Video: Superman: The Movie is still one of the most iconic and influential superhero films of all time, its legacy being felt in the superhero movies made today. But it, and the man who swooped in to save it — the legendary Richard Donner — perhaps made their most important impact as inspirations for the careers of both Geoff Johns and Kevin Feige.
Image: Still via Youtube
Today they’re the titans driving the superhero movie genre into blockbuster domination at Marvel and DC. But years ago, both Geoff Johns and Kevin Feige interned for Donner in the earliest phases of their careers in Hollywood — and speaking at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tribute to Donner last night, the two recounted how the real impact Donner had on their careers wasn’t the internships, it was Superman: The Movie, which inspired them to get into moviemaking in the first place.
The video above sees the duo recount some touching tales — about how Feige strives to live up the the verisimilitude Donner championed when bringing Superman to life, or how Johns first saw the original, terrible script for Superman: The Movie that made Donner commit to the film in the first place (so he could rework the script and do justice to a character he adored) — that’s well worth the watch.
The rivalry of DC and Marvel at the box office might be entertaining to see unfold, but it’s nice to remember how both “sides” were inspired by a shared love of one of the best superhero films ever made.