Editing Superman II (section)

== Production history ==
{{See also|Superman (1978 film)#Production}}
{{Multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 300
| image1            = Richard Donner (4505771045) (cropped).jpg
| alt1              = Donner in 1979.
| image2            = Richard Lester.jpg
| alt2              = Lester in 1967.
| footer            = Original director, Richard Donner (left, pictured in 1979) was fired during production in 1979 and was replaced by Richard Lester (right, pictured in 1967).
}}

=== Original production ===
[[Principal photography]] for both ''Superman'' films began on March 28, 1977 at [[Pinewood Studios]] for the Krypton scenes, but by May 1977, production had run two weeks behind schedule.{{sfn|Scivally|2008|p=83}} It was reported that Donner had developed tensions with [[Alexander Salkind|Alexander]] and [[Ilya Salkind]] and [[Pierre Spengler]] concerning the escalating production budget and production schedule. Donner responded by claiming he was never given a budget.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/14/movies/the-life-and-exceedingly-hard-times-of-superman.html|title=The Life and Exceedingly Hard Times of Superman|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|at=Section 2, p. 1|date=June 14, 1981|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013135/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/14/movies/the-life-and-exceedingly-hard-times-of-superman.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 1977, [[Richard Lester]]—who had previously directed ''[[The Three Musketeers (1973 live-action film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' (1973) and ''[[The Four Musketeers (1974 film)|The Four Musketeers]]'' (1974) for the Salkinds—came onboard the project as an uncredited [[Film producer|associate producer]] and [[intermediary]] on ''Superman'' to mediate the relationship between Donner and the Salkinds, who were no longer on speaking terms.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/383383074/ |title=Short Takes |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |at=Part IV, p. 6 |date=July 13, 1977 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009052722/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/383383074/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to this, Lester had won a lawsuit against the Salkinds for money still owed to him from making the films, but the assets were held in legal entanglements in the [[Bahamas]]. The Salkinds then offered to compensate him if he would help on the ''Superman'' films, in which Lester became a [[second unit]] director where he and Donner formed an effective partnership.{{sfn|Rossen|2008|pp=93–94}}{{sfn|Weldon|2013|pp=185–186}}

By October 1977, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, and Valerie Perrine had completed their scenes. They were all under contract to finish both pictures. Nevertheless, with months left of filming, the Salkinds had halted filming ''Superman II'', of which Donner had shot 75 percent, to focus on finishing ''Superman''.{{sfn|Scivally|2008|pp=86–87}}<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Fyrbourne|first=Richard|title=The Man Behind Superman: Richard Donner|magazine=[[Starlog]]|date=January 1979|pages=40–44}}</ref> During the pause in filming, the Salkinds agreed to a [[negative pickup deal]] with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], granting the studio rights to foreign distribution and television airings in exchange for more financing.{{sfn|Scivally|2008|pp=87–88}}

=== Replacing Richard Donner ===
Following the release of ''Superman'' in December 1978, Spengler encountered ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' columnist [[Army Archerd]] at a Christmas party at which he confirmed that while there had been tension between him and Donner, he was proud of the film and looked forward to working with him on the sequel. Archerd then contacted Donner, who responded "If he's on it—I'm not."<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga Of Superman|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtYkdt4LjiY&index=4&list=PLvJw6yjjzAGsUjPyNDtLxueR3PcouvcWl |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/EtYkdt4LjiY |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|type=Documentary film|publisher=[[Warner Home Video]]|format=DVD|year=2006|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Two days after the first film's general release, [[Marlon Brando]] had sued the Salkinds for $50 million claiming he had never received his percentage of the film's gross and filed a restraining order to prevent the use of his likeness. While his restraining order request was thrown out, Brando received $15 million from the settlement.{{sfn|Rossen|2008|p=106}} Following this, producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind announced that Marlon Brando's completed scenes for ''Superman II'' would be excised from the movie to avoid having to pay the actor the reported 11.75%<ref name="budget">{{cite web|last=Morris|first=Clint|url=http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20060511_exclusive_interview_ilya_salki.html|title=Exclusive Interview: Ilya Salkind|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623024024/http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20060511_exclusive_interview_ilya_salki.html |website=Moviehole.net|archive-date=June 23, 2006}}</ref> of gross U.S. box-office takings he was now demanding for his performance in the sequel. In addition to this, Ilya Salkind had also claimed Brando was removed due to creative differences, in which he suggested to his father: "What if it's the mother [instead]? She talks about love to her son. And it kind of made sense creatively....Jor-El had done his thing if you want."<ref name="Salkind-interview">{{cite interview|url=https://www.supermanhomepage.com/movies/movies.php?topic=interview-salkind|last=Freiman|first=Barry|title=One-on-One Interview with Producer Ilya Salkind|website=Superman Homepage|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005192504/https://www.supermanhomepage.com/movies/movies.php?topic=interview-salkind|url-status=live}}</ref> Donner publicly lambasted this decision, in which he told ''Variety'', "That means no games... They have to want me to do it. It has to be on my terms and I don't mean financially. I mean control."{{sfn|Scivally|2008|p=91}}

