Inspirational Documentary Proves Heroes Don’t Always Wear Capes

What is a hero? The new documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, and the trailer released today by Warner Bros. Pictures, suggests the actor fit the bill even more than the caped superhero he played.

From McQueen directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, the doc tells the inspiring story of Reeve, from his days as an unknown actor to movie star. Beginning with 1978’s Superman, Reeve brought the iconic character back into the spotlight, playing the role in a total of four films and becoming what many consider the definitive portrayal of the caped superhero.

But Reeve is also known for the tragic – if ultimately inspirational – horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. As the trailer points out, his initial despair was replaced by a passion for disability rights and care and for the people he loved.

The film includes never-before-seen home movies and a trove of personal archive material, as well as the first extended interviews ever filmed with Reeve’s three children about their father, and interviews with the A-list Hollywood actors including Reeve’s lifelong best friend Robin Williams.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is produced by Passion Pictures and Misfits Entertainment. New York-based production studio Words + Pictures financed and produced the film. The film is a presentation of DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films and Words+Pictures.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story will play in theaters on September 21, with an encore presentation to follow on the late actor’s birthday, September 25. Deadline has reported that an international theatrical rollout is forthcoming at a date not yet disclosed.