Superman's Many Worlds: Exploring Christopher Reeve's Movie Timelines
Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Superman remains iconic, defining the character for generations. His performance in the original Superman films launched a cinematic legacy that continues to evolve through sequels, spin-offs, and alternate continuities. The complex nature of superhero storytelling, especially within DC Comics, has led to multiple branching timelines stemming from Reeve's initial portrayal of the Man of Steel.
This exploration delves into the five distinct movie timelines associated with Christopher Reeve's Superman, tracing their origins and unique characteristics. From direct sequels to comic book continuations, the legacy of Reeve's Superman continues to expand in unexpected ways.
Superman's Original Timeline: A Quadrilogy of Adventures The initial timeline consists of the first four Superman films. Beginning with the groundbreaking 1978 *Superman*, the story continues in *Superman II* (the theatrical release), followed by *Superman III*, and concludes with *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace*. After Richard Donner's departure, the sequels shifted towards a more comedic tone, diverging from the epic and earnest feel of the original. Between the releases of *Superman III* and *The Quest for Peace*, the spin-off film *Supergirl* (1984) was released. Starring Helen Slater as Kara Zor-El, Supergirl exists within this same cinematic universe, further expanding the world established by Donner's original vision.
The Donner Cut: An Alternate Vision of Superman II Richard Donner's vision for *Superman II* differed significantly from the theatrical release. In 2006, *Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut* was released, piecing together Donner's original footage, including screen tests with Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. This alternate version of *Superman II* presents a different narrative, establishing a separate timeline branching off from the 1978 original. While Donner's footage was used as much as possible, some material from the theatrical cut was necessary to complete the film's narrative.
Superman Returns: A Selective Sequel *Superman Returns*, released in 2006, served as a revival of the film series. This film acknowledges the events of 1978's *Superman* and the theatrical cut of *Superman II* as canon, but it disregards *Superman III* and *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace*.
Furthermore, *Supergirl* is not referenced in *Superman Returns*, suggesting it exists outside of this timeline. The *Superman Returns* version of Superman later appeared in the Arrowverse crossover event in 2019, revealing a dark future for his universe where the Joker murdered Lois Lane and the Daily Planet staff.
Superman '78: Continuing the Story in Comics In 2021, DC Comics launched *Superman '78*, a comic book series set after the events of *Superman II* (likely the theatrical cut). This series introduces new villains, such as Brainiac and Metallo, to the world established in the original films. *Superman '78* also retroactively reveals that Jor-El and Lara survived Krypton's destruction but are trapped within Brainiac's miniaturized city of Kandor. DC has confirmed that these comics are set in the same universe as the *Batman '89* comics, which also represent a branching timeline following *Batman Returns*.
The Flash's Cameos: A Multiversal Mystery The 2023 film *The Flash* features cameo appearances by both Christopher Reeve's Superman and Helen Slater's Supergirl, adding another layer of complexity. As Barry Allen's timeline manipulations cause universes to collide, glimpses of other realities are shown, including a Donner-esque Superman universe. It remains unclear whether the Donner Superman seen in *The Flash* represents the original movie timeline, the *Superman '78* timeline, or a completely new Donner Superman universe accidentally created by The Flash's actions. The film's blending of the Burton Batman universe with the DCEU suggests the latter possibility.