Editing Superman II (section)

=== 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}}