View source for Lois Lane (1978 film series character)

{{Short description|Fictional character in Superman films}}
{{Infobox character
| name              = Lois Lane
| series            = {{no italic|[[Superman (1978 film series)|''Superman'']]}}
| image             = File:Superman 1978 film Lois.jpg
| image_size        = 265px
| alt               =
| caption           = Margot Kidder as Lois Lane in ''Superman'' (1978)
| first             = ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' (1978)
| last              = ''[[Superman '78]]'' #6 (2022)
| based_on          = {{Based on|[[Lois Lane]]|[[Jerry Siegel]]|{{quad}}[[Joe Shuster]]}}
| adapted_by        = {{Plainlist|
* [[Mario Puzo]]
* [[David Newman (screenwriter)|David Newman]]
* [[Leslie Newman]]
* [[Robert Benton]]}}
| portrayer         = [[Margot Kidder]]
| full_name         = Lois Lane
| family            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sam Lane (comics)|Sam Lane]] (father)
* Ella Lane (mother)
* [[Lucy Lane]] (sister)}}
| home              = [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]
| occupation        = Journalist
| significant_other = [[Superman (1978 film series character)|Superman]]
| franchise         = Superman
}}
'''Lois Lane''' is a fictional character portrayed by Canadian-born actress [[Margot Kidder]] in the [[Warner Bros.]] [[Superman in film#Original_film_series_(1978–1987)|''Superman'' film series]] produced by [[Ilya Salkind|Ilya]] and [[Alexander Salkind]], and is an adaption of the original comic book character, [[Lois Lane]]. Kidder played Lois Lane opposite [[Christopher Reeve]] in ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' (1978), ''[[Superman II]]'' (1980), ''[[Superman III]]'' (1983), and ''[[Superman IV: The Quest for Peace]]'' (1987). The role proved to be Kidder's most notable, catapulting her to international fame, and this iteration of Lois Lane has been considered one of the most iconic love interests in superhero films.

The 2006 film ''[[Superman Returns]]'' follows an alternate continuity from the first two films, with [[Kate Bosworth]] portraying a later iteration of the character.

==Development==
Actress [[Margot Kidder]] was cast as [[Lois Lane]], Superman's [[Superman and Lois Lane|primary love interest]], because her performance had a certain spark and vitality, and because of her strong interaction with [[Christopher Reeve]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Petrou|first=David Michael|title =The Making of Superman the Movie|publisher=[[Warner Books]]|year=1978|isbn=0352304529|pages=47, 81}}</ref> Over 100 actresses were considered for the role. Margot Kidder (suggested by Stalmaster), [[Anne Archer]], [[Susan Blakely]], [[Lesley Ann Warren]], [[Deborah Raffin]] and [[Stockard Channing]] screen tested from March through May 1977. The final decision was between Channing and Kidder, with the latter winning the role. Footage of Warren's screen test has been included as a supplementary feature on VHS and DVD releases of the film.

In the spring of 1977, only one month before principal photography was scheduled to begin. Kidder was subsequently flown to England for screen-tests. Upon meeting with director [[Richard Donner]], Kidder tripped while walking into the room.<ref name=donnersyfy>{{Cite web|work=[[Syfy]]|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/superman-director-richard-donner-pays-tribute-to-margot-kidder|title=''Superman'' director Richard Donner pays tribute to Margot Kidder, the 'one true Lois Lane'|date=May 14, 2018|last=Weiss|first=Josh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515052443/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/superman-director-richard-donner-pays-tribute-to-margot-kidder|archive-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref> Donner recalled: "I just fell in love with her. It was perfect, this clumsy [behavior]." She was ultimately cast in the role, which would become her most iconic. Filming lasted approximately eighteen months.<ref>{{Cite web|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire Online]]|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/making-superman/|title=From The Archive: The Making Of Superman|last=Smith|first=Adam|date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116003709/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/making-superman/|archive-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref>

