James Gunn Says ‘Superman’ Is About an “Immigrant That Came From Other Places”
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key TakeawaysJames Gunn is getting candid about the themes behind his highly anticipated Superman.
The filmmaker and co-head of DC Studios recently opened up to The Sunday Times about what his new superhero blockbuster is really about, especially given the current political climate in the United States and President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies.
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AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R16ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R26ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe“I mean, Superman is the story of America,” Gunn explained. “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.”
He also acknowledged that Superman may be interpreted differently among various political groups and areas, but that he doesn’t care if people take offense to the film.
“Yes, it plays differently,” Gunn 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.”
The director added that while the superhero pic, starring David Corenswet (Clark Kent/Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), is about politics, “on another level it’s about morality.”
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1bekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2bekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe“Do you never kill no matter what — which is what Superman believes — or do you have some balance, as Lois believes?” he said. “It’s really about their relationship and the way different opinions on basic moral beliefs can tear two people apart.”
Gunn’s Superman centers on a younger Clark Kent who must reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing, while also working as a reporter in Metropolis.
“ThisSupermandoes seem to come at a particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people’s goodness,” the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker said 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.”
He added, “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.”
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1hekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2hekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeSuperman hits theaters on July 11.
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