How ‘Superman’ almost made Gene Hackman turn his back on Hollywood: “I was tired”
For many actors, the chance to star in a superhero movie is one that happens towards the later part of their career, perhaps after the realisation that they have done everything else, so why not give it a go? It’s a deal with the devil and journey to the dark side that many embark on, whether it be Robert Redford’s final acting role in a Marvel movie or Florence Pugh‘s recent transition to purely commercial cinema after a good run in the realm of independent cinema.
It can be disappointing to see an actor or filmmaker you admire making this switch, with cinephiles collectively groaning when seeing that Chloé Zhao and Barry Jenkins would direct Disney live-action remakes and off-brand superhero movies. While many don’t see an issue with it, Gene Hackman was his own worst critic and immediately regretted his decision to star in a Superman movie, afterwards taking a temporary hiatus and rethinking his entire creative philosophy.
Hackman was the everyman of Hollywood and one of the most unconventional stars of all time, breathing life into everyday characters that allowed many to see themselves reflected on the big screen. After roles in Bonnie and Clyde, The Conversation and The French Connection, he was seen as the ultimate character actor through his brooding intensity and plunging emotional depths, allowing him to portray anyone and everyone, and perhaps influencing his eventual decision to try his hand at playing a comic book villain.
Superman, directed in 1978 by Richard Donner, saw Christopher Reeves reprising the iconic character, something that was later done by the likes of Henry Cavill and Dean Cain. But within this universe, there is always someone who needs to play the bad guy, with Hackman signing on to play Lex Luthor in this iteration of the story.
While it might offer some interesting creative possibilities for actors who play the bad guys, Hackman admitted that he was more interested in the financial compensation that came with this role, discussing how his poor childhood influenced his desire to earn as much as possible, with the actor saying, “’I did the poor-boy thing. I was very determined to be successful. I had a number of houses, and cars, and airplanes. It was like the empty barrel that doesn’t have a bottom to it.”
This was the reason for his involvement in the Superman film, later describing his regret over this decision and how it led him to seriously rethink his choices. After the movie was released, Hackman said, “I was tired. I couldn’t get myself motivated to work. I wanted to do repertory theatre. There wasn’t a repertory theatre in my town. It was a lot of fantasy.” After this point, the actor decided to take a short break from the industry and rethink his approach, with a few years off to clear his head and hone his focus towards the stories he really cared about.
Sometimes we all get a little lost, and it’s a common challenge when oversaturated with wealth and opportunities in an industry that never stops. But for Hackman, hitting pause on his work ethic after his brief stint as Lex Luthor was enough to restore his creative spark and sanity.
