Warner Bros. Acquires Documentary SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY; James Gunn Pushed for It
Warner Bros. has officially acquired the beautifully made Christopher Reeve documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. It makes complete sense that the doc would land at Warner Bros. due to the history and relationship they had with Reeve as he was the ultimate Superman.
The studio acquired the rights to Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story for $15 million after a bidding was with several other studios and streamers.
I had the opportunity to watch this film and Sundance, and it was an incredible film that had me in tears from start to finish. It was an insanely emotional movie, and I guarantee, any fans of Reeve are going to walk out of watching this movie with tears streaming down their faces. You can read my review of the film here.
Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said in a statement: "Everyone at Warner Bros. Discovery is incredibly proud to come together as one company to partner with Christopher Reeve's family and the filmmakers behind Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and bring his personal journey to audiences the world over. WBD's DC Studios, Warner Bros. Motion Pictures, HBO, CNN Films and Max are grateful for the opportunity to honor one of our company's most cherished creative partners and to celebrate Christopher's rich life and career."
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed the acquisition in a social media post, revealing that he and co-CEO Peter Safran personally helped the film find its home at Warner Bros. He said: "I saw the stunningly beautiful documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story a couple weeks ago. It emotionally floored me. Peter & I knew DC Studios needed to be involved & I'm grateful to Peter & our WBD family at Warner Bros, HBO, CNN & Max having worked so hard to acquire it. It's a wonderful film by wonderful filmmakers not only for people like me who love Reeve's work but for everyone."
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story chronicles the life of actor Christopher Reeve after a horseback riding accident leaves him permanently paralyzed from the neck down. Using intimate footage of Reeve and his family, directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui paint a picture of a real-life hero known for his iconic role as Superman. To people who knew him and spent time with him, he was so much more than that. He was a champion for the disabled community, and Bonhôte and Ettedgui made it their mission to make that a focal point of the film, highlighting not just Reeve's legacy but that of his children, who work to carry out his mission through The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Will Reeve, Christopher Reeve's youngest son, said: "You might think you know Superman, or the advocate, or whatever version of Christopher Reeve you think you know, but then you get to see him as a dad."
I’m excited for all of you to eventually get a chance to see this movie.