They cast an unknown for the role of Superman, I think that's good enough. Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando weren't exactly unknown before playing Lex Luthor and Jor-El...but the original movie still kicked ass.
Just as Alec Guinness wasn't exactly unknown when he was cast for Obi Wan.

 

but they did :dunno:

 

ok, maybe i should rephrase to "lesser known". like tobey mcguire for spider-man. he was known, but not over exposed.. know what i mean? i don't think i'm explaining myself well. h:
yeah, but kevin spacey as lex luthor? i don't know.. i don't see it.

 

Richard Pryor
Not really familiar with his movies, but I will definately check them out sooner or later.

Marlon Brando
The movies he made after Superman were no where near as great as his classics, like the Godfather, On The Waterfront, etc. One can say that Superman was a great movie (I think it is probably the best comic book hero movie out there), but then again, Marlon Brando had a rather small role. He also had to ask an insane amount for that same small role too. I really hate to say it, but he lived off of his past fame until his death.

Glenn Ford
I cannot really decide whether his career when down the shitter later "Superman", but I absolutely hated "Midway". It is down there with "Pearl Harbor".

Ned Beatty
The only movies I liked with Ned Beatty after the "Superman" movies was "He Got Game" and "Rudy". Then again, he made many more and these are the only two hits I like from Ned Beatty.

Margot Kidder
Not familiar with her movies.

 

OK, maybe not all people related to the "Superman" movies did not have dismal careers afterwards. I loved him in several movies, especially "The French Connection" and of course, "Hoosiers".