Will Reeve Explores His Father’s Legacy in New ABC Special

NEW YORK, NY – Will Reeve, the son of iconic actor Christopher Reeve, is set to embark on an emotional journey to honor his father’s legacy in a new ABC primetime special titled “Will Reeve: Finding My Father,” which premieres on February 26 at 10:02 p.m. EST.

In this one-hour special, Will, a 32-year-old ABC correspondent, retraces the steps his father took during his last expedition before a tragic accident left him paralyzed for nearly three decades. The adventure follows the migration of the Pacific gray whale, taking viewers from Mexico to an island near Siberia.

“My father was my hero,” Will states in the trailer, which was shared exclusively with PEOPLE. “To millions, he was Superman. I idolize and miss a different Christopher Reeve… dad.” Will was only 2 years old when his father suffered the life-changing injury, and he was 12 when Christopher Reeve passed away in 2004 due to complications from his condition.

As he embarks on this journey, Will reflects on the deep questions he has about his father’s life and legacy. “I’ve inherited some of my dad’s sense of adventure and have carried it with me into my job every day at ABC News,” he says. “I’ve gotten to travel the world telling stories, but this is the one story that needs an ending.”

In the special, Will expresses that he feels his father “lived a life filled with epic adventure,” and believes there are remnants of that legacy left for him to discover. “For 30 years now, I’ve dreamed of taking a journey to the last places he visited before his accident,” he adds.

Despite the passage of time, Will found traces of his father’s presence in the locations they visited. “The men who hosted my dad in those places have since died, so I found their sons and asked them to be my guide,” he explains.

A poignant moment in the trailer captures Will encountering a man on the beach who presented him with a 30-year-old photo of himself with Christopher Reeve. “How cool is that?” Will remarks, reflecting on the unexpected connections his journey has brought.

Although Christopher Reeve died at the age of 52, Will feels this journey has bridged a gap between him and his father. “I’ve waited 30 years to do this and share the experience with my father,” he says. “Turns out, dad did leave something for me out here.”

“Will Reeve: Finding My Father” will air on ABC on February 26 and will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day.