What Christopher Reeve Had to Endure for Superman Makes Henry Cavill and David Corenswet’s Transformation Look Too Easy

Christopher Reeve trained like a beast for six weeks to achieve his Superman physique, unlike Henry Cavill and David Corenswet who took months to prepare.

Transforming into Superman takes more than just taking off the glasses for any actor – it takes an insane amount of hard work and dedication to get into shape, and this only happens with consistent training. But what if you’re only given a couple of weeks to bulk up just like Christopher Reeve?

Christopher Reeve in Superman / Credits: Warner Bros.

The late actor was able to pull it off in just a short amount of time, and his legacy as the famed Man of Steel still resonates with many fans. His version of Superman remains one of the most iconic, and perhaps the most famous even after decades have passed.

Christopher Reeve only trained for six weeks to achieve his Superman physique

It was an unfortunate tragedy that took Christopher Reeve’s ability to enjoy his career during the prime of his life. The actor, who passed away in 2004, was most notably known for his portrayal of Superman in Richard Donner’s 1978 movie. His performance was lauded by fans and critics, but most especially his persistence in bringing the hero to life.

In doing so, he had to train very hard since his physique looked nowhere near the Superman that we all saw. In fact, at 6 feet 5 inches and 170 pounds, he was considered scrawny. He even shared that he used to be called The Human Stringbean. When he landed the role of Clark Kent, he made sure to deliver and ace the job.

Christopher Reeve in Superman / Credits: Warner Bros.

As per The Telegraph, the director hired British bodybuilder Dave Prowse to train with Reeve, and they only had six weeks to make the actor look ripped before they started filming. The intensity of the training took a toll on Reeve, and he threw up on his first session. Donner said, “If Chris wasn’t such a dedicated actor, I think he would have thrown him off the set. He was always there! And he built him up.”

Reeve managed to bulk up before the production commenced, and that showed how badly he wanted the role. In fact, he wasn’t the first choice for Superman – but Donner wanted someone unknown at the time. He said that the actor was very convinced he could play the part. Thankfully, the director gave him a chance to showcase his talent, and now, the world will always remember him as the hero who symbolized truth, justice, and the American way.

How long did Henry Cavill and David Corenswet prepare for Superman’s role?

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel / Credits: Warner Bros.

The new generation is very familiar with two popular versions of Superman: Henry Cavill and David Corenswet. Like Reeve, they also worked hard to achieve that Kryptonian god-like body, although not as impressive as how the late actor did it.

Cavill, who played the titular hero in 2013’s Man of Steel, had to hit the gym for six months. He trained with Mark Twight and had to maintain his peak form for three weeks to shoot for his shirtless scenes.

David Corenswet in Superman / Credits: Warner Bros.

Corenswet, on the other hand, transformed himself in about five months, and even though the cameras were already rolling, he continued his training. He worked with Paolo Mascitti to achieve his jacked form, fitting in three or four sessions a week.

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Superman (1978) is currently available to watch on Max.