As Donner had become unavailable because he was promoting ''Superman'' in Europe, the Salkinds approached [[Guy Hamilton]] to take over directional reins for ''Superman II'' since Lester was filming ''[[Cuba (film)|Cuba]]'' (1979) at the time. Hamilton was unavailable, but by the time ''Superman II'' was ready to begin filming, Lester had completed ''Cuba'' and was available to direct.{{sfn|Scivally|2008|pp=91–92}} Eventually, on March 15, 1979, the Salkinds decided to replace Donner with Richard Lester. Donner recalled, "One day, I got a telegram from them saying my services are no longer needed and that my dear friend Richard Lester would take over. To this day, I have not heard from them." Ilya Salkind countered, "Dick Donner said, 'I will do the second movie on my terms and without [Pierre] Spengler' ... Spengler was my friend since childhood and my father and I were very loyal guys. We said no, and it really boiled down to that."{{sfn|Tye|2013|p=232}}

The decision to replace Donner was controversial amongst the cast and crew.{{sfn|Tye|2013|p=232}} Creative consultant [[Tom Mankiewicz]] was approached by [[Terry Semel]], then a Warner Bros. vice president, to return for the sequel, but he declined out of loyalty to Donner. Mankiewicz recounted, "I have a lot of respect for [Lester]. Friendship is more important than anything. And Dick [Donner] brought me on the picture and my loyalty was with Dick and I couldn't believe that they fired him."<ref>{{cite interview|url=http://www.capedwonder.com/the-2006-tom-mankiewicz-interview/|title=The 2006 Tom Mankiewicz Interview|website=CapedWonder|date=2006|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425021559/https://www.capedwonder.com/the-2006-tom-mankiewicz-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Rossen|2008|pp=114–115}} Editor [[Stuart Baird]] also declined to return for the sequel. Gene Hackman declined to return for re-shoots, which necessitated the use of a [[body double]] and a voice impersonator for several scenes.{{sfn|Weldon|2013|p=200}}

=== Production under Richard Lester ===
To replace Mankiewicz, ''Superman'' co-screenwriters [[David Newman (screenwriter)|David]] and [[Leslie Newman]] were then brought back to re-tool the script constructing a new opening and ending. The new script featured newly conceived scenes such as a new opening involving Superman thwarting the nuclear terrorists at the [[Eiffel Tower]], Clark rescuing Lois at Niagara Falls, and a new ending in which Clark causes Lois to forget his secret identity through a hypnotic kiss.{{sfn|Weldon|2013|p=200}} Furthermore, cinematographer [[Geoffrey Unsworth]] had died before the release of ''Superman''. Now director, Lester was not sympathetic to Donner's filmmaking style: "Donner was emphasizing a kind of grandiose myth. There was a kind of [[David Lean]]-ish attempt in several sequences, and enormous scale. There was a type of epic quality which isn't in my nature, so my work really didn't embrace that...That's not me. That's his vision of it. I'm more quirky and I play around with slightly more unexpected silliness."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/SciFiNow.80s.Sci-Fi.Almanac.3rd.Edition.2016.True.PDF|title=SciFiNow's 80s Sci-Fi Almanac Complete Movie Guide|year=2015|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/SciFiNow.80s.Sci-Fi.Almanac.3rd.Edition.2016.True.PDF/page/n41 42]|isbn=978-1-78546-105-7|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Lester then brought on cinematographer [[Robert Paynter]] to have the film evoke the garish color scheme of the comics.{{sfn|Rossen|2008|p=119}} Another replacement happened when set designer [[John Barry (set designer)|John Barry]] suddenly collapsed on the nearby set of ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980) and died from [[meningitis]]. [[Peter Murton]] was then hired in Barry's place.