Following Christopher Reeve's paralysis, Margot Kidder dismissed the notion of a [[Superman curse]], remarking in a 2002 interview, "That is all newspaper-created rubbish. The idea cracks me up. What about the luck of Superman? When my car crashed this August, if I hadn't hit a [[Electrical telegraph|telegraph]] pole after rolling three times, I would have dropped down a 50ft to 60ft ravine. Why don't people focus on that?"<ref name=Telegraph>Poole, Oliver. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3586893/Curse-Its-the-luck-of-Superman.html "Curse? It's the luck of Superman"]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. December 9, 2002</ref> 

Margot Kidder was flattered when cinematographer [[Geoffrey Unsworth]] arranged lighting for her shots in the first ''Superman'' film and insisted on concentration by saying "Quiet, I'm lighting the Lady."<ref>Superman – The Movie (Four-Disc Special Edition): Disc 3, "Making Superman: Filming the Legend"</ref> H Wendy Leech [[Stunt double|doubled]] for Margot Kidder in ''Superman II''. Leech, who is the daughter of [[James Bond]] stunt performer [[George Leech (actor)|George Leech]], met her husband [[Vic Armstrong]], who served as Christopher Reeve's double for the first two Superman films. [[Kazuko Yanaga]] provided the [[Japanese language|Japanese]] dubbing for Margot Kidder in ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace''. [[Hiroe Oka]] and [[Sayaka Kobayashi]] also dubbed for Kidder's Lois Lane in Japanese. 

Kidder later appeared in two episodes of [[The WB]]/[[The CW]] television series ''[[Smallville]]'' as [[Bridgette Crosby|Dr. Bridgette Crosby]], an emissary of [[Virgil Swann|Dr. Virgil Swann]] (played by Christopher Reeve). She declined to make a third appearance on the show after Reeve's death because she felt it would be doing his memory a disservice. Through her appearances in the ''Superman'' films, Kidder maintained a close friendship with her co-star Reeve, which lasted from 1978 until his death in 2004: "When you're strapped to someone hanging from the ceiling for months and months, you get pretty darned close," Kidder told [[CBS]]. "He was such a huge part of my life... He was complicated, very smart, really smart, and he knew he'd done something meaningful. He was very aware of that and very happy with that role."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reeve-tributes-keep-pouring-in/|work=[[CBS]]|title=Reeve Tributes Keep Pouring In|date=October 12, 2004|author=Dakss, Brian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506170106/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reeve-tributes-keep-pouring-in/|archive-date=May 6, 2016}}</ref>

