Richard Donner is a long-time director and producer with several genuine classics in his filmography, includingThe GooniesandThe Omen. At the age of 90, he’s signed up to direct the upcoming fifth and last film in theLethal Weaponfranchise. Back in 1978, however, he proved he was 30 years ahead of the curveby directingSuperman: The Movie,which starred Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively.
Naturally, now that superhero movies run the world, theTelegraphbrought them up when they spoke with Donner in a December 30 interview, and naturally, Donner had a lot to say. “When you see it done right, by my standards, it’s so fulfilling,” he said. “I’m very happy and proud when I see them. When it’s done wrong, it’s such a disappointment.”
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Donner, of course, directed what’s stillone of the most optimistic superhero moviesof all time with the originalSuperman, and the genre proceeded to take a dark turn in later years with films such as Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.However, if Donner has anything negative to say on the subject, he’s subtweeting it at most.
“There are so many people that make superheroes socynical, it’s depressing,” Donner said. “When they’re dark and bleak and angry with themselves and the world, I don’t find it entertaining. I think there’s enough reality going on for that. We just got over four years of that. I think we crave the opposite.”
Fans who are hoping that Donner, a pillar of the business, would take the opportunity to slam DC’s competitor Marvel will have to find their salt elsewhere. In response to Martin Scorcese’s famous comment about the MCU films, that they feel like they’re “theme park rides” more than movies, Donner said “Well, I’d like to be able to makeone of those theme park rides! …The problem is, a lot of times, we see in our industry that when the technical lens becomes readily available, it’s totally misused. But at the same time, every once in a while you really see quite a wonderful story with one of these films.”
Donner also clarified during the interview that he hasn’t been following the modern genre, to the extent where he wasn’t sure who Zack Snyder was. He does supportSnyder’s recut ofJustice League,however, as Donner himself had a similar opportunity in 2006.Donner had been fired (by telegram) from the production ofSuperman IIin 1980, due to clashing with producer Pierre Spengler. 27 years later, he was given the chance to releaseSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut,which reinstates several scenes featuring the late Marlon Brando’s Jor-El.
Donner is currently preparing to directLethal Weapon 5,also known asLethal Finale, with a script byLethal Weapon 4writer Channing Gibson. No shooting schedule has been announced.
