Superman director James Gunn recently opened up about how the hero finds himself embroiled in political controversy after he interferes in a skirmish between two warring countries. This action is taken as Superman acting on behalf of the United States, while the hero maintains he was acting of his own accord.
Speaking with The Times, Gunn said this geopolitical conflict was “definitely the most unusual thing that we put in the movie.” He then clarified: “This is a Superman film for the age of endless discourse, with the difference being that the people — Clark and Lois — who disagree with each other here are willing to discuss and even, perhaps, learn.“
The director confirmed that while Superman is “about politics, but on another level it’s about morality.” For Gunn, this was essential to characterize the hero and his love interest, Lois Lane:
“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.”
As for the choice to bring a political subtext into the plot, Gunn believed it was an inherent part of Superman’s character. He stated: “Superman is the story of America; 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.”
Gunn also specified that he’s aware of the potential for his approach to Superman to alienate some viewers. He explained that the film is “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.”
What James Gunn’s Comments About Superman Mean
Superman was created in 1934 by Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster before making his debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. Both of his creators were of Jewish ancestry, with each of them being a first-generation American. Factoring in Superman being a Kryptonian refugee who was raised American by his adoptive family, this background is hard to divorce from the character’s portrayals.
Superman represents many things to many people, and as Gunn stated, he is emblematic of how America was built through immigration, which created a blended culture. He is Kryptonian, but he is also American, and both sides matter deeply to Clark. The hero was created in the lead-up to World War II by two Jewish men, which is instrumental in this characterization.
However, Gunn makes the important distinction that Superman’s story is more than political; it’s about morality and being the best version of yourself. Clark’s complex background feeds into why he has strong convictions that lead to how he gets pulled into geopolitical conflicts simply for trying to save others.
Our Take On James Gunn’s Superman Comments
Regardless of any political statements that could be taken from the film, Gunn has been clear that Superman is more about morals than anything. The filmmaker contextualized his statement best himself:
“This Superman does seem to come at a particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people’s goodness. 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 I include myself in this. It is ad infinitum, millions of people having tantrums online. How are we supposed to get anywhere as a culture? We don’t know what’s real, and that is a really difficult place for the human brain to be. […] 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.”
Superman is an optimistic character meant to inspire hope. However, there is a clear political connection between the hero and his creation. Gunn tackling these questions in Superman is a gamble, but if Superman stands for truth, justice, and the American way, then representing that in the film is less an unnecessary modernization than a tribute to his character.
