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Superman star Nathan Fillion defends his character's haircut after fan uproar on social media

Superman star Nathan Fillion defends his character's haircut after fan uproar on social media

Time of India20 hours ago
Nathan Fillion
, the Superman star, has defended his character's iconic hairstyle in the movie after his look faced criticism from fans. The actor plays the DC Comics character
Guy Gardner
, a law enforcer who is also the Green Lantern, in the new Superman film, which was released on Friday, July 11, 2025. He plays the role of a superhero who derives powers from his sparkling green ring. Fillion wears a blonde bowl cut wig.
As various teasers and trailers were released ahead of the film's release, viewers and fans have said that they don't like this hairstyle. The 'Rookie' actor, however, has now come out in defense of the haircut. He told CNN that the look is 'canon' to the original character in the DC Comics. 'I don't think you can do a Guy Gardner without doing the hair. I think it would be a disservice,' he said.
''Ummm, Guy Gardner is meant to look dumb with the bowl cut,' I don't care it still looks dumb,' one wrote in December 2024, according to Independent. While another wrote on X at the time: 'Hyped for Nathan Fillion as a Lantern, but a bowl cut?' 'Wtf happened to Green Lantern. Why is his haircut so ridiculous?' a third wrote in May.
Many people, however, agreed that the bowl cut was a big part of Fillion's character. 'Guy Gardner's Green Lantern looks terrible in the exact way he should. Comic accurate,' one wrote on X in December 2024.
In an episode of HBO Max's DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast in May 2025, Fillion said that the hairstyle of his character was discussed before the movie was filmed. He, however, ultimately pushed for Gardner to have the bowl cut.
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'There was some talk about some different types of things we were going to go,' he said. 'I was team bowl cut the whole way. It's canon. It's set. I said, 'If we don't do a bowl cut, we're going to hear about it,' he added.'
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CBFC cuts ‘Superman' in India: A short history of Hollywood films facing censorship
CBFC cuts ‘Superman' in India: A short history of Hollywood films facing censorship

The Hindu

time28 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

CBFC cuts ‘Superman' in India: A short history of Hollywood films facing censorship

James Gunn's Superman soared into theatres across the world this weekend, but in India, the Man of Steel's flight was grounded by an indomitable foe: the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Audiences here were treated to a version of the film that felt conspicuously snipped, with a now-infamous 33-second floating kiss between Clark Kent (David Corenswet) and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) mysteriously missing. The romantic moment previously teased in trailers was reportedly deemed too 'sensual' by the CBFC, which demanded its removal in exchange for an UA certificate. A swift wave of public outrage has since followed online, with exasperated fans pointing out the absurdity of censoring a kiss in a superhero flick while Indian films continue to get away with far sleazier depictions of women, often under the guise of tradition or mass appeal. But the uproar surrounding Superman is hardly an isolated incident; rather, it's just the latest cape caught in the CBFC's scissors. One needn't look far down the cutting room floor to find Dev Patel's Monkey Man, a politically loaded revenge saga set in a dystopian India, which found itself ghosted by the certification board. Universal Pictures had already pre-emptively cleaned house, swapping saffron banners for red and scrubbing out scenes that drew lines between religion and violence. Yet, despite these concessions, the film still failed to secure a screening date with the CBFC. No official ban was declared, but the film was never certified either. Industry insiders described the move as a covert form of bureaucratic censorship: by not officially rejecting the film, the board avoided controversy while still keeping it out of theatres. For Indian audiences, Monkey Man remains unseen, and, perhaps more tellingly, unspoken. Shortly after, The Apprentice, Ali Abbasi's thorny biopic on Donald Trump, arrived at the CBFC's doorstep, only to be promptly taken apart. The board demanded that nude scenes be axed, a graphic sexual assault between Trump and his then-wife Ivana trimmed by 75%, and the term 'Negro' removed altogether. They also threw in the usual public service announcements about smoking and drinking for good measure. Not mincing words, Abbasi said the world needed a 'vaccine against censorship,' arguing that what was left of his film after CBFC's pruning barely resembled the one he made. Sometimes, films disappear without a trace. Sean Baker's indie drama Anora, widely celebrated on the global awards circuit and eventually crowned Best Picture at the Oscars 2025, was originally slated for a November 2024 release in India. Then it vanished into the limbo known to Indian cinephiles as 'TBA' — the all-too-familiar acknowledgement that the film likely did not clear the CBFC's moral radar. Featuring the story of a Brooklyn-based stripper marrying into a Russian oligarchy, Anora may have been too risqué, too complex, or simply too uncomfortable, for certification. A slightly more local ghosting was with Santosh, a blistering Hindi-language drama made by an Indian cast and crew under a UK production banner. The film stormed Cannes in 2024, winning praise and major award nominations, only to be stonewalled in its own backyard. The CBFC didn't technically ban Santosh, but instead, sent back a laundry list of edits so sweeping and vague, director Sandhya Suri called them 'impossible' to implement. While specifics remain under wraps thanks to legal restrictions, it's speculated what rattled the board was the film's interrogation of India's police force, gendered violence, and systemic rot. But even filmmakers who play by the rules aren't safe. Halina Reijn's Babygirl, an erotic drama starring Nicole Kidman, was officially granted an A (Adults Only) certificate, only to be carved up anyway. Over three minutes of 'problematic' content were snipped, including intimate visuals and spicy language, prompting critics to ask what purpose an adult certification serves if adults still needed babysitting? The paradox of certifying films for adults and then treating those same adults as incapable of processing difficult or sensual material continues to dog the board's credibility. In a similar vein, Brady Corbet's Oscar-winning The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, was released in India with roughly one minute of nudity and sexual content removed. While the cuts were less dramatic than those faced by other films, Pearce himself commented that such interventions could undermine a film's emotional weight and artistic intent. 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Superman Box Office: Man of Steel lifts off to 29cr weekend in India
Superman Box Office: Man of Steel lifts off to 29cr weekend in India

