‘Superman' Film's Right-Wing Backlash: Director Calls Superhero An Immigrant—And MAGA Erupts
"Superman" writer-director James Gunn compared the superhero to an immigrant story over the weekend. ... More (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage) WireImage
Gunn, writer-director of 'Superman' and co-CEO of DC Studios, told The Sunday Times over the weekend the superhero movie is 'the story of America,' stating it is about 'an immigrant that came from other places' and how 'basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.'
Gunn's comments were swiftly criticized by right-wing commentators, including Kellyanne Conway, who said in a Fox News segment Monday people 'don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us.'
Fox News host Jesse Watters joked Superman's cape reads 'MS-13,' the name of an international gang designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization, and he questioned whether Superman is 'from Uganda' and whether there's a 'love scene with Batman and Robin.'
During the Fox News segment, a chyron on the screen read: 'Superwoke.'
Other right-wing commentators, like Ben Shapiro, Tim Pool and widely followed right-wing X accounts like End Wokeness, piled onto the criticism in social media posts and YouTube videos, making 'Superman' the latest movie deemed 'woke' to be targeted by conservative critics.
Shapiro, in a video posted to his YouTube channel, accused the cast and crew of making an 'attempt to separate Superman off from America,' alleging Gunn likened the character to an 'illegal immigrant.' Shapiro said Superman is an 'immigrant who assimilates to American values' and compared him unfavorably to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, whom he accused of having a 'deep hatred' for the United States, citing a years-old tweet Mamdani posted giving the middle finger to a statue of Christopher Columbus. Pool, in his YouTube video, said: 'The issue is not, 'Superman is an immigrant.' The issue is illegal immigration,' but questioned whether Superman, who was sent to Earth as a baby, would've been entitled to birthright citizenship. How Has The 'superman' Cast And Crew Responded To Backlash?
They've largely brushed it off, with Gunn telling Variety at a premiere event Monday he is 'not here to judge people,' adding he thinks 'this is a movie about kindness and I think that's something everyone can relate to.' Actor Nathon Fillion, who plays Green Lantern in the movie, dismissed criticism, saying to Variety, 'Somebody needs a hug. It's just a movie, guys.' David Corenswet, who plays Superman, did not address the backlash, but echoed Gunn's sentiment at the film's world premiere Monday. 'Be kind to each other, step up to the plate. See what responsibilities you can shoulder, who you can take care of, who you can look out for,' he said.
Some fans and scholars have long considered Superman's story to be a possible metaphor for immigration, in part because of the background of its creators. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who penned the first Superman comic in 1938, were children of Jewish immigrants from Europe who arrived in the United States in the early 20th century. Superman was originally named Kal-El upon birth, which appears to be inspired by Hebrew, as the suffix 'El' means 'of God,' and some have loosely translated his name to mean 'voice of God.' As the planet suffered from war and a lack of resources, Superman's parents sent him in a small spaceship to Earth, which has drawn comparisons to the story of Moses, who was placed in a basket and sent down the Nile to save him from being killed. In a 1987 book celebrating the character's 50th anniversary, 'Superman At Fifty,' the book's co-author and editor Gary Engle argues in an essay the character exemplifies the 'value of the immigrant in American culture.' He writes the character's shape-shifting between Superman and his alter-ego, Clark Kent, 'addresses in dramatic terms the theme of cultural assimilation.' Frank Miller, a comic book artist who has written books on many superheroes, including Superman, told the Washington Post in 2019 he wanted to 'portray Superman as the ultimate immigrant' in his comic series, 'Superman: Year One.' Miller said Superman is 'so much part of the American Dream' because he 'travels like Moses from outer space, and he goes up and down and falls in love with the right things about America because they are new to him.' Tangent
'Superman' is looking to continue a strong summer run of blockbusters, following a string of successes like 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'F1.' Deadline reported in June 'Superman' is on track to gross between $90 million and $120 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, likely a bigger opening than Marvel's 'Captain America: Brave New World,' which grossed $88.8 million in its opening weekend in February. Last weekend, 'Jurassic World Rebirth' opened to $92 million in the United States, one weekend after 'F1' posted $57 million in its opening weekend. Between May and June, the box office was led by 'Lilo & Stitch,' which was the top-grossing movie for four weekends in a row, and 'How To Train Your Dragon.' The domestic box office has totaled $4.1 billion in ticket sales between Jan. 1 and June 29, according to data shared with Forbes by Comscore, a 15.5% increase from the same dates in 2024. What Are Critics Saying About 'superman?'
The review embargo has not yet been lifted for 'Superman,' but some critics have shared initial reactions to the film following the premiere, which appear largely positive. Joseph Deckelmeier, a critic for Screenrant, said the cast and crew 'bottled that classic #Superman magic in this film.' Germain Lussier, a senior entertainment reporter for Gizmodo, said the film 'soars,' stating the film is a 'non-stop joyride' with 'spectacle to spare, unbridled optimism, and a goofy unpredictability that ties everything together.' Further Reading
'Superman' First Reactions Say Film 'Soars' as a 'Thrilling Start' to James Gunn's DC Universe; David Corenswet Is 'Exceptional' Sharing 'Off the Charts' Chemistry With Rachel Brosnahan (Variety)
In 'Superman: Year One,' Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. reimagine the hero as a Navy SEAL and the 'ultimate immigrant' (The Washington Post)
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