Although comic al-Qur’an movies would n’t set up a full - musical scale invasion of multiplexes until the crook of the twenty-first one C , Richard Donner first prove that a superhero movie could be a feasible blockbuster in 1978 withSuperman : The Movie , which set the templet for every superhero root tale that would surveil .

All these years later , it ’s still one of the best superhero movies ever made . Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster , the fabled comic al-Qur’an giant responsible for for creating the Man of Steel ( and , in a sense , the modern superhero ) , loved the motion-picture show . Here are 10 fascinating details from the hold ofSuperman .

Marlon Brando Received $14 Million For 10 Minutes Of Screen Time

With just 10 minute of screen clock time filmed across 12 days , Marlon Brando got a heck of a payday fromSuperman . He receive a flat fee of $ 3.7 million along with a percent of the movie ’s box office gross , whichresulted in a aggregate of $ 14 million .

Despite at long last being paid more than $ 1 million a sidereal day , Brando still felt he was being abruptly - changed andtried to action the producersfor an additional $ 50 million , which is why he does n’t seem in the sequel .

Gene Hackman Refused To Shave His Head To Play Lex Luthor

The one defining physical feature of Lex Luthor is that he ’s bald . But Gene Hackman reject to shave his head for the office . He evenrefused to wear a bald capin most of his scenes , which is why Lex has a full head of tomentum for most of the motion-picture show .

Instead , Hackman decided that the reference would outwear a clustering of wigs to imply that he was bald underneath them . It ’s like if an actor cast off as the Joker reject to wear clown makeup .

The Movie Was Shooting In New York During The City’s 1977 Blackout

take forSuperman : The Moviewas taking berth in New York during the city ’s famous 1977 blackout . The New York Daily News was only capable to keep publishing through the blackout because theproducers allow the paper apply their generator .

Richard Donner Clashed With The Producers Constantly During Filming

A lot of Hollywood motion-picture show have tale about the creative thinking - minded director clashing with the money - apt producer . Theclashes during product ofSuperman : The Moviewere about the flavor of the integral film .

The Salkinds wanted the movie to be a sappy slapstick drollery , whereas Donner wanted to make a movie that took its story seriously .

Paul Newman Turned Down All Three Lead Roles

Paul Newman was offer the chance totake any of the three wind theatrical role — Superman , Lex Luthor , or Jor - El — with the hope of a $ 4 million payday for whichever part he pick . However , he was n’t concerned in any of them .

repugnance legend Christopher Lee was offered the function of General Zod , buthe had to turn it down , because he ’d just go to Hollywood to escape Britain ’s revenue enhancement andSupermanwas partially shoot in Britain .

Christopher Reeve Got Into Shape With The Help Of David Prowse, aka Darth Vader

Now that there are dozens of thespian getting jacked up to play superheroes every year , a movie star getting in shape to play a comic Christian Bible persona is nothing new . But back in the ‘ 70s , there was no go - to superhero exercising .

for bulk up to convincingly play Superman , Christopher Reeve work out with muscle builder David Prowse , the hulking actor who played the physical front ( but not the voice ) ofDarth Vader in theStar Warsoriginal trilogy .

Steven Spielberg Was Asked To Direct, But Charged Too Much Money

Steven Spielberg was offered the luck to directSuperman : The Movie , but the salary he demanded was too much for the producers . They adjudicate to wait forhis then - forthcoming “ Pisces movie,”Jaws , to hit dramatics before deciding if they want to stamp up the money .

Of course , that Pisces movie was very successful , becoming the high grossing film of all time , but ironically , it was so successful thatSpielberg was offered a ton of other projectsand leftSupermanin his dust .

Marlon Brando Read His Lines Off The Baby’s Diaper

As common , Marlon Brando wasa nightmare to puzzle out withonSuperman . He refused to hear his dialogue , order Richard Donner that it was the only way to keep his carrying out authentic , so his lines had to bewritten on baby Kal - El ’s diaperfor him to take while the camera were rolling .

It was Brando ’s estimate   — paint a picture flippantly   — forSuperman ’s “ S ” logo to be a family crest . This is now accepted canon and has since made it into the comics .

The Original Screen Tests For Superman’s Flight Looked Terrible, But Christopher Reeve Saved It

The first screen test for Superman ’s flight looked dreadful , and the manufacturer could n’t project out why until Christopher Reeve was shooting the fibre ’s first flight of stairs shot .

As an experienced glider pilot , he was familiar with aerodynamics , andmoved his body to designate when Superman was turning . short , Superman ’s flight look a muckle more credible , and the producers take in what was missing from the examination footage .

Muhammad Ali And Elton John Were Considered For The Role Of Superman

Then - unknown Christopher Reeve was cast as Superman so that the audience would see the character , not a big hotshot . But before the producers came to this termination , a turn of establish stars were view for the part .

These include traditional action superstar , like Sylvester Stallone , Arnold Schwarzenegger , and Charles Bronson ; well-thought-of thespians , like Al Pacino , Dustin Hoffman , James Caan , and Robert Redford ; and outside - the - box picks , like box legend Muhammad Ali and euphony superstar Elton John . Thecasting hunting got so desperateat one point that one of the producers considered contrive his wife ’s tooth doctor , and even gave the dentist a screen psychometric test .

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