James Gunn has sparked controversy after he called Superman "the story of America," pointing out the Man of Steel's immigrant status. Comic books have always been political, and it's not surprising that superhero movies have struggled to navigate this; they want to appeal to a wider audience, which means political messages are potentially divisive.
The last decade has essentially been marked by furious debate over American self-identity, and that's caused problems for superheroes like Captain America (the potential return of Donald Trump led to significant reshoots of Captain America: Brave New World). Unsurprisingly, the big-screen return of Superman - associated with "Truth, justice, and the American Way" - has waded into controversy.
Over the weekend, The Times published an interview with writer and director James Gunn that bore a perhaps ominous title: "James Gunn: Some people will take offence at my new Superman." The movie hasn't actually come out yet, but Gunn's remarks certainly sparked a firestorm of controversy online.
James Gunn Views Superman As An "Immigrant Story" That Defines America
"Superman is the story of America," Gunn observed in his interview with The 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."
Immigration is currently a political hot topic in the United States (to say the least), and Gunn's description of Superman as an immigrant brought the Man of Steel into the heart of that debate. Even more importantly, though, Gunn's words also describe what he believes to be the American story - an immigrant story.
Given that's the case, it's no surprise Gunn - and, by extension, his Superman movie - have become controversial.
James Gunn Has Always Courted Political Controversy
It's important to stress that Gunn is no stranger to political controversy, becoming an outspoken critic on social media during Donald Trump's first term as president. This ultimately led to Gunn becoming a target of a right-wing campaign back in July 2018, when The Daily Caller unearthed offensive tweets he'd shared before working for Disney on Guardians of the Galaxy.
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