Interview: Robert Ford on ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’
The upcoming documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story explores the personal life of Christopher Reeve, beyond his portrayal of the iconic superhero in the 1980s. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, delves into Reeve’s rise to stardom and his tragic horse-riding accident in 1995, which left him paralyzed from the neck down. From his Hollywood fame to his advocacy for spinal cord injury treatments and disability rights, the documentary sheds light on Reeve’s personal struggles and enduring legacy.
Producer Robert Ford sat down with us during the 68th BFI London Film Festival to discuss the challenges of bringing Reeve’s multifaceted story to the screen, earning the trust of the Reeve family, and the upcoming cameo of Will Reeve in James Gunn’s Superman film.
Reflecting on the process of the journey that led to the documentary, Ford admits there were moments of doubt. “We always knew it was a very good story, very dramatic, about someone well-known. But you never know if you’re gonna make a good film,” he shares. “There were doubts throughout the process. To ensure that, we worked closely with the Reeve family. And then when we saw the first rough cut we thought, ‘Yes, this is very good.’ But you never really know how good. It’s at the premiere of Sundance that we knew it was special. Until you see it with an audience you can never really know for sure.”
The film uncovers the man behind the cape, focusing on Reeve’s personal life, relationships, and his transformation into an advocate for others after his accident. For Ford and his team, capturing this balance was key. “With someone that famous and iconic, the edit is difficult because you have to think about how much do you include of his Superman character that everybody knows, and how much do you include of the real guy, at home, sitting on his sofa,” he explains. “We wanted to show another kind of heroism because after his accident, he became a much more selfless person, living his life for others. He created foundations to improve people’s lives. He was genuinely one of the good guys.”
A major part of the documentary lies in its authenticity, something Ford credits to the trust he built with Reeve’s family, particularly his children. “They put a lot of trust in the filmmaking team. Many months before the interviews were filmed, his family didn’t want to make a celebrity puff piece. They wanted it to be real and authentic,” he says. “They agreed to give candid and authentic interviews, nothing was censored or off the table, which gave that raw emotion in the film.”
The documentary also features touching tributes from actors who were close to Reeve, including Susan Sarandon and Glenn Close. Ford tells us that securing their participation wasn’t difficult, as they were deeply connected to Reeve. “We didn’t want just commentators. We wanted his personal relationships in the film,” Ford said. “All the actors we approached wanted to do it because they all loved him so much. These are very busy people, so it was just about scheduling. But we were so happy they shared their story with Chris because it really adds something special.”
It has also been revealed that Christopher Reeve’s son, Will Reeve, will appear in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie. Though not much about his role has been disclosed so far, Ford hints at the excitement surrounding this cameo. “It’s going to be great because he looks so much like Chris. He’s very charismatic as well,” Ford notes, adding that Will had only received one page from the script. “I don’t know much about it, but I know that they just sent him one page. He’s playing some sort of Clark Kent reporter type.”
Finally, when asked about his favorite moment from Reeve’s time as Superman, Ford answers right away. “His romance with Lois [Lane], which I think was so beautiful.” A fitting tribute to a man whose on-screen romance inspired audiences and whose off-screen bravery continues to inspire.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story debuts on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Friday, November 1.
