Anyone who is familar with this film may not be aware of the troubled production behind the scenes. Basically the movie was shot the same time as the original film by director Richard Donner. At the last minute Donner had to stop production on Superman II and finish Superman The Movie. He had already 80% of Superman II finished. He never did return to finish the movie. The Salkinds (the producers) sacked him and replaced him with Richard Lester (Beatles movie director). At this time also Marlon Brando filed a lawsuit against the Salkinds and stopped key scenes being placed in Superman II. To stop Donner from geting a director's credit, the producers ordered Lester to reshoot key scenes and hire Sussanah York to replace Brando in all his scenes. 40% of the current Superman II is directed by Richard Donner. This includes all the footage of Gene Hackman who refused to go back to complete the film. Expanded TV versions shown on TV in 1980s showed more Richard Donner scenes including an alternate ending.
Well Donner's Superman II will finally be released on DVD at the end of the year for anyone that's interested. It will come with a boxset of all the movies. All the Brando scenes will be back in the movie.
It seems like the DVD re-release will be in June, just in time for the new Superman movie due in theaters.
I can't remember if I read that or if it's more internet speculation. I tend to believe it, especially since that seems to be the standard practice for studios. If not with the movie release, then in the fall with Superman Returns makes it to DVD.