Before filming was to begin, [[Christopher Reeve]] was initially unavailable as he had agreed to star in the film ''[[Somewhere in Time (film)|Somewhere in Time]]'', five months into the production shutdown by which time his contract to shoot both ''Superman'' films back-to-back had expired. Reeve had claimed that twelve hours after his casting was announced, he received a letter from the producers to be available for ''Superman II'' on July 16, which was only five days after he was to finish filming ''Somewhere in Time''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mann |first=Roderick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74340664/the-los-angeles-times/ |title='Superman' Sequel: Flying in the Soup |work=Los Angeles Times |at=Part IV, p. 8 |date=March 20, 1979 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320092757/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74340664/the-los-angeles-times/ |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1979, the Salkinds filed suit against Reeve alleging he had breached his contract by walking off the sequel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Royce|first=Bill|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105599023/hartford-courant/|title='Superman' Sequel Runs into Snags|newspaper=[[The Hartford Courant]]|page=32|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 28, 1979|access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref> Furthermore, Reeve had reservations with Lester and the Newmans' script following the departure of Donner. During the renegotiation of his contract, Reeve agreed to the financial terms, but demanded more artistic control.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/20/archives/reeve-shaking-off-his-superman-image-it-takes-a-toll.html|title=Reeve Shaking Off His Superman Image|newspaper=The New York Times|page=C13|date=August 20, 1979|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013454/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/20/archives/reeve-shaking-off-his-superman-image-it-takes-a-toll.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Filming for ''Superman II'' re-commenced in September 1979{{sfn|Scivally|2008|p=92}} at Pinewood Studios. The remaining sequences left to be shot included the scenes of the super-villains in [[Midwestern United States|Midwest America]] and the battle in [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]. With Brando cut from the film, the decision was made to re-shoot the scene in which Clark confesses his love for Lois and surrender his powers. Another scene, as written in the film's original shooting script and shot, was to have Jor-El restore his superpowers by reaching out to him in a tableau reminiscent of the painting ''[[The Creation of Adam]]'', but the younger Salkind felt it was over the top.<ref name="Salkind-interview" /> The first scene was re-shot with actress [[Susannah York]] taking Brando's place while the restoration of Superman's powers would take place off-screen.{{sfn|Weldon|2013|p=200}} Location shooting took place in Canada, Paris, Norway and [[Saint Lucia]]. The Metropolis scenes—in contrast to the first film where they were filmed on location in [[New York City|New York]]—were filmed entirely on the [[back lot]] at Pinewood. The East Houston, Idaho scenes were shot on [[Chobham Common]] in [[Surrey]], 30 miles from London. Throughout filming, Lester opted to retain his directorial technique for the [[Multi-camera setup|three-camera setup]] while shooting scenes, which frustrated the actors as they did not know from where they were being filmed for their close-ups.{{sfn|Rossen|2008|p=119}} However, Reeve noted that it made the production move at a faster pace.<ref>{{cite book|last=Reeve|first=Christopher|title=Still Me|url=https://archive.org/details/stillmereev00reev|year=1998|location=New York|publisher=[[Random House]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/stillmereev00reev/page/206/mode/2up 207]|isbn=978-0-679-45235-5|url-access=registration}}</ref> Filming was completed on March 10, 1980.{{sfn|Scivally|2008|p=94}}

Due to budgetary reasons and actors being unavailable, key scenes filmed by Donner were added to the final film. Since the Lester footage was shot two years later, continuity errors are present in the physique and styling of stars Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve. In Donner's footage, Reeve appears less bulked as he was still gaining muscle for the part. Kidder also has dramatic changes throughout; in the montage of Lester–Donner material, shot inside the ''Daily Planet'' and the [[Fortress of Solitude]] near the movie's conclusion, her hairstyle, hair color, and even make-up are all inconsistent. Kidder's physical appearance in the Lester footage is noticeably different; during the scenes shot for Donner she appears slender, whereas in the Lester footage she looks thinner.

Before the film's release, Warner Bros. had appealed to the [[Directors Guild of America]] to arbitrate the appropriate co-director credit, in which they argued Lester could not be credited unless he shot 40 percent of the film. Although Lester had earlier thought he would not be credited, he approached Donner to see if he wished to be credited as co-director. Donner replied, "I don't share credit".{{sfn|Mankiewicz|Crane|2012|pp=212–213}}{{sfn|Rossen|2008|p=126}}