Actor Marlon Brando, who played Jor-El in the 1978 film Superman, directed by Richard Donner, received US$3.7 million and 11.75% of the gross profits for just 12 days of work. Apesar of high pay, the artist showed little interest in the project and created several difficulties during filming at the Shepperton studios, at Inglaterra. As recording scenes in Krypton lasted weeks longer than expected because of the actor’s behavior.
Richard Donner and producer Ilya Salkind remember that Brando even proposed interpreting Jor-El as a “green donut” or a “talking suitcase”. The idea was quickly discarded by the director, who convinced the star to appear in human form so as not to confuse children.
How Brando was removed from the trailer
The production team needed to adopt specific strategies to ensure the actor’s presence on set. Then-teenager Cary Elwes, who worked as an assistant, was given the task of convincing Brando to leave the trailer.
Elwes revealed that the only effective way was to offer food, especially sweets. The actor only left after being fed and usually appeared after lunch, delaying his entire daily schedule.
Refusal to memorize lines generated tension
Brando refused to memorize the text and demanded that the lines be pasted on the other actors’ chests in large letters. Segundo Donner, the star explained that reading it for the first time made the interpretation more “honest”.
The attitude irritated Christopher Reeve, a new protagonist at the time. In an interview in 1982, Reeve stated that Brando “just took the money and ran”, showing total disinterest”.
Million-dollar process after launch
Just days before the world premiere in December 1978, Brando filed a $50 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. and producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind. Ele claimed that it did not receive the agreed share of the gross profits.
The request to prevent the screening of the film was denied by the courts. Porém, the actor received a $15 million settlement years later.
Legacy of the scenes despite the controversies
Krypton’s sequences with Brando last less than 20 minutes in the final cut. Mesmo are therefore considered one of the highlights of the 1978 classic.
The star’s presence helped give credibility to the project, which marked an era by making the public “believe that a man can fly”. As scenes were only reused in 2006, in the version Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.
