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Christopher Reeve’s Superman Exists in 5 Mind-Blowing Different Movie Timelines Explained!

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Christopher Reeve portrayed Superman in four beloved DC movies, and his depiction of Clark Kent spans various alternate realities. The groundbreaking film “Superman,” released in 1978 under the direction of Richard Donner, may not have been the first superhero movie, but it was the first significant blockbuster within the genre. The movie’s tremendous success can be attributed to several factors, with one being Donner’s firm commitment to staying faithful to the original material and presenting the film as a genuine epic rather than a satirical spoof. Consequently, the 1978 Superman paved the way for numerous sequels, spin-offs, and the development of the superhero movie genre, with movies like “Batman” (1989) and “Spider-Man” (2002) following suit.

In many popular culture spheres, continuity isn’t as crucial as it is in the superhero comic genre. Publishers like DC and Marvel often build their narratives around maintaining continuity across multiple stories. This intricate web of overlapping timelines is something that longtime enthusiasts of mainstream superhero comics are accustomed to. It’s interesting to note that this concept has also seeped into the adaptations of these superheroes, with films like the Tim Burton Batman series featuring divergent timelines, and Richard Donner’s Superman having multiple universes depicted in sequels and supplementary materials following the original 1978 film.

5. Superman’s Original Timeline Had Three Sequels

Superman Also Spawned A Spin-Off With Supergirl

First comes Superman II (theatrical version), followed by Superman III, and finally Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

During filming, both Superman and Superman II were shot simultaneously at one point, but director Richard Donner was replaced by Richard Lester during the production of the sequel. Donner, who aimed for a more grandiose and sincere tone in the Superman films, left the series, resulting in the sequels taking on a more comedic vibe. After the release of the third film, the canonical spin-off movie Supergirl, featuring Helen Slater’s Kara Zor-El, was released within the Donner universe.

4. Superman II’s Richard Donner Cut Is An Alternate Sequel

THe Theatrical Cut Of Superman II Changed Directors During Production

Initially, Richard Donner didn’t finish his version of the movie “Superman II”. However, in 2006, a revamped and re-edited director’s cut of the film called “Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut” was released. This version of the film incorporates as much of Donner’s original footage as feasible, even including screen tests for Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder during production.

Due to limited available footage from Donner, it was challenging to create a coherent film, so parts of the theatrical cut were utilized to fill in the storyline. In other words, The Richard Donner Cut offers alternate versions of Superman II’s tale and takes place within a timeline that branches off from 1978’s Superman.

3. Superman Returns Ignored Two Superman Sequels

Only Superman And Superman II Are Canon To Superman Returns

In the year 2006, the movie series for Superman was reborn with the film “Superman Returns.” This film acknowledges the original 1978 version of Superman and the theatrical release of Superman II as part of its continuity, but chooses to disregard the events depicted in Superman III and The Quest for Peace. As Supergirl is not referenced, it’s likely that the storyline of the 1984 film “Supergirl” doesn’t align with that of “Superman Returns.” In the year 2019, the adaptation of Superman from “Returns” was integrated into the Arrowverse. It was disclosed in this shared universe that the Joker from Superman’s world murdered Lois Lane and the rest of the Daily Planet staff, leading to a version of Superman heavily influenced by the graphic novel “Kingdom Come.

2. Superman ’78 Continues Donner’s Superman’s Story In Comic Form

In the year 2021, DC Comics introduced a new series titled “Superman ’78,” expanding the storyline from the original Superman film series. The comics unfold following the events depicted in the movie “Superman II” and introduce fresh adversaries like Brainiac and Metallo to the Superman universe. The “Superman ’78” comics further reveal that Jor-El and Lara, Superman’s parents, managed to survive Krypton’s destruction but were trapped within Brainiac’s miniaturized city of Kandor. It’s worth mentioning that this comic series takes place in the same universe as the “Batman ’89” comics, which are another branch of the timeline following “Batman Returns.

1. Superman & Supergirl’s DCEU Cameo Might Have Been Its Own Universe Too

In the 2023 movie “The Flash” within the DC Extended Universe, both Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Helen Slater’s Supergirl make brief appearances. When Barry Allen alters his timeline, different worlds merge, and various realities are depicted, such as the Donner universe.

There’s some debate about which Superman universe from the Donner films is depicted in The Flash, whether it’s the original movie timeline, the ’78 Superman universe, or a new one created accidentally by The Flash changing his own timeline. This is suggested because the film combined elements of the Burton Batman universe with the DCEU after the timeline was altered.

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2025-04-20 01:01

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