Superman in film the script, giving it a serious feel with Christ-like overtones. Christopher Reeve was cast as Superman, having initially failed to impress the Salkinds before bulking up. Brando meanwhile, despite spending less than two weeks on the shoot, and not even reading the script until then, earned $3.7 million up front, plus 11.75% of the gross profits from the film. The film was a success both critically and commercially, being released during the Christmas season of 1978; it did not have much competition, leading the producers to believe that this was one factor in the film's success. Shooting of the two
Christopher Reeve wheelchair to get in and out of cars. Reeve was then offered the lead in "Kidnapped", to be shot in Ireland. He was excited to be going to Ireland, and he and Dana decided that they would conceive their second child there. Reeve also planned to direct his first big screen film, a romantic comedy entitled "Tell Me True". Not long after making these plans, the family went to Culpeper, Virginia, for an equestrian competition. Following the first Superman movie, Reeve realized that Hollywood producers wanted him to be an action star. He later said, "I found most of the