Often considered the trailblazer in the film industry for creating a legacy associated with comic book roles in cinema, Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Superman in the nostalgic films of the ’70s and ’80s of the same name is still remembered as one of the most iconic in history. Even after his reign as the Man of Steel ended, his legacy stood the test of time and kept inspiring generations of actors.
His accolades and influence may be remembered now, but many stars as well as the public in the past knew he was destined for greatness right from the start. In fact, the late film industry legend John Wayne himself called out Reeve as one of the stars who would go on to take Hollywood by storm in the future after him and others.
John Wayne Called Out Christopher Reeve As The Next Big Thing In The Film Industry
This happened all the way back on the night of the 1979 Academy Awards when John Wayne was brought onto the stage to be honored by the guests with a standing ovation. The Oscars of 1979 marked the 50th anniversary of the prestigious awards, and coincidently, it also marked 50 years of Wayne’s career in the industry.
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Thus, elated and a little emotional being on stage, the star was there to present the award for Outstanding Picture of the Year, which Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter took home. According to Ability Magazine during the ceremony, Wayne met Christopher Reeve for the first time in his life, and when he did, he immediately turned to his fellow star Cary Grant and told him:
“This is our new man. He’s taking over.”
This was a very heavy claim to make especially considering the invaluable influence that Wayne had left in the industry before Reeve. Thus, such a legendary actor claiming to another that the Somewhere in Time star would become the next big thing in Hollywood was quite the honor and expectation that Reeve had to make good upon.
This was also the year that Wayne left the world behind when he died on 11th June 1979, making this moment even more heartfelt. And just like the El Dorado star predicted, Reeve would go on to become an icon of the industry for generations to come.
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How Christopher Reeve Was Affected Making Good On That Promise
As was predicted by Wayne, Reeve would go on to play the role of the Symbol of Hope in the film industry for almost a decade after his initial appearance as Superman in 1978.
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But in creating that legacy, the star would also lose a lot playing his most iconic character. As is evident in many cases even today, once you play an unforgettable icon in your career, you are typecast into that role whether you would like to or not. This is what happened with Reeve as well, who rarely got other roles in other projects that weren’t related to anything comic book.
Superman, streaming on Sky Cinema.
