Pierre Spengler (born 5 June 1947) is a French film producer. He is best known for producing the first three Superman films starring Christopher Reeve.

Life and career

Born in Paris, Spengler began working in the film industry in 1964. His early credits included production assistant on The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969), Le Mans (1971), and The Light at the Edge of the World (also 1971).

Salkinds Organisation

In 1972, he became a partner in the Salkind Organisation. Alongside Alexander and Ilya Salkind, he obtained the film rights to Superman from DC Comics in 1974. He subsequently produced the first three Superman films starring Christopher Reeve. He was also a consultant on the 1984 spinoff film Supergirl.

Other films Spengler produced for the Salkinds during this time were Claude Chabrol's The Twist (1976), The Prince and the Pauper (1977), and Santa Claus: The Movie (1985). He left the Salkind Organisation in 1985 to become an independent producer.

Independent producer

In 1995, he executive produced Serbian director Emir Kusturica's film Underground, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. In 1996, he founded Clubdeal Ltd.

In 2004, he acquired French publishing house Les Humanoïdes Associés in order to develop their properties in movies.

He is also the founder of Netherlands-based Cadenza Films, with Dutch filmmaker Rudolf van den Berg. He produced/executive produced Berg's films Snapshots (2002), Tirza (2010), and Süskind (2012).

In 2012, he produced the France 4 television series Métal Hurlant Chronicles.

He produced the 2023 RKSS horror comedy We Are Zombies.

Personal life

Spengler is married to University of Oxford geneticist Tatjana Sauka Spengler, and they have a daughter. They lived in Oxford, England. He has two other children from his previous marriage to Agnes L'Helgoualch.

Filmography

Film

Producer

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1971Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!Romain Gary
1976The TwistClaude Chabrol
1977The Prince and the PauperRichard FleischerAlso screenwriter
1978SupermanRichard Donner
1980Superman IIRichard Lester
1983Superman III
1985Santa Claus: The MovieJeannot Szwarc
1989The Return of the MusketeersRichard Lester
2002SnapshotsRudolf van den Berg
2004Stratosphere GirlMatthias X. Oberg
MethodDuncan Roy
BlessedSimon Fellows
2005UnleashedLouis LeterrierCo-producer
7 SecondsSimon Fellows
Snuff-MovieBernard Rose
The MarksmanMarcus Adams
RevolverGuy RitchieCo-producer
2006The Hard CorpsSheldon Lettich
La pisteÉric ValliCo-producer
The DetonatorPo-Chih Leong
Second in CommandSimon Fellows
Superman II: The Richard Donner CutRichard DonnerRe-edit of Superman II
IncubusAnya Camilleri
Shadow ManMichael Keusch
Attack Force
2007Flight of Fury
2009True True LieEric Styles
2023We Are ZombiesRKSS

Executive producer

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1990The Rainbow ThiefAlejandro JodorowskyUncredited
1992The Turn of the ScrewRusty Lemorande
1995UndergroundEmir KusturicaAlso actor; as 'Russian Driver'
2003Summer in the Golden ValleySrđan Vuletić
2006NafakaJasmin Durakovic
2010TirzaRudolf van den Berg
2012Süskind
2013PuzzleAndrei Zincã

Other credits

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1969The Madwoman of ChaillotBryan ForbesProduction assistant; uncredited
1971Le MansLee H. Katzin
The Light at the Edge of the WorldKevin Billington
1972BluebeardEdward DmytrykExecutive in charge of production
1973Murder in a Blue WorldEloy de la IglesiaAssistant director
The Three MusketeersRichard LesterExecutive in charge of production
1974The Four Musketeers
1984SupergirlJeannot SzwarcConsultant; uncredited

Television

Producer

YearTitleNotes
2006Pumpkinhead: Ashes to AshesTV movie
2007Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud

Executive producer

YearTitleNotes
2012-14Métal Hurlant Chronicles11 episodes

External links

Interviews