Richard Donner is a renowned American filmmaker who has delivered some of the most successful movies in Hollywood. The late filmmaker’s work was appreciated by fans and critics alike. Donner has covered multiple genres in his more than 50 years of career. Despite covering multiple genres in his long successful career, Donner is well-characterized for creating some of the most impactful action films. One of the breakthroughs took place in the late filmmaker’s career at the advent of 1976, The Omen.
Donner’s notable work includes Tales from the Crypt, Ladyhawke, Salt and Pepper, Made Men, and many others. But the late filmmaker will always be remembered for delivering the most iconic movie across the globe, i.e, Superman. The movie is acclaimed as the stepping stone for today’s superhero cinematic universes. Donner’s work in the 1978 Superman worked as a reference for many other future superhero movies. But the iconic filmmaker had something really important to share about the modification of Superman in Zack Synder’s era where Henry Cavill played the role of Clark Kent aka Superman.
Richard Donner On The Iconic Character Of Superman
The Omen director took the command for directing the superhero movie concerning the most well-known and epic superhero character of all time. Over the years, several comic books have been published that modify the story of Superman in one way or the other. But the responsibility to make a successful superhero movie at that time while delivering the original story was surely a tough task. The 1978 Superman movie was highly appreciated by the fans. Donner shared his opinions as he recalled the times when he decided to deliver the commercially successful superman movie.
“I took a challenge that was very exciting for me. I did it because, essentially, when I read what they were doing, I just felt I had to step in and try and save what I felt was a respectful area for Superman.”
Also Read: Good Superhero Movies That Were Spoiled Because The Higher Ups Kept Meddling
Richard Donner On The Evolution Of Superman
Richard Donner shared his views on his movie being used as a precedent for future Superman movies. Donner added that it was never his concern while making the movie. Donner claimed that the sole purpose of creating the movie was to successfully revive the fan-favorite comic character.
“We decided that we wanted to make this close to reality. If this set some sort of a precedent, it wasn’t our intention, which was strictly to make a good movie about this beloved character and treat him with our greatest respect. That’s where we ended up, and when you say it set a precedent, I wish it was retained.”
The director of Ladyhawke criticized the modern adaption of Superman’s character as he subtly called Zack Synder for misaligning the character of Superman from his initial creation. It looked like Henry Cavill’s depiction of the red cape superhero was not much appreciated by the late filmmaker.
“I don’t see Superman as the way he’s being treated today, which is in a very dark fashion. He was a fantasy that really believed in ‘Truth, Justice, and the American Way.’ He believed it, and it gave him an aura. If that line came out as a joke, we were f*cked and we knew it. Until we had the first screening, it was, in my mind, very scary. We treated him as a reality. His reality had to be good in life by our comparison, but at the same time, totally real to him, and it worked, surprisingly.”
Richard Donner continued to mark that the golden ages of filmmaking and writing are gone and the present day is the dark era of movie making. Richard Donner believed that Superman may be a fantasy but in the past, the viewers believed in him, unlike today’s scenario which has disheartened the iconic movie maker.
“Well, it’s a matter of how the stories are being told. I think we’re in strange, dark days of moviemaking, but Superman was a hero. He was a fantasy, but we believed him. He’s not treated like that anymore. I’m not happy with it but I have nothing to say except to you.”
Things have changed a lot ever since the late actor passed his comments. There is neither Zack Synder nor Henry Cavill. The new co-CEOs have dismantled the Snyderverse in the hope to create a better DC universe.
Source: Den Of Geek
