Superman director called 'Superwoke' as he faces backlash for calling the Man of Steel an 'immigrant'
Gunn, 58, told The Sunday Times of London on Friday that he felt the character - played by David Corenswet, 32, in the new movie - had a lot in common with immigrants who come to the America in search of a better life.
'I mean, Superman is the story of America,' Gunn told the English news outlet. 'An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.'
The filmmaker was subsequently asked by the outlet if he expected that the motion picture would be received differently in historically Democratic or Republican areas amid the current political climate in America.
Yes, it plays differently,' Gunn said in response. 'But it's about human kindness and obviously there will be jerks out there who are just not kind and will take it as offensive just because it is about kindness. But screw them.
The tentpole action film, which is already getting mixed reviews, is due in theaters Friday.
The Superman character is from a planet called Krypton who lands on earth after his parents send him away as a baby in a travel pod ahead of the planet's imminent destruction.
The baby, named Kal-El, goes by the moniker Clark Kent when he is not Superman.
Gunn faced criticism from a number of media personalaties, including Fox News' Greg Gutfeld, who said the filmmaker is operating with 'a woke shield' - and out of touch with what Americans really feel.
'He's creating a moat of woke, enlightened opinion around him,' Gutfeld said of the St. Louis-born filmmaker.
Kellyanne Conway, who served under President Donald Trump during his first term, said that Gunn had missed the point of a trip to the movie theater being about escapism.
'We don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us,' Conway said, according to the New York Post.
Gunn spoke about the backlash to the remarks at the film's premiere in Los Angeles on Monday.
Gunn said he didn't have 'anything to say to anybody' and wasn't there 'to judge people' he had a difference of opinion with.
Gunn reiterated, 'I think this is a movie about kindness and I think that's something everyone can relate to.'
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