History
David Warfield is the head of a communications empire called Warfield Publications, mostly dealing in sleazy tabloid material, who in Superman IV: The Quest For Peace bought the Daily Planet when it wasn't making any money from its newspaper sales. Warfield begins his ownership by announcing a change in command; he fires Perry White, replacing him as editor with his own daughter, Lacy. He seems to be motivated by readership over reporting what is going on in the world. When a little boy writes to Superman to end the Cold War and Superman declines, Warfield sees a chance for a scoop. Whereas the reporters and even Lacy protests that there may be deeper issues at stake for Superman's decision not to intervene in the nuclear arms race, David says the point of headlines is to get people to buy newspapers, and orders the next edition of the Daily Planet to have the banner headline "Superman to Boy: Drop Dead". This incomplete story turns public opinion against Superman. To repair his damaged reputation, Superman personally responds to the boy, then announces before the United Nations he is engaging in worldwide nuclear disarmament. This set events in motion which would lead to the creation of Nuclear Man, as well as make Lex Luthor super rich by resupplying the world with new warheads.
Much later in the film, Perry White counters the hostile takeover, whereas he says he is ousting David and Lacy from their jobs and taking back his old job as editor. When it is asked how he has the authority to do this, Perry reveals he secured a loan to buy stock in the Daily Planet, making himself majority owner and relegating Lacy and David to minority shareholders. Now that he is the owner of the Daily Planet, Perry White can protect the newspaper from any future nonsense.
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Notes
- David Warfield was played by Sam Wanamaker.
Trivia
- He appears to have been based on Australian businessman Rupert Murdoch, who was known for the tabloid nature of the New York Post as well as his ownership of the Fox network, which earned a reputation for producing sophomoric TV shows.[citation needed]
Related
- 2 Appearances of David Warfield (Donnerverse)
- 1 Images featuring David Warfield (Donnerverse)
- Quotations by or about David Warfield (Donnerverse)
- Character Gallery: David Warfield (Donnerverse)
Footnotes