Superman in film

Ilya and Alexander Salkind and Pierre Spengler purchased the Superman film rights in 1974.  After numerous scripts,Richard Donner was hired to direct the film, filming Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) simultaneously.  Donner had already shot eighty percent of Superman II before it was decided to finish shooting the first film.  The Salkinds fired Donner after Superman's release, and commissioned Richard Lester as the director to finish Superman II.  Lester also returned for Superman III (1983), and the Salkinds further produced the 1984 spin-off Supergirl before selling the rights to Cannon Films, resulting in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).  With over fifteen years of development for a fifth Superman film, Superman Returns, an alternative sequel to Superman and Superman II directed by Bryan Singer, was released in 2006, along with Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.  Despite the disappointing financial results of Superman Returns, Warner Bros. rebooted the film series, giving it a summer release in June of 2013.  Zack Snyder directed the film, titled Man of Steel, with David S. Goyer writing and Christopher Nolan producing.

Superman (1978)

In 1973, producer Ilya Salkind convinced his father Alexander to buy the rights to Superman. They hired Mario Puzo to pen a two-film script, and negotiated with Steven Spielberg to direct, though Alexander Salkind rejected him as Jawswent over budget. Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman signed on to play Jor-El and Lex Luthor respectively, and Guy Hamilton was hired to direct. However, Brando was faced with an obscenity lawsuit in Italy over Last Tango in Paris, and Hamilton was unable to shoot in England as he had violated his tax payments. The Salkinds hired Richard Donnerto direct the film. Donner hired Tom Mankiewicz to polish the script, giving it a serious feel with Christ-like overtones.

Christopher Reeve was cast as Superman, having initially failed to impress the Salkinds before bulking up. Brando meanwhile, despite spending less than two weeks on the shoot, and not even reading the script until then, earned $3.7 million up front, plus 11.75% of the gross profits from the film. The film was a success both critically and commercially, being released during the Christmas season of 1978; it did not have much competition, leading the producers to believe that this was one factor in the film's success.