Hollywood often misunderstands what Superman represents. Superman stands for American values and the idea that America is special. Many in Hollywood and the media do not accept this. They see Superman as a symbol of power and old-fashioned patriotism. Because of this, they keep trying to change who Superman is. This is one reason why no Superman movie has matched the success of Richard Donner’s 1978 film.
Ignoring the American roots of Superman misses the point of the character. Jerry Siegel, who helped create Superman, joined the United States military in 1943. He worked as a mechanic and as a reporter for Stars and Stripes. Early Superman comics were used as American military propaganda. Superman was shown fighting against enemies like Adolf Hitler.
Hollywood often takes a progressive approach on topics like race, policing, gender, and politics. This shift is one reason why shows like Amazon’s “The Boys,” featuring the harsh anti-hero Homelander, have become more popular than Superman.
James Gunn, who directed “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Suicide Squad,” is now leading the reboot of the DC universe. His new “Superman” movie comes out in just one week. This was a real chance for Hollywood to finally understand what makes Superman special. Instead, Gunn has already said he plans to focus on topics like immigration and politics. This shows he does not really get Clark Kent’s true American roots.
In a recent interview, James Gunn said that Superman is about an immigrant from another place and that the story is about politics and kindness. In a Sunday profile with The Times of London, the DC Studios head went deep on the themes and ideas that drive his highly anticipated “Superman.” He explained that the superhero epic encompasses “the story of America,” and at a basic level, is about a man searching for a better life away from his original home.
“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.” Gunn says despite the current political climate, he stands by the ideals embedded in his version of Superman, and added that he doesn’t care if anyone takes offense.
“Yes, it plays differently, 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,” he said. “This Superman does seem to come at a particular time when people are feeling a loss of hope in other people’s goodness,” Gunn adds. “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 continued, “Yes, it’s about politics. 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 the way different opinions on basic moral beliefs can tear two people apart… 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.”
Backlash to these comments when published by Variety were fierce:
In 2018, after Gunn’s public criticisms of President Trump, which included a sexually vulgar joke and comparisons with Hitler and Putin, commentator Mike Cernovich unearthed several disgusting tweets by Gunn joking about child sexual abuse, which led to an uproar and backlash against the director. Gunn apologized, but Disney fired him before further pressure led it to reinstate him for a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel. He then went off to join DC Studios.
The timing couldn’t be worse. The film opens in just days, and jst last week the film’s star mangled the hero’s pro-American tagline while speaking to “CBS This Morning,” he edited Superman’s iconic phrase, “truth, justice and the American way.” While discussing a scene where Lois (Rachel Brosnahan) interviews Superman, Corenswet said, “And so that scene, I think, is the crux of that character that we see. And the reality is that when he doesn’t have to be Superman, when he doesn’t have to be this calm, reassuring presence to the public, when he doesn’t have to symbolize safety and security and truth and justice and all those good things [emphasis added], he still feels those values.”
For his part, Peter Safran, co-chairman of the DCU along with James Gunn, described Superman in the film as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.” While it is true that Superman’s story has some links to immigration, this view misses the heart of the character. Superman did not come to Earth by choice. He was sent here as a baby because his planet was destroyed. He was raised with American values in a small town. His story is about trying to fit in and being a symbol of hope.
Superman sometimes gets used for political messages, but he should be a hero for everyone. The idea that Superman is just an immigrant does not capture who he is. He is a refugee, but he became the person he is because of his American upbringing. Superman loved America, but Hollywood (and even many of today’s comic book writers) hates it. That’s why they keep largely missing the mark in all their movies.
It's fascinating, isn't it? SO MUCH is riding on this movie … for DC, for Hollywood, for the superhero genre … and he can't help himself … it's staggering
— Christian Toto (@HollywoodInToto) July 6, 2025
The world may change, but Superman’s values stay the same. He is the classic American hero. Superman knows his purpose. America, with all its problems, is still a force for good, just like Superman and our ideals remain strong. It is not Superman or America that needs to be changed. The problem is with Hollywood. James Gunn risks making the same mistake as others by not understanding what makes Superman truly great, and with his movie, and the DCU relaunch less than a week away, it’s a risk not worth taking.
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