Since the Man of Steel first soared across comic book pages in 1938, he has been a symbol of hope, strength, and invincibility. But for the men who donned the red cape on screen, Superman has often been less a blessing and more a burden.
This chilling phenomenon is known as the Superman Curse, a string of misfortunes that have haunted actors associated with the role for decades.
The origins of the curse
The legend began with George Reeves, TV’s first Superman in the 1950s. His portrayal made him a household name, but his life took a tragic turn. In 1959, Reeves was found dead from a gunshot wound. Officially ruled a suicide, his death sparked conspiracy theories and whispers that the role had doomed him.
Christopher Reeve: The tragedy that cemented the curse
The most infamous chapter of the curse involves Christopher Reeve, the man who embodied Superman for an entire generation in the late 1970s and ’80s. Just a few years after hanging up the cape, Reeve was paralysed from the neck down following a horseback riding accident in 1995. His career and personal life were forever changed, adding weight to the eerie narrative of the curse.
Victims beyond Superman himself
But the alleged curse doesn’t stop with actors playing the Kryptonian hero. Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane opposite Reeve, suffered from mental health struggles and homelessness. Richard Pryor, cast in Superman III, faced a series of personal and health battles after his appearance.
Coincidence or something more?
Skeptics argue that the so-called curse is mere coincidence; actors typecast as Superman often struggled to find roles outside the franchise, leading to personal and professional frustrations. But for fans of Hollywood lore, the chilling pattern is too hard to ignore. The last Superman – Henry Cavill – lost both the role of Superman and in his show Witcher one after the other, making it a recent example.
As David Corenswet steps into the red boots for James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy, the question lingers: will he break the cycle, or will the curse strike again?