Christopher Reeve on Filming Superman III, Physical Regimen, and Acting Philosophy

Filming Superman III and Character Portrayal

• 🎬 Christopher Reeve discusses the challenges of filming "Superman III," noting that it took time to re-engage with the physical demands and concentration required.
• 🎭 He approached the role with the same eagerness as the first "Superman" film, avoiding "sequelitis" and feeling invested in the project.
• 🧠 Reeve highlights the confrontation scene between Superman and his evil counterpart as one of the richest parts of the movie, describing it as surreal and a bit scary.
• 🏋️ He explains that he filmed the Clark Kent scenes separately from the evil Superman scenes, without experiencing significant anxiety during production.

Physical Training and Regimen

• 🏃‍♂️ Reeve details his physical regimen for Superman, which involves intense training, including racquetball and bike training, to build muscle and slim down.
• 🥗 He humorously states that when not preparing for Superman, he wishes he could play a thinner character, as his roles often require him to be gaunt or looking unwell.
• 🚫 He admits to disliking the vanity of gym workouts, preferring activities like cycling for heart health over pure muscle building.
• 💪 While he acknowledges looking more muscular in "Superman III," he attributes it partly to weight fluctuations and the iconic "S" symbol being half the work.

Stunt Work and On-Screen Heroics

• ✈️ Reeve differentiates between flying and stunt work, stating he doesn't consider flying as stunts, which has become a matter-of-fact part of his performance.
• 🤫 The goal for "Superman III" was to make the flying so casual that audiences wouldn't even notice it, a shift from "Superman I's" campaign of "You'll believe a man can fly."
• 🤝 He emphasizes a collaborative approach with director Dick Lester, valuing input on how and where to film flying sequences.
• 🌟 Reeve prefers an underplayed, less blustery style of heroism, believing it appeals more to modern audiences who are exposed to many flawed public figures.

Evolving Hero Archetypes and Acting Philosophy

• 💡 He believes that in 1983, society has advanced enough that heroes don't need to overtly prove their masculinity or women their domesticity.
• ❤️ A true hero, in his view, is someone with a romantic soul who can connect with others and genuinely care, striving to make Superman someone who reaches out effortlessly.
• 🎭 Reeve finds playing Clark Kent more fun at times, experimenting with a less bumbling persona that reflects his farm upbringing, contrasting with his city-dweller act.
• 🎬 He discusses turning down roles like "American Gigolo" and "Body Heat" based on script and believability, not image concerns, making decisions independently of his Superman association.
• 🎯 Reeve dislikes the trend of forcing entertainment for the youth market at the expense of good filmmaking, advocating for films to be made for their intended audiences.

Fame, Anonymity, and Acting Advice

• 🌟 Reeve reflects on the loss of anonymity after "Superman I," initially feeling embarrassed by the attention but eventually accepting it with encouragement from friends.
• 🎭 He shares advice from Katharine Hepburn, emphasizing the commandment to "be fascinating" and avoid being "mushy" (muddled thinking, lack of ambition, etc.).
• 💡 Hepburn's advice to "not apologize for yourself" and to "act with certainty" has stayed with him, highlighting the importance of revealing oneself through acting rather than hiding.
• 🚀 He believes acting and living are intertwined, and that an actor's role is to reveal who they are and what they care about, not to conceal themselves behind a character.