During the production of ''[[Superman Returns]]'', [[Kevin Spacey]], who played [[Lex Luthor]] in that film, recommended director [[Bryan Singer]] to cast [[Kate Bosworth]] in the role of Lois Lane because she co-starred with Spacey in ''[[Beyond the Sea (2004 film)|Beyond the Sea]]'' (2004) as [[Sandra Dee]].<ref name="film">{{cite news | author = Cathy Dunkley | url = https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/wb-finds-super-nemesis-1117915886/ | title = WB finds super nemesis | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2005-01-06 | access-date = 2008-11-06}}</ref> [[Claire Danes]] and [[Keri Russell]] were reportedly considered for the role.<ref name="five things"/> [[Amy Adams]], who would later be cast as [[Lois Lane (DC Extended Universe)|Lois Lane]] in the 2013 reboot ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'', confirmed in an interview that she had also auditioned for Lois in 2005. Adams had previously auditioned for Lois in 2003 when [[Brett Ratner]] was planning to direct ''Superman: Flyby''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ethan Sacks|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/adams-super-dream-playing-lois-lane-true-article-1.1369425|title='Man of Steel' star Amy Adams' super thrill: Getting dream role of Lois Lane she'd imagined since childhood |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|date=2013-06-12|access-date=2014-09-11}}</ref> Bosworth studied [[Katharine Hepburn]]'s acting for inspiration, particularly in ''[[The Philadelphia Story (film)|The Philadelphia Story]]'' (1940) and ''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'' (1967),<ref name="five things">{{cite magazine | author = Jeff Jensen | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1073416,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090421044335/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1073416,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 21, 2009 | title = Five things you need to know about ''Superman Returns'' | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2006-06-16 | access-date = 2008-11-08}}</ref> as well as [[Julia Roberts]] in ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite news | author = Scott Chitwood | url = http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=4202 | title = Superman Returns Set Visit - Part 6 | work = [[Superhero Hype!]] | date = 2006-05-05 | access-date = 2008-11-08 | archive-date = 2009-01-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112121820/http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=4202 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Portrayal and characteristics===
The filmmakers had a very specific concept for Lois: liberated, hard-nosed, witty and attractive. Kidder was cast because Richard Donner and the producers agreed that her performance had a certain spark and vitality, and because of her strong interaction with Christopher Reeve. Donner felt that Kidder seemed to convey the general American concept of Lois Lane—pretty, pert and perky, intelligent and ambitious without being pushy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Petrou|first=David Michael|title =The Making of Superman the Movie|publisher=[[Warner Books]]|year=1978|location= New York, New York|isbn=0352304529|pages=47, 81}}</ref> During filming, Donner noticed that when Kidder wasn't wearing her contact lenses, "she kept her eyes really wide" and moved around in a clumsier way. He said it "gave her this wonderful character" and instructed her to not wear them on camera for the duration of the shoot.<ref>{{cite podcast |host=www.Simplecast.com |title=Richard Donner: 'Superman' |website=It Happened In Hollywood |publisher=www.Simplecast.com |date=7 March 2020 |time=24:56 |url=https://it-happened-in-hollywood.simplecast.com/episodes/richard-donner-superman-Bf1Rukq3 |access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> One of the most important aspects in the first and second films was the romantic relationship between the two main characters; Clark was hopelessly in love with Lois and even gave up his powers to be with her.<ref>{{citation |title=Singled Out |author=Christine A. Colón, Bonnie E. Field |isbn=978-1-58743-237-8 |year=2009 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/singledoutwhycel00colo }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Peter|last=Tonguette |url=http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/36/lester1.html|title=Anti-Heroics: The Superman Films of Richard Lester|access-date=June 17, 2010|date=April 1, 2002}}</ref>

==Timelines==
===Original continuity===
====''Superman'' (1978)====
{{main|Superman (1978 film)}}
Lois meets [[Superman (Salkind films)|Clark Kent]] ([[Christopher Reeve]]) when he begins working at the ''[[Daily Planet]]'' newspaper. She is introduced to his Superman persona when he rescues her from a helicopter accident. Lois quickly becomes enamoured with Superman and accepts his offer to be interviewed for the newspaper. During the interview, she learns about Superman's homeworld, his abilities, and takes a fly in the sky over Metropolis. Lois later dies in an earthquake caused by [[Lex Luthor (1978 film series character)|Lex Luthor]] ([[Gene Hackman]]) in the climax of the first film. Superman is so distraught by her death that he flies around the globe at supernatural speed, travelling backward in time and preventing the earthquake from occurring, saving Lois' life.

A scene in the film shows young Clark Kent outrunning a passenger train, with a little girl, played by an unknown actress (Cathy Marcotte), on-board observing him. The extended version of the scene shows the girl to be a young Lois telling her parents (portrayed by [[Kirk Alyn]] and [[Noel Neill]] in uncredited cameos) without them believing her.

