in the U.S., per Variety. DC Studios and Fathom Events are collaborating for debut days before the late Superman actor’s birthday on September 25. The documentary follows Reeve’s acting career and personal life, especially after his paralysis as a father of three.
People Magazine stated that two of Christopher Reeve’s children, Matthew and Alexandra, are from his relationship with ex-partner, Gae Exton. Matthew, the eldest, was born in 1979, and Alexandra was born four years later in 1983. Reeve then married Dana Reeve in 1992. That same year, his youngest son, William, was born. Three years later, in 1995, the Superman actor got into a horseriding accident. The incident paralyzed him from the neck down. Reeve’s youngest son, William, was just a kid when he died. Dana passed away months later.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story lets audiences discover “the REAL superhero behind Superman.” Nutt added, “This film is an extraordinary story that takes a deep dive into the man Christopher Reeve really was and the courage he displayed.” Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui have directed the film.
Super/Man: When did Christopher Reeve die?
According to BBC, Christopher Reeve died on October 10, 2004, nine years after the horseriding accident. Reeve’s publicist claimed that the actor was in a coma after suffering a cardiac arrest. Reportedly, a pressure wound had caused an infection that spread through his body, reported The New York Times. He was 52 and was undergoing treatment at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco at the time of his death.
The sources mentioned that in 1995, Reeve suffered from a terrible horseriding accident and broke his neck. He was paralyzed from the neck down and used a wheelchair and ventilator for the remainder of his life. BBC stated that the actor began advocating for spinal cord injury research. Moreover, he had regained sensation in certain body parts and made a comeback in his acting career. His first role since the accident was in 1998’s Rear Window. He played a wheelchair-bound man in the thriller, which earned him a Screen Actors Guild award.
Variety reported that Christopher Reeve’s children played a key role in his documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. The film consists of never-seen-before archival footage to tell the iconic star’s story. Reeve’s children also attended the documentary’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024.
Talking about his accident, Reeve’s daughter Alexandra told the outlet, “He was very conscious of that irony and the legacy of ‘Superman’ when people viewed his story and thought about him after the accident. Alexandra claimed her father “talked about redefining what it is to be a hero.” She said the Superman actor believed a hero is “an everyday person who survives despite overwhelming obstacles.”
According to People Magazine, before the Super/Man documentary premiere, Christopher Reeve’s eldest son Matthew mentioned a special moment with his father. Matthew recalled Reeve’s appearance at the 1996 Oscars when the actor received a standing ovation. It was his first public appearance since the accident. Matthew described the moment as “absolutely incredible.” He added, “We stayed up until three or four in the morning to watch it.”
The youngest son, William “Will,” who was also present at the Super/Man premiere, said it was the “right time” to share their father’s story. Will said, “We knew we wanted, if we were ever going to do this, it had to be the right time and the right team.” He said that the making of the documentary involved handing “over our archive, our home movies, sit for some raw and vulnerable interviews, and then place all of our trust and faith in the team.” He believes called the documentary “remarkable.”
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story premieres in select theatres across the U.S. on September 21, 2024.
