Six actors who have all donned the iconic cape of Superman gathered at MegaCon Orlando on 8th February to pay tribute to the late Christopher Reeve.
The panel celebrated Reeve’s legacy as the Man of Steel and discussed the impact he had on their portrayals of the character.
‘SUPERMAN’ ACTORS UNITE
Tyler Hoechlin ( Superman & Lois), Brandon Routh ( Superman Returns), and Dean Cain ( Lois & Clark) appeared together, according to People.
Tim Daly ( Superman: The Animated Series), George Newbern ( Justice League animated series) and Tom Welling ( Smallville), also attended the event.
The actors shared stories and reflected on Reeve’s influence, both on and off the screen.
Tom Welling, who starred as Clark Kent in Smallville for ten seasons, recalled working with Reeve on the show.
CHRISTOPHER REEVES AND TOM WELLING
Reeve played scientist Virgil Swann in a season 2 episode. Welling said that the experience made him “walk away from wanting to be a better person”.
Welling recounted a humorous anecdote from their time on set. The initial plan was for Reeve to film his scenes separately, according to Collider.
However, Reeve insisted on staying to work with Welling, leading to a longer day of filming.
“He was like, ‘No I’m not leaving.’ And long story short, it got to the point about eight hours into the day and they turned around filming my scenes with him”.
THE PRESSURE OF BEING SUPERMAN
Welling also noted Reeve’s positive attitude and sense of humour despite his physical challenges.
“You didn’t feel sorry for him at all,” Welling said. “He was telling jokes the whole time. We had a riot, he was cracking up… We just had great banter. I had a lot of fun with him”.
Brandon Routh, who played Superman in Superman Returns, spoke about the pressure of taking on the role after Reeve, according to Screen Rant.
He remembered being “tasked with transitioning the character from Chris playing the character”.
THE ORIGINAL ‘SUPERMAN’ MOVIES
“It was always gonna be like Chris,” Routh explained. “Even if it was some other movie, some other version of that slightly altered Superman, because I wasn’t playing Chris.
I wasn’t playing Superman. [I was] playing the feeling, the love when you’re Superman”. Routh added that he truly understood this sentiment later in his career.
Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Superman remains iconic. He first played the role in the 1978 film Superman.
The film spawned three sequels, all starring Reeve. Despite a 1995 equestrian accident that left him paralysed, Reeve continued to inspire many. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 52.
THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
A new documentary, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, explores Reeve’s life, career, and his family’s support following his accident.
The film features interviews with Reeve’s children, his late wife Dana Reeve, and friends like Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close.
JAMES GUNN MOVIE
The MegaCon tribute occurred ahead of the release of James Gunn’s Superman reboot. David Corenswet will star as the newest Man of Steel. Reeve’s son, Will Reeve, will also make a cameo in the film.
“I know the folks making the film, and they’ve been so kind to me and my family, and I had a free day so we made it [happen],” Will said.
Will added that he was more nervous doing the cameo than his normal job. “Blink and you’ll miss it,” he joked.
The actors’ tribute serves as a reminder of Reeve’s lasting impact on the Superman franchise. His legacy continues to inspire actors and fans alike.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUPERMAN ACTOR AND WHY?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
