Richard Donner on Superman, Directing Again, and The Goonies Musical

Obviously finding the perfect Superman is the key to making a good Superman. What was it about Christopher Reeve that stood out to you initially?

Chris came in, and we were casting in New York, and I always say the reason he got the job was that we were on the 55th floor and he flew in. But he was 25 pounds skinner than he was in the film. His hair was honey brown; he had good strong features, but he blew me away as an actor. Then I went downtown, to the Village, and saw him in a play, and I thought he was really great. He came back and we talked, and I said, 'Look, I really respect you as an actor, and I think you've got a lot going for you.' And he really was inside Superman. But I said, 'This guy is Superman. He looks like Superman. But he's got to be buff. He's got to be our hero that we've known since the 30s.' And he said, 'When I decided to become an actor, I lost 25 pounds. I used to be a jock.' So I said, 'You're telling me the truth.' He said, 'I swear to you.' I said, 'Well, I'm gonna go on a limb, pal.' And we went on a limb.

David Prowse (who played Darth Vader in Star Wars) -- he came in and was Chris' trainer. Months and months and months. Everyday you could see the difference. He built up, and he built up. He was -- in his mind, as an actor -- he was Superman. And then there are others out there that are and could be wonderful in the role, but to me -- in my heart -- there will always be one Superman. [Pauses] And I will miss him forever.

He is the person people think about when they think of Superman now. Henry Cavill certainly has a lot to live up to.

You know what, that's very right. He's got a lot to live up to. But he's really qualified; as long as he has the belief in the character that is required of any good actor, he'll bring him to life.

Which is a roundabout way of talking about the new Superman reboot. Zack Snyder is directing -- as a former Superman director, what would you tell him given the opportunity?

Hey, good luck, Zack Snyder! He's the new kid on the block, I'm the old fart. I wish him all the love and luck in the world. I do that for anyone who is making a movie. It's such a tough process. Anybody that I know that's making a movie, I wish them all the luck in the world.

Speaking of making movies: Your last directing credit is 16 Blocks. Are you comfortable with that being your last film? Do you want to direct again?

I want to direct again, but I only want to direct -- it's tough. I have the opportunity to direct some films on a fairly -- somewhat -- regular basis. But, it's got to be something different. I can't just go back to things that I've done in the past. I have a wonderful life now -- if I'm going to give up those days and months, it has to be something I'm really dedicated to. I assume it will come along. [Dramatically] I assume it will come along!

One of your other beloved past projects is The Goonies. Any update on the Broadway musical adaptation that has been discussed for the past year?

We're really trying extraordinarily hard to get it made. It's a tough road -- Broadway is another world totally -- and hopefully, probably around September, we'll be talking a lot more positively. We have Tim Long doing the book, and it's quite good. The process on Broadway is another world. But if we're going there with Goonies -- which has such a great following, a great life -- it has got to be the right thing. Hopefully we'll be presenting it to you in the spring of the following year.

I would imagine the recent run of successful film-to-stage adaptations has made things a bit easier: The Producers, Catch Me If You Can...

Hopefully they all succeed! But if they do, it's going to make it easier for the next one. But Goonies has an incredible following, and we must be true to it. Hopefully Broadway accepts what has worked for Goonie fans before. If they do, we're a hit; if they don't...

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