Latest news with #humanKindness
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
James Gunn says 'Superman' is "about human kindness"
Filmmaker James Gunn got candid about the theme behind the superhero film, Superman. The filmmaker and co-head of DC Studios recently shared what his new superhero film is all about. "I mean, Superman is the story of America," Gunn was quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter. "An immigrant who 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," he said. He also noted that Superman can be interpreted differently among various political groups and areas, but that he doesn't care if people take offence to the film. "Yes, it plays differently," said Gunn, adding, "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." Gunn also said why Nicholas Hoult wasn't cast as Superman in the superhero film. Nosferatu is "a great actor" but he merely "didn't fit the role" of Clark Kent, he said. The Guardians of the Galaxy director thought he was a bit too "controlled" for the part as opposed to David Corenswet. "He's a great actor. I mean, some might say he's better than David in certain ways, but he just didn't fit the role, and that's why he didn't get that," Gunn said. "As much as you can transform yourself as a person, Nick was just more controlled." Gunn further shared that Hoult participated in chemistry tests with other actresses who were considered for the role of Lois Lane. "One of the things that we were also doing was mixing and matching Lois and Clarks when we were auditioning them, and so I wanted to make sure that we had that chemistry right," he said. "And the truth is, Nick, who is a more controlled actor, had really good chemistry with another Lois that was less controlled, so they were opposites." Ultimately, he settled on casting Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois because of their on-screen chemistry. The director added that while the superhero film is about politics, "on another level it's about morality". "This Superman does seem to come at a particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people's goodness," said the filmmaker of the movie's timing. "I'm telling a story about a guy who is uniquely good, and that feels needed now because there is a meanness that has emerged due to cultural figures being mean online." "And, no, I don't make films to change the world, but if a few people could be just a bit nicer after this, it would make me happy," he was quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter. Superman hits theatres on July 11.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Gunn confirms Superman is about an ‘immigrant': ‘Yes, it's about politics'
James Gunn has said his Superman is the story of an 'immigrant that came from other places' and of 'basic human kindness'. The DC Studios co-CEO explained the themes of his forthcoming film Superman in a new profile and the inherent political nature of the superhero. 'I mean, Superman is the story of America,' Gunn told The Sunday Times. '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.' Starring David Corenswet as the titular Superman, Gunn's iteration of the iconic DC hero also features Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the villainous Lex Luther. The cast also includes Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer. Gunn acknowledged that the film may be received differently among diverse political groups, but added that at the core of the film lay 'human kindness'. 'Yes, it plays differently,' he said. '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.' On whether Superman was political, Gunn said it was, but it also aimed to start a conversation about morality. 'Yes, it's about politics. But on another level it's about morality,' the Guardians of the Galaxy director said. 'Do you never kill no matter what – which is what Superman believes – or do you have some balance, as Lois believes? It's really about their relationship and the way different opinions on basic moral beliefs can tear two people apart.' 'This Superman does seem to come at a particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people's goodness,' the filmmaker added. 'I'm telling a story about a guy who is uniquely good, and that feels needed now because there is a meanness that has emerged due to cultural figures being mean online.' Fans previously hailed the return of popular Superman character Krypto the Superdog when the first trailer for the new film was released, who featured in the comics as Superman's canine companion. Gunn shared previously how adopting his own rescue dog shaped the script for Superman. 'When I first adopted Ozu, I was starting to write the Superman script,' said Gunn. 'Ozu was such a terrible, uncontrollable dog – tearing up our entire house – I thought, 'What if he had superpowers? We'd be screwed.' And thus, the filmic Krypto was born. He really just gave the script that unusual aspect that made it fun to write.' Gunn added that the cinematic Krypto was designed to resemble Ozu, using CGI technology and reference videos. Superman will be released in cinemas on 11 July 2025.
Fox News
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
'Superman' director reveals reboot will tackle politics and kindness, tells 'jerks' to 'screw' off
Director James Gunn revealed that the upcoming "Superman" movie will be "about politics," saying that the iconic superhero is "an immigrant that came from other places." "Superman is the story of America," Gunn told The Sunday Times in a recent interview. "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 character, first introduced in 1938, was born from the imagination of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in Cleveland, Ohio. In the comics, Superman is the sole survivor of the planet Krypton, sent to Earth by his parents as their world faced destruction. The film, set to hit theaters on July 11, will serve as a reboot of the 2013 film Man of Steel and is intended to launch a new cinematic universe for the DC franchise. Actor David Corenswet stars as the new Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane. When asked whether he considered how the movie's political themes might resonate differently across the country — from "blue state" New York, aka Metropolis, to Superman's rural roots in Kansas — Gunn acknowledged the contrast. "Yes, it plays differently," he said. "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." While Gunn emphasized the film's political and moral undertones, he also noted its sense of fun and fantasy — mentioning a flying dog in a cape as part of the film's lighter elements. "Yes, it's about politics," he said. "But on another level, it's about morality. Do you never kill no matter what — which is what Superman believes — or do you have some balance, as Lois believes? It's really about their relationship and how differing moral perspectives can pull two people apart." Gunn did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
