In addition to being known for his portrayal of Superman, the late Christopher Reeve inspired many fans through his activism. After a life-changing horse riding accident in 1995 left him paralyzed from the neck down, Christopher started advocating for spinal cord injury research and working to improving quality of life for people impacted by paralysis. While his story of resilience is inspiring to many, he wasn't always so hopeful.
After the accident, he felt as though he had ruined his own life, footage from Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story has revealed.
In footage from a trailer for the documentary, Christopher explained how his wife, Dana Reeve, gave him the strength to keep going when he was at a low point in his life.
Christopher and Dana got married in 1992, about three years before Christopher's equestrian accident. They welcomed their son William Reeve, who is now 32, the same year they got married. After the accident, Christopher was concerned about his ability to be an adequate partner and parent.
"I won’t be able to ski, sail, throw a ball to [my son]," Christopher thought after his injury, according to the trailer. "Won’t be able to make love to Dana. Maybe we should let me go."
But Dana "said the words that saved [his] life."
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He recalled the words Dana said to him that changed his perspective and gave him hope for his future: "You’re still you. And I love you."
The documentary is set to be released in theaters on September 21, 2024. The film was directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui and features interviews with Christopher's three children, Will, Matthew Reeve, 44 and Alexandra Reeve Givens, 40. It also features archive footage of their late parents, and interviews with other celebrities, including Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg.
Earlier in 2024, Alexandra spoke about her father's legacy and how it's captured in the film. "There are so many different parts of his personality and his passions that come through in the film," she said, per Deadline.
She noted that Christopher, who died in 2004, was "dedicated to his craft" and maintained that dedication even after his accident, "showing that a disability wouldn’t hold him back."
"So that legacy of what it is to care about your career and keep moving even after overwhelming obstacles is one key part of it," she continued. "But the other part is his life as an advocate. He was an activist again before the injury. And then after the injury, of course, he became known around the world for his advocacy, for medical research and for disability rights."