Pink Villa

time3 hours ago

  • Pink Villa

Superman Box Office: Man of Steel lifts off to 29cr weekend in India

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Superman Worldwide Weekend Box Office: James Gunn and David Corenswet's superhero film flies high with a USD 217 million global start
Superman Worldwide Weekend Box Office: James Gunn and David Corenswet's superhero film flies high with a USD 217 million global start

Pink Villa

time4 hours ago

  • Pink Villa

Superman Worldwide Weekend Box Office: James Gunn and David Corenswet's superhero film flies high with a USD 217 million global start

The new Superman movie directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, has taken a flight at the box office, pulling in an impressive USD 217 million worldwide during its opening weekend. This strong debut signals a promising return for the iconic DC Comics superhero, who has faced challenges in winning back fans after a rocky few years for the franchise in terms of public reception. Superman Debuts With A USD 217 Million Global Start; A Strong Number For The Film's Budget With a production budget estimated between USD 200-225 million, Superman is already on its path to profitability. It needs around USD 450 million to break even when factoring in marketing and other costs. Beyond ticket sales, the movie is expected to rake in substantial revenue from non-theatrical sources like streaming, home video, and merchandise. Superman Scores Domestically; Slightly Underwhelms Internationally The opening weekend was driven by a robust performance in the United States, where Superman grossed a commanding USD 122 million. This domestic haul reflects strong audience enthusiasm, with fans flocking to theatres to see the Man of Steel's latest big-screen adventure. Overseas markets, however, told a different story. The international box office contributed USD 95 million to the global total, an underwhelming figure compared to expectations. While the film performed decently in Latin America, India and few other Asian countries, it struggled elsewhere. Superman Is On Track For A USD 550 - 600 Million Global Gross Superman is on track for a worldwide final gross of USD 550-600 million, a solid achievement for a DC Comics film in today's competitive market. This range positions the movie as a success, especially considering the franchise's recent struggles to connect with audiences. The DC brand has faced criticism for uneven films in the past, but Superman seems to be striking a chord with its blend of heart, action, and a fresh take on the classic hero. Positive word-of-mouth and favorable reviews should help sustain its performance in the coming weeks. Superman In Theatres Superman plays in theatres now. You can book your tickets for the movie from online ticketing applications, or from the box office. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates

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