====''Superman II'' (1980)====
{{main|Superman II|Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut}}

After she finds out that Clark is Superman, Clark tells Lois more about himself, flying her to the Fortress of Solitude and revealing that he loves her. Wanting to spend his life with Lois, Clark uses a Kryptonian device to alter his DNA, making him human. Soon after, Clark and Lois learn that three [[Kryptonians]], led by [[General Zod (1978 film series character)|General Zod]] ([[Terence Stamp]]), have arrived on Earth and are threatening humanity. Clark decides to restore his powers and defeats the Kryptonians. Later, Clark finds Lois upset about knowing his secret and not being able to be open about her true feelings. Clark kisses Lois, using his abilities to wipe her mind of her knowledge of the past few days.

In the completed "[[Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut|Donner Cut]]", which was released after ''[[Superman Returns]]'', there are some subtle differences in Lois' arc. An early [[screen test]] between Reeve and Kidder for the first movie was used for the scene in which Lois finds out Clark's secret identity by coercing him at gunpoint with a pistol filled with blanks.<ref>{{cite interview|interviewer=Chris Chiarella|subject=Richard Donner|url=https://www.soundandvision.com/httalksto/107talks|title=HT Talks To...Richard Donner|publisher=[[Sound & Vision (magazine)|Sound & Vision]]|date=January 26, 2007|access-date=October 5, 2018}}</ref> In addition, Lois breaks up with Clark at the end, unable to deal with his dual identity as Superman, causing him to fly around the globe at supernatural speed and travel backward in time to undo the events of the film, including Lois finding his identity and leaving him, while ensuring Zod and his sidekicks never escape the [[Phantom Zone]], similar to the first film.

Following the release of ''Superman'' in December 1978, [[Richard Donner]] was controversially fired as director, and was replaced by [[Richard Lester]]. Several members of the cast and crew declined to return in the wake of Donner's firing. In order to be officially credited as the director, Lester re-shot most of the film in which principal photography resumed in September 1979 and ended in March 1980. Due to budgetary reasons and actors being unavailable, key scenes filmed by Donner were added to the final film. Since the Lester footage was shot two years later, continuity errors are present in the physique and styling of stars Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve. 

In Donner's footage, Reeve appears less bulked as he was still gaining muscle for the part. Kidder also has dramatic changes throughout; in the montage of Lester-Donner material, shot inside the ''Daily Planet'' and the [[Fortress of Solitude]] near the movie's conclusion, her hairstyle, hair color, and even make-up are all inconsistent. Kidder's physical appearance in the Lester footage is noticeably different; during the scenes shot for Donner she appears slender, whereas in the Lester footage she looks thinner. 

To replace creative consultant [[Tom Mankiewicz]], ''Superman'' co-screenwriters [[David Newman (screenwriter)|David]] and [[Leslie Newman]] were then brought back to re-tool the script constructing a new opening and ending. The new script featured newly conceived scenes such as a new opening involving Superman thwarting the nuclear terrorists at the [[Eiffel Tower]], Clark rescuing Lois at [[Niagara Falls]], and a new ending in which Clark causes Lois to forget his secret identity through a hypnotic kiss.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weldon|first=Glen|author-link=Glen Weldon|title=Superman: The Unauthorized Biography|year=2013|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons|Wiley]]|isbn=978-1-118-34184-1 |page=200}}</ref>

====''Superman III'' (1983) and ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'' (1987)====
{{main|Superman III|Superman IV: The Quest for Peace}}
Lois' role was notably small in ''Superman III'', consisting of 12 lines and less than five minutes of footage.<ref name=bottled>{{Cite web|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-09-ca-17843-story.html|title=Margot Kidder Doesn't Keep Energy Bottled Up|last=Mann|first=Roderick|date=March 9, 1986|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930130551/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-03-09/entertainment/ca-17843_1_50-minute-film|archive-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/what-happened-to-the-original-lois-lane-margot-144701715.html?ref=gs|work=Yahoo!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616203834/https://www.yahoo.com/news/what-happened-to-the-original-lois-lane-margot-144701715.html?ref=gs|archive-date=June 16, 2018|title=What Happened to the Original Lois Lane Margot Kidder?|date=February 5, 2016|author=''Yahoo'' Staff|access-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref> She is away from Metropolis on vacation to [[Bermuda]], which put her in the middle of a front-page story. 

