Scene of the Week: Superman III

Superman III was released on June 17th, 1983… that’s 40 years and 1 day ago for those keeping score.

According to producer Ilya Salkind, the original concept for Superman III would have involved Superman battling the dastardly duo of Brainiac and Mr. Mxyzptlk with the help of Supergirl! However one segment on The Tonight Show forever changed those plans.

Richard Pryor made it know to Johnny Carson and the world that he was interested in starring in a Superman movie. When the Superman III producers got wind of this, a new script was drafted with Pryor in mind and the rest, as they say, is history.

With Richard Pryor on board it was a safe assumption that Superman III would have more of a comedic tone than its two predecessors. But Superman III doesn’t wait for the introduction of Pryor’s Gus Gorman to introduce the comedic elements. Superman III leans into the comedy from the word go with its gag filled opening that happens to be this week’s Scene of the Week…