412. Superman: The Movie Executive Producer Ilya Salkind

Ilya Salkind is one of the movie’s executive producers that started the superhero genre. Superman: The Movie in 1978 taught audiences that you can believe a man can fly. Salkind’s father Alexander acquired the rights to make the movie, and its sequels, Superman II and Superman III. He also exec-produced 1984’s Supergirl starring Helen Slater.

In this episode, Salkind gives an in-depth conversation about making those movies. He discussed casting Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, and the legendary Marlon Brando. He also revealed that there was a draft of a never-made Superman V. Entitled Superman Reborn, this script was performed recently as a stage reading, the audio of which will be featured in next week’s podcast episode. Salkind explains how the idea of doing the reading came to be, and how he uncovered the draft of Superman Reborn. Proceeds from the reading went to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

See the stage reading here: https://youtu.be/urF2GcPhUFA?si=y-ALRvWhpt77Q-Rz