Superman, one of the most iconic fictional characters of all time, remains a staple of popular culture, recognizable worldwide through his emblematic symbol and his instantly recognizable suit. Even after decades since his inception, the interest surrounding Superman is undeniable, particularly evident with James Gunn's recent Superman trailer becoming the most viewed trailer in DC and Warner Bros. history. Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie, released on December 15, 1978, was pivotal, marking the moment superheroes began their ascension onto the silver screen.
The film showcased Christopher Reeve's brilliant portrayal of Superman, igniting Hollywood's interest in adapting beloved comic book characters for film. Yet the biggest name attached to the project was none other than Marlon Brando, whose approach to his character was anything but conventional. Known for his exceptional talents, Brando's star power brought with it unexpected quirks, including his unconventional suggestion for how Kryptonians, his character Jor-El included, should look.
Strikingly, prior to even starting the film, Donner sought advice on how to manage Brando's exceptional nature, consulting acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola. He learned it might be best to let the actor tire himself out during discussions. Brando's agent Jay Cantor warned Donner: Brando typically wanted to minimize his screen presence and, ideally, could convince filmmakers to utilize creative visuals instead of his appearance. Brando even proposed the idea of filming a green suitcase and overlaying his voice—a facet of his character he was eager to avoid.
Yet Brando went even more outrageous with his creative directives. Discussing the portrayal of Jor-El, Brando claimed, “Well, this is Krypton. Nobody knows what the people on Krypton look like. What if we look like bagels, but I’m going to make my son look like a human because that's where I’m sending him – to Earth – but everybody else on Krypton looks like bagels. That would really be original.” Donner acknowledged this was, technically, steeped in originality, as there was no established visual representation of life on other planets.
Yet before Brando could move forward with this unique vision, Donner skillfully highlighted the audiences’ familiarity with what Jor-El traditionally looked like, averting what could have been the most bizarre visual of Krptonians ever imagined. Luckily for audiences, the film would feature Brando himself, rather than the prospect of bagel aliens, even amid the actor's calculated attempts at avoiding on-camera work.
Brando’s hefty price tag reflected his unparalleled influence. Earned at $3.7 million, Brando commanded the highest salary among the cast, receiving 11.75% of the backend profits. Unbelievably, this was for less than 20 minutes of actual screen time achieved over just under two weeks of filming. Comparatively, Christopher Reeve, the titular superhero, received merely $250,000 for his groundbreaking role.
Despite the disparity in earnings, audiences can still appreciate the investment's payoff—Marlon Brando gracing the screen instead of potential bagels. The whimsical nature of Brando’s requests exemplified the creative pushback filmmakers would sometimes need to canvass when capturing the essence of the superhero genre. Today, Superman: The Movie stands as one of the most defining works of its kind, demonstrating the broader potential for comic book adaptations delivered with sincere creativity.
With its groundbreaking approach to storytelling and character development, the film secured Superman's place not just as a hero of comic books, but as an archetype of cinematic mythology. Stream the iconic film, Superman: The Movie, currently available on Max, to witness why this 1978 classic continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
