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Out of all the actors who have ever played Clark Kent on the big screen, if there is one who won the hearts of fans from all over the world, it was the late Christopher Reeve. Renowned best for his incredibly remarkable on-screen portrayal of the fan-favorite character in the hitSupermansaga that started in the late 1970s and came to an end nearly a decade later.
However, Reeve didn’t possess an outstandingly magnificent physique like that of Henry Cavill, which seems like a requirement for making the superhero look believable. Regardless, his one real-life skill helped him out in the situation, making him one of the best casting choices to ever play Superman.
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Christopher Reeve’s Real-Life Skill That Helped Him Make Superman Look Believable
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When the late Christopher Reeve was selected for the role of Clark Kent, few might have thought of him as not appropriate to play the role. However, despite not having a physique likeHenry Cavill, his one real-life skill not only helped make his version ofSupermanbelievable but also became a fan-favorite to play their beloved superhero.
This skill was his passion for flying. And he had taken a proper training of the same. Sharing in an interview withThe Washington Posthow this helped him while acting forSuperman, theSomewhere in Timestar said,
“I have 2,500 hours and a commercial license. In the late ’70s, I got interested in gliding and now I fly competition sailplanes here and in the U.K. It all helped in putting over Superman as a human airplane.”
But how did this perfect knowledge of aviation actually help him out in the long run throughout the decade that hisSupermanmovies were shot? Here’s how.
Also Read:“Either he has a big one, or he has nothing!”: Superman Execs Demanded a Special Suit To Display Christopher Reeve’s Superhuman Elements
How Christopher Reeve Used His Passion For Flying For Acting InSuperman
Although he never possessed a physique like that of the ancient Greek Gods nor was able to get help from advanced CGI which was employed by the DC studios years later,Christopher Reeveput his aviation knowledge to use while shootingSupermanto make his character look believable.
Here’s how: Every time he was suspended by a wire to shoot his flying scenes, the late star used to imagine himself as though in flight and replicated his arm movements the same way he would do while flying a plane. Taking inspiration from his learning experiences, he stretched his arms far and wide and twisted his body accordingly while being suspended by a harness.
Not just this, he would also make his body into a streamlined fuselage aka the main body of an aircraft by extending his toes and keeping them pointed at all times to make his body movements seem similar to those of a plane, thus, making his‘acting’of the Man of Steellook believable.
Just like that, with his incredible knowledge coupled with his smart thinking, Christopher Reeve not only continued to pursue his passion for flying while shooting but also ended up making one of the most epicSupermanmovies to ever exist!
Source:The Washington Post
Mahin Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2478
Mahin Sultan is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, where she brings a fresh perspective to entertainment news. Having been in the field for over 3 years now, she has already written more than 2,000 articles across a variety of niches, from entertainment to health and fashion. This diverse experience has allowed her to quickly build a solid foundation and a deep understanding of the industry.
