The premiere was held at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles

Many of the cast and crew paid tribute to the 1978 Superman film and its star, Christopher Reeve.

"I am so excited to be able to follow in his footsteps," said Brandon Routh, who plays the superhero and his alter ego Clark Kent in Superman Returns.

The film, which has had overwhelmingly positive reviews, opens in the US on 28 June and in the UK on 14 July.

Routh says he was contacted by Reeve's wife, Dana, while he was making the film.

"Dana Reeve sent a very nice letter giving her blessing to the film and to me playing the character so that was very nice - it meant a lot," he told reporters outside the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood.

IN PICTURES Stars gather for Superman Returns US premiere

Kevin Spacey, who plays villain Lex Luthor, also paid tribute to Reeve, who was paralysed from the neck down after a riding accident in 1995.

"In so many ways he became a bigger superhero as a result of his accident then when he was wearing that costume," he said.

Reeve died in October 2004, aged 52. Dana Reeve died of lung cancer in March 2006.

Gay rumours

Director Bryan Singer, who was behind the first two X-Men films, addressed speculation that, in his film, the Man of Steel is gay.

"He's pretty straight," said the director, "he's Superman."

Kate Bosworth, who plays reporter Lois Lane in the film, dismissed the rumour.

"I play his love interest so I think that's probably pretty ridiculous."