Christopher Reeve said his wife's seven words saved his life after an accident that left him paralyzed

Christopher Reeve, the Superman The actor, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a horse riding accident in 1995, recalls in documentary footage that he wanted to die before seven words from his wife Dana changed his perspective.

In the trailer for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve StoryReeve, who died in 2004 at age 52, said he thought during his initial recovery: “I've ruined my life and everyone else's. I won't be able to ski, sail or throw a ball to Will. I won't be able to sleep with Dana. Maybe we should let me go.”

He adds: “And then she said the words that saved my life: 'You are still you. And I love you.'”

Reeve first played the legendary superhero in 1978 before returning for sequels Superman II in 1980, Superman III in 1983 and Superman IV – The World on the Brink in 1987.

The new documentary, produced by DC Studios, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

The film, which hits select theaters next month, is an emotional look back at the actor's rise to fame and the indomitable spirit that turned him into an advocate and activist for paralyzed people after his own accident. His activities included leading the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and co-founding the Reeve-Irvine Research Center.

In 2003, he had two cameo appearances in the television series Smallvilleand used it to promote the work of his foundation.

Elsewhere in the new trailer, Reeve's son Matthew, 44, recalls the last moments he saw his father before the horrific incident when Reeve was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Virginia.

“We said goodbye, he waved,” Matthew remembers. “That was the last time I saw him on his feet.”

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story includes interviews with Reeves' three children Matthew, Alexandra, 40, and Will, 32, as well as his late wife Dana, who died of lung cancer in 2006.

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It also includes stories and memories from many of Reeve's Hollywood friends, including Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Jeff Daniels and Glenn Close.

Reeves' son Will will make a cameo appearance in the upcoming Superman Film.

Will Reeve is a real-life journalist and ABC news correspondent and will play a television reporter on screen as the production pays homage to his father.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story will be released in selected cinemas on September 21st.