Both [[Gene Hackman]] and [[Margot Kidder]] are said to have been angry with the way the Salkinds treated ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' director [[Richard Donner]], with Hackman retaliating by refusing to reprise the role of Lex Luthor.<ref name="Superman II">{{cite web | title=The Superman Super Site - Superman II | url=http://www.supermansupersite.com/movie2.html | access-date = 2008-01-10}}</ref> After Margot Kidder publicly criticized the Salkinds for their treatment of Donner, the producers reportedly "punished" the actress by reducing her role in ''Superman III'' to a brief appearance. Hackman later denied such claims, stating that he had been busy with other movies and general consensus that making Luthor a constant villain would be akin to incessant horror movie sequels where a serial killer keeps coming back from the grave. 

In his commentary for the 2006 DVD release of ''Superman III'', [[Ilya Salkind]] denied any ill will between Margot Kidder and his production team and denied the claim that her part was cut for retaliation. Instead, he said, the creative team decided to pursue a different direction for a love interest for Superman, believing the Lois and Clark relationship had been played out in the first two films (but could be revisited in the future). With the choice to give a more prominent role to Lana Lang, Lois' part was reduced for story reasons.

Kidder and Hackman subsequently reprised their roles as Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, respectively, in ''[[Superman IV: The Quest for Peace]]'' (1987), with which the Salkinds had no involvement. Kidder filmed her parts in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-06-26-8602150716-story.html|title=Margot Kidder Flies Back to Superman|date=June 26, 1986|archive-date=November 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115084859/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-06-26-8602150716-story.html|author=Beck, Marilyn}}</ref> The film is regarded as one of [[List of films considered the worst|the worst films of all time]].<ref name="The 50 Worst Movies Ever">{{cite web | url = https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/50-worst-movies-ever-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201223813/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/50-worst-movies-ever-2/ | title = The 50 Worst Movies Ever | work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] | date=February 4, 2010 |archive-date=February 1, 2020 | access-date = March 17, 2014}}</ref>

===''Superman Returns''===
{{Infobox character
| name               = Lois Lane
| series             = [[Superman Returns]]
| image              = 
| image_size         = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| first              = ''[[Superman Returns]]'' (2006)
| last               = ''[[Superman Returns]]'' (2006)
| based_on           = {{Plainlist|
*[[Lois Lane]] by <br> [[Jerry Siegel]] <br>[[Joe Shuster]]
* Lois Lane by <br>[[Mario Puzo]] <br> [[David Newman (screenwriter)|David Newman]] <br> [[Leslie Newman]] <br> [[Robert Benton]]
}}
| adapted_by        = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bryan Singer]]
* [[Michael Dougherty]]
* [[Dan Harris (screenwriter)|Dan Harris]] 
}}
| portrayer          = [[Kate Bosworth]]
| full_name          = Lois Lane
| home               = [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]
| occupation         = Journalist
| significant_other  = {{Plainlist| 
* [[Superman (1978 film series character)#Superman Returns|Superman]]
* Richard White (husband)
}}
| children           = Jason White (son)
| franchise          = Superman
}}

{{main|Superman Returns}}
[[File:KateBosworth07TIFF.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Kate Bosworth]] was cast as Lois Lane in ''Superman Returns.'']]
In alternate continuity from the first two films, Superman (now portrayed by [[Brandon Routh]]) returns to Earth after five years travelling in space to investigate what he believed to be his home planet [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]]. Upon returning to Metropolis as his alter-ego reporter Clark Kent, he is shocked to discover the consequences of his disappearance. In his absence, Lois (now portrayed by [[Kate Bosworth]]) is engaged to [[Perry White]]'s ([[Frank Langella]]) nephew, Richard ([[James Marsden]]) and shares a young son, Jason ([[Tristan Lake Leabu]]), with Richard. Lois had also penned an editorial titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman" in the wake of his absence. The criminal mastermind [[Lex Luthor]] (now played by [[Kevin Spacey]]) was released from prison because Superman did not testify against Luthor during his appeal trial. After seducing an old heiress, Luthor inherits her fortune and begins his plot against Superman.

