'Superman' director James Gunn addresses 'Superwoke' backlash for his movie
"I've heard people say it was woke, and then I've heard a lot of people say it's not," Gunn told Entertainment Weekly. "I am curious as to what in the movie is considered woke."
Gunn recalled the original interview for the "London newspaper" The Sunday Times when he said that "Superman is the story of America," describing it as "an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country."
Gunn said that the reporter was the one who first remarked that Superman co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were the sons of immigrants and that the character was written as an immigrant story.
"I said, yeah, it's a story about an immigrant, but mostly it's a story to me about kindness, which it is. That's the center of the movie for me," Gunn said.
He added, "That's the thing we can all act upon, is kindness. And so what does that lead to? Well, does that lead to the way you vote? Sure. Does that lead to everything? Yeah. Does it lead to how many people are dying from road rage? Yes. All those things are affected if people just start to value kindness. I mean, people did value kindness in the past. That was an American value, was kindness, and it doesn't necessarily seem to be that way to me anymore. So that was always the center of the movie for me, and it wasn't about anything other than that."
The character, first introduced in 1938, was born from the imagination of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in Cleveland, Ohio. In the comics, Superman is the sole survivor of the planet Krypton, sent to Earth by his parents as their world faced destruction.
Gunn faced backlash for his original comments, which were made just days before his "Superman" movie was released on July 11 and at the height of national discussion on the ongoing immigration raids throughout the country.
In the same interview with The Sunday Times, he emphasized that his movie was about politics but that it was mostly about kindness and morality.
"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," Gunn remarked.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Peacemaker Grapples With a Parallel World — and Rick Flag's Vengeful Dad — in New Season 2 Trailer
Peacemaker is torn between a world where a livid Rick Flag Sr. wants vengeance, and a parallel world where the grass looks awfully greener, in a new Season 2 trailer unveiled Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con. Details on Peacemaker's Season 2 storyline had been scarce for a long while, aside from showrunner/DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn saying, 'It essentially picks up where Season 1 left off, with a couple minor differences' — including the fact that the Justice League that Peacemaker crossed paths with in the finale doesn't exist yet. More from TVLine In Bloody-Good Spartacus: House of Ