Director James Gunn has faced significant criticism for a remark he made while promoting ‘Superman,’ which was perceived as dismissive towards the immigrant community.
On July 4, speaking to the Sunday Times, the director discussed the film’s plot, stating, “I mean, Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country.”
He added, “But for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.” These comments led to calls for a boycott of the movie.
Recently, Gunn appeared at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theater alongside Peter Safran to promote his upcoming film.
The 58-year-old director responded to the criticism by saying he doesn’t “have anything to say to anybody” about negative comments. He emphasized he wasn’t there to “judge people.”
“I think this is a movie about kindness and I think that’s something everyone can relate to,” he said, before adding, “My reaction to [the backlash] is that it is exactly what the movie is about.”
Before concluding, James Gunn explained, “We support our people; you know? We love our immigrants. Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants and if you don’t like that, you’re not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way.”
‘Superman’ is scheduled for release in cinemas on July 11, 2025.
