Terence Stamp has said that Superman I and II are still "the very best of all those comic book movies".
The actor, who portrayed General Zod in the films, said that his long career was the result of being "up for anything".
He also talked about working with the "funny" and "charming" Marlon Brando, who played Jor-El in the originals.
"I got recalled to do the first two Superman movies, that I think are the very best of all those comic book movies," Stamp told Indiewire.
"But during that leave of absence [from acting in the '70s], I guess I changed, like emotionally, I was changed from a leading man to a character actor. In a way it was very painful at the time, but it's proven to be a blessing in disguise.
"The reason that I've had such a long career is because I'm up for anything. I'm sort of fearless at this point in my life. So even when I did General Zod, can you really imagine Robert Redford or Warren Beatty playing General Zod? I was of a similar ilk."
He revealed that he has yet to see Zack Snyder's new Man of Steel film.
"No, I haven't, and I don't know whether I'm curious or not," he said. "It was so emotional for me to work with Richard Donner and Chris Reeve - and Brando! I got to work with Marlon.
"See the director's cut of Superman II, because all of the Brando footage is back in, and he's so funny, he's so charming. I'm sure this modern one is really good and I'm sure it's made for teenagers of the day, but I'd be surprised if it has the kind of humour and the lightness of touch that Marlon and Chris brought to it."
Stamp has previously said that he is "ambivalent" about the new film, which sees Michael Shannon take on his iconic role as Zod.
Watch Shannon discuss Man of Steel with Digital Spy below:
