We’re just a few days away from the newSupermanfilm hitting theatres. This is the first film inDC’srevamped cinematic universe,with James Gunn at the helm as writer and director.
In the run-up to release,James Gunndescribed the character of Superman as an immigrant, which makes sense. He comes from another planet, and his story shows him settling in to life on earth, and specifically the United States. However, quite a few people have taken issue with this - including Fox News presenters - leading to some labelling the movie “woke” before they’ve even seen it.
At the premiere of Superman, Variety asked Nathan Fillion what he made of the controversy. His response? He laughed, and suggested that anyone upset about this could do with a hug.
Nathan Fillion Isn’t Bothered About The Anti-Woke Backlash
“Somebody needs a hug,” he says, rather diplomatically. “It’s just a movie, guys. It’s just a movie”.
The same question was put to Gunn himself, giving him a chance to respond to his critics. “I think this movie is for everybody,“he says. “I’m not here to judge people. I think this is a movie about kindness, and I think that’s something that everyone can relate to.”
His brother, Sean Gunn, didn’t hold back when he was asked about the controversy. “Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants,“he explains. “If you don’t like that, then you’re not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way, they’re against what the American dream is all about.”
If this is the route the film takes, it would be far from the first piece of DC media to compare superheroes to immigrants. The CW shows often reflected real-world political issues, including racism and anti-immigrant bigotry, so it would be no surprise to see this represented in the new film.
In any case, we’ll all be able to make up our own minds soon. Superman is set ot hit theatres on July 11, so this Friday.