Superman reemerges to the world when he saves a space shuttle test launch during a mysterious nationwide power outage, triggered by Luthor using Kryptonian technology. Lois, investigating the power outage, tracks the source to a mansion owned by Luthor. Along with her son, she is then held captive on a superyacht heading into the Atlantic Ocean. Luthor plans to use the Kryptonian crystal, stolen from the [[Fortress of Solitude]], to create a new land mass, which in turn will destroy the United States.

Aboard the yacht, Lois manages to [[fax]] over a message for help to the ''Daily Planet'', which is received by Richard and Clark. However, one of Luthor's henchmen catches her and attempts to attack Lois, causing Jason's superpower to emerge and crush the henchman with a piano, revealing Jason is, in fact, Superman's son. Luthor and his men escape by helicopter. While Superman works to contain the damage in the city, Richard reaches the yacht with a small plane. When the boat starts to sink, the three of them become trapped and Lois is knocked unconscious. Superman rescues them in time and takes them to Richard's plane for safety. Superman pursues Luthor, who has made his way to the new landmass infused with [[kryptonite]]. Luthor easily defeats Superman, stabbing him with a kryptonite shard and leaving him to drown in the sea. Regaining consciousness, Lois, knowing of the kryptonite danger, convinces Richard to turn the plane around. They spot Superman in the water and take him into the plane, where Lois removes the kryptonite shard. Recovered, Superman flies the landmass into outer space.

Complications from kryptonite exposure cause Superman to fall into a coma. Lois visits him in the hospital and whispers in his ear concerning Jason's paternity. Soon after, Superman visits Jason and repeats the words of his own father as Jason sleeps, while Lois starts to write an editorial titled "Why the World Needs Superman".

===Arrowverse===
Years later, Lois along with Perry, Jimmy, and her other co-workers were killed, when a "[[Joker (character)|reject]] from Gotham" gassed the ''Daily Planet''. Since the incident, Clark has donned an outfit similar to the [[Superman (Kingdom Come)|Kingdom Come version of Superman]].

==Other appearances==
As part of Kidder serving as a [[List of Saturday Night Live guests (I–L)|guest host]] on the March 17, 1979 [[Saturday Night Live (season 4)|episode]]<ref>{{cite episode|series= Saturday Night Live|series-link= Saturday Night Live (season 4)|network= [[NBC]]|air-date= March 17, 1979|season= 4|number= 15}}</ref> of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', she would parody her Lois Lane role in a sketch called "Superhero Party". Also featured in the sketch were [[Superman]] ([[Bill Murray]]), [[Flash (comics)|Flash]] ([[Dan Aykroyd]]), [[Lana Lang]] ([[Jane Curtin]]), [[Hulk]] ([[John Belushi]]), [[Thing (comics)|Thing]], [[Spider-Man]], [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]], [[Hank Pym|Ant-Man]] ([[Garrett Morris]]), and [[Invisible Woman|Invisible Girl]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/why-did-garrett-morris-have-a-cameo-in-ant-man-its-a-funny-story/|title=Why Did Garrett Morris Have a Cameo In "Ant-Man?" It's a Funny Story...|last=Huver|first=Scott|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date=July 22, 2015|access-date=April 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421201400/https://www.cbr.com/why-did-garrett-morris-have-a-cameo-in-ant-man-its-a-funny-story/|archive-date=April 21, 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Superman'' was released during Christmas 1978 and was a major commercial success, grossing $300 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=''Superman'' (1978)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=superman.htm|access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> Kidder won a [[Saturn Award for Best Actress]] for her performance,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kxxv.com/story/38184684/superman-actress-margot-kidder-dies|work=[[KXXV]]|location=Waco, Texas|title='Superman' actress Margot Kidder dies|last=Wright|first=Kimberly L.|date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514215325/http://www.kxxv.com/story/38184684/superman-actress-margot-kidder-dies|archive-date=May 14, 2018|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]}}</ref> which was deemed "most charming" by [[Vincent Canby]] in ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Canby, Vincent|author-link=Vincent Canby|title=Screen: It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Movie|date=December 15, 1978|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/15/archives/screen-its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-a-movie.html}}</ref> Kidder's performances continued to be highlights of the subsequent films produced in the 1980s, even in the lambasted ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'', as Janet Maslin of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that Kidder's portrayal of Lois Lane was "sexy, earnest" in an otherwise negative review of that film.<ref>{{cite news|title=Movie: 'Superman IV: Quest for Peace'|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1987-07-25|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/25/movies/movie-superman-iv-quest-for-peace.html|access-date=2010-08-08|first=Janet|last=Maslin}}</ref> 

