As the newest Superman film takes flight, Will Reeve, son of the late Christopher Reeve, revealed how the cast honored his father’s legendary portrayal of the Man of Steel. Long before cameras rolled, the team behind James Gunn’s reimagining of the DC icon gathered to reflect on the legacy that shaped generations.
“They screened Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story right before filming began,” Will, 33, told the Post. “Some of the actors have told me that watching that helped them contextualize and better understand how much it meant to get this movie right.”
That gesture left a deep impression on Will and his siblings, Matthew and Alexandra. “It all coalesced into what I understand to be a great feeling of camaraderie and responsibility and passion and purpose, in which we really were touched to hear when we learned that they had all screened our documentary as a way to kick off their journey,” he said.
The documentary, released in November 2024, follows Christopher Reeve’s meteoric rise as Superman in the late ‘70s, his tragic horseback accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed, and his years of advocacy through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
His story, Will says, remains more than a superhero tale, as it’s a testament to resilience. Despite the global image his father had, Will noted that their conversations weren’t focused on film roles.
“Not really, to be honest,” he said. “Not because they don’t exist, but because much of my time spent with my dad, which ended up only being 12 years, was not spent talking about Superman or any other role that he played. It was much more grounded in our daily existence.”
Christopher Reeve passed away in 2004 from heart failure at just 52 years old. Dana Reeve, Will’s mother, died of lung cancer two years later.
“Of course, after he got injured, a lot of our daily life centered around my dad’s injury and us navigating all that entailed,” Will explained. “He was focused much more on being a present and engaged father than he was in regaling me with tales of the old days.”
“He always remembered his time as Superman, and in making those movies fondly and with a sort of reverence, because he knew how important Superman the character is to so many people worldwide across generations,” Will said.
“And he felt a great responsibility, I know, to make that role resonate and matter around the world, and he succeeded in that mission.” Will’s connection to the character now continues. The new film includes a small cameo from him, portraying a journalist. “It was such a treat,” he shared. “I was honored to get the call from the wonderful filmmakers, and I jumped at the opportunity.”
“And it was a nice homage, I think, to my dad, who for millions of people has been Superman for generations,” he added. “And for the filmmakers of this new version of Superman to include me as a way to include him meant a lot.”