Why wasn't Gene Hackman in Superman III?

Answer 1

Gene Hackman is a great actor however I think that he was a poor choice for Lex Luther. He acted the part alright but there's a physical type to the part that he just doesn't fit. Other film and stage commitments Hackman was under couldn't allow him to work in S-3 as Lex Luthor and the film's producers did not wish to replace Hackman with another actor for the role.

Gene Hackman was also very vocal in his distaste for Richard Donner's expulsion from Superman II. He did not return to film extra scenes for the film when Richard Lester took over the film. Most of his footage had already been shot, and a stand-in was used for a few inserts. So long as the Salkinds (Alexander and Ilya) were producing Superman pictures, Hackman would not be involved. After Superman III, the rights to the character were sold to Cannon films, and the Salkind's were not involved in the production of Superman IV, which is why Hackman returned to the role. He was very vocal in criticizing how the Salkinds treated "Superman" director Richard Donner. Margot Kidder who plays Lois Lane, was also angry over the release of Donner and was limited to a cameo in Superman III.