Superman Returns premieres this Friday and Brandon Routh is the lucky cast for the lead of Superman. Should I say lucky…or rather eternally doomed? After several well-know actors turned down the job (Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker), superstitions have once again surfaced over the so-called ‘Curse of Superman.’
If you haven’t been informed about the myth, the Superman Curse is a ‘series of misfortunes’ involving those in the creative process of Superman and/or those playing the leading role of Superman. The list reads like the Black Death:
Lane Smith (boss on Louis & Clark series): diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, died June 13, 2005.
Christopher Reeve: paralysed neck down after being thrown from a horse in an equestrian event, died October 10, 2004.
Margot Kidder (Louis Lane): nervous breakdown
Richard Pryor: multiple sclerosis
George Reeves: suicide (shotgun wound)
Kirk Allen: failed career, retired to Arizona
Bud Collyer (cartoon voice of Superman): circulatory ailment; death age 61
Max and Dave Fleisher: forced to sell Paramount pictures shortly after producing Superman animation series.
Writer of Superman Jerry Siegal and artist Shuster: lost rights of Superman to DC Comics; no further work.
…and the list goes on.
While I’m thrilled for Routh, a home-grown American boy from Iowa, and his big career break, I can’t help but worry for him and his obvious fate. It’s a shame. He was a cute one.
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