Margot Kidder's performance as Lois Lane is now considered the greatest of the character in film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Enlow |first=Courtney |date=2018-05-14 |title=An ode to Margot Kidder |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/an-ode-to-margot-kidder |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=SYFY WIRE |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-15 |title=Why MARGOT KIDDER Was the Best LOIS LANE Ever |url=https://13thdimension.com/why-margot-kidder-was-the-best-lois-lane-ever/ |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2016, ''ScreenRant'' listed Lois Lane and Superman as portrayed in the 1978–87 film series its most iconic couple in superhero films and TV series, noting that Kidder and Reeve's performances were "so perfect that none of the other versions", referring to other live-action performances of Superman and Lois, "could live up to their chemistry".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-03 |title=10 Best Superhero Couples in Movies and TV |url=https://screenrant.com/best-superhero-couples-movies-tv/ |access-date=2021-01-03 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In a piece commemorating Margot Kidder after her death in 2018, Sonia Saraiya of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' praised Kidder's performance as Lois Lane, writing that "Kidder played a human woman who could believably both attract and deserve a man who is canonically perfect, with the physique of a Greek god and the moral compass of a saint." Saraiya specifically noted Kidder's ability to balance Lois's laid-back, ditzy nature with her ambition and no-nonsense attitude, proving to be a worthy [[foil (fiction)|foil]] to Reeve's Clark Kent/Superman.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Saraiya |first=Sonia |date=2018-05-14 |title=Why Margot Kidder Was the Definitive Lois Lane |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/margot-kidder-lois-lane-in-memoriam |access-date=2021-01-03 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-us}}</ref>

Also following Kidder's death, [[DC Comics]] stated on its [[Twitter]] feed: "Thank you for being the Lois Lane so many of us grew up with. RIP, Margot Kidder".<ref name=rs>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/margot-kidder-superman-actress-dead-at-69-w520293|title=Margot Kidder, Lois Lane of 'Superman' Films, Dead at 69|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115000526/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/margot-kidder-lois-lane-of-superman-films-dead-at-69-630214/|archive-date=November 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=DCComics|number=996090283422035968|title=Thank you for being the Lois Lane so many of us grew up with. RIP, Margot Kidder|date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180515005955/https://twitter.com/DCComics/status/996090283422035968|archive-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref>

Upon Kate Bosworth taking on the role of Lois in ''Superman Returns'', critics responded more harshly to her performance. [[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' opined that Bosworth, who was 22 at the time, was too young to play Lois Lane,<ref>{{cite news | author = [[Mick LaSalle]] | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/27/DDGTSJJOPK1.DTL&type=movies | title = He's Back | work = [[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date = 2006-06-27 | access-date = 2008-11-07}}</ref> while [[Joe Morgenstern]] from ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' described Bosworth's acting, in addition to Brandon Routh's, "somewhat dead or super average. Nothing special."<ref>{{cite news | author = [[Joe Morgenstern]] | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115144171019392218?mod=weekend_leisure_banner_left | title = Saving the Day | work = [[The Wall Street Journal]] | date = 2006-06-28}}</ref> Anthony Lane of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' noted, "The new Lois Lane, Kate Bosworth, is not a patch on [[Margot Kidder]], or, for that matter, on [[Teri Hatcher]], in the [[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman|TV series]]."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/03/060703crci_cinema?currentPage=2|title=Kryptology|last=Lane|first=Anthony|date=July 3, 2006|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|publisher=newyorker.com|pages=2|access-date=November 14, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220191902/https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/03/060703crci_cinema?currentPage=2|archive-date=December 20, 2008}}</ref> 

Although Bosworth's performance was ambivalently received, she herself loved the experience of working on the movie. As she told ''[[Teen Vogue]]'' in August 2006, "You know how you have an experience, a time in your life when you feel you've come into your own? When you grow up a bit, and think, Now I get it? [...] That's how I feel. I feel a little bit more complete."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Kate Bosworth|date=August 1, 2006|journal=[[Teen Vogue]]}}</ref>

===Influence on other portrayals of Lois Lane===
''[[Smallville]]'' series developer [[Alfred Gough|Al Gough]] contends that it was always the producer's intention to bring in the iconic [[Lois Lane (Smallville)|Lois Lane]], they just needed a good reason to do it—[[Chloe Sullivan]]'s supposed death at the end of [[Smallville (season 3)|season three]] appeared to be that reason. Gough explains that, when casting for the role, they looked to Margot Kidder—Lois Lane in the [[Superman in film|''Superman'' film series]]—for inspiration. They wanted an actress who was "pretty", "smart", and who came with some "wit".<ref name="2Lois">{{cite news|author=William Keck|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-09-21-smallville-durance_x.htm|title=On 'Smallville,' two Lois Lanes intersect|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=September 21, 2004|access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> Dozens of actresses auditioned for the role of Lois Lane, but it was not until a tape from [[Erica Durance]] showed up that everyone felt that they had found the right Lois. As executive producer Greg Beeman describes Durance, "She had a toughness about her. She was tough and sexy and direct."

Before the end of ''Smallville's'' [[Smallville (season 7)|seventh season]], [[IGN]]'s Daniel Phillips compared the actresses who have portrayed the character of Lois Lane over the past three decades. Up against the most recognizable version of Lois Lane, Margot Kidder, the [[Superman Returns|2006 film incarnation]] played by [[Kate Bosworth]], and the previous live-action television version portrayed by [[Teri Hatcher]], Erica Durance was rated the highest. Although Phillips acknowledges that Kidder is the best representation of Lois' personality, he claims that Durance is the best overall embodiment of the character. Apart from her beauty, Phillips states, "Durance makes Lois intelligent, capable, funny and dangerously curious – exactly the type of woman Clark Kent would fall for."<ref>{{cite web|author=Daniel Phillips|url=http://uk.stars.ign.com/articles/858/858268p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314203438/http://uk.stars.ign.com/articles/858/858268p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 14, 2008|title=The Babes of the DC 'Verse: Lois Lane and Catwoman are the few bright jewels in DC's crown.|website=[[IGN]]|date=March 10, 2008|access-date=October 17, 2008}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lois Lane (DC Extended Universe)]]
* [[Lois Lane in other media]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{DCdatabase|Lois Lane (Donnerverse)}}

{{Christopher Reeve's/Brandon Routh's Superman}}
{{Superman characters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, Lois, 1978 film series}}
[[Category:Female characters in film]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1978]]
[[Category:Fictional reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:Superman (1978 film series) characters]]
[[Category:Superman characters]]
[[Category:Lois Lane]]