'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' Gets Fathom Events Release
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a film! It’s a story! It’s Superman!
Back in February, Warner Bros. Discovery picked up Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story for $15 million following great reception and acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. It was followed by a trailer screening as part of the company’s presentation to contributors at CinemaCon, where a September release was announced, making it the first film from DC Studios before Joker: Folie à Deux in early October. Now, it’s been revealed what kind of release that entails.
DC Studios has hooked up with Fathom Events for a limited two-day release starting September 21. The second night, considered an encore presentation, will happen on Reeve’s birthday, September 25. Two day engagements are very common for Fathom Events, and for anime in particular tend to differ between presentations of English dubs or English subtitles to Japanese audio. An international release will happen, but no dates have been set. Variety, claiming ambiguity, expresses hope that a subsequent wider and more traditional release will happen.
The doc, which has also been labeled as from HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films, covers Reeve’s meteoric rise to fame thanks to his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent aka Superman in 4 films from 1978 to 1987, setting the standard for the superhero films that now proliferate cinemas. While he had numerous other roles showcasing his talent and range in his craft, a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 caused injuries that left him paralyzed from the neck down, requiring the use of a wheelchair and ventilator. In the face of paraplegia, Reeve became a fervent activist searching for cures for spinal cord injuries, advocating for disability rights and care, and dedicating himself to his beloved family while still maintaining a career in the industry until his 2004 death.
Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures stated, “On behalf of not only Warner Bros., but also my colleagues at DC, HBO and CNN, it’s an honor to be a part of bringing Christopher Reeve and his singular legacy to audiences again. It was at this very studio where he made us all believe a man could fly, and this documentary reveals what made him a true hero, on- and off-screen. Partnering with our friends at Fathom Events to deliver this very special film to the big screen was an opportunity we could not pass up.” Fathom Events’ CEO Ray Nutt added, “Everyone knows that Superman is a superhero, but I’m eager for audiences to discover the real superhero behind Superman. This film is an extraordinary story that takes a deep dive into the man Christopher Reeve really was and the courage he displayed. We’re looking forward to working with our partners at DC Studios and Warner Bros. to bring this inspiring film to theatres nationwide.”
The documentary, directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, features previously-unseen intimate home movies and an massive amount of personal archive material, the first extended filmed interviews with Reeve’s three children about their father, and interviews with Reeve’s colleagues and friends, including Robin Williams. Lizzie Gillett, Robert Ford and Bonhôte produced alongside executive producers Connor Schell, Libby Geist, Marie Margolius, Mark Meatto, Andrew Ruhemann, David Moulton, Andee Ryder, Daniel Kilroy and Hamish Fergusson.
Source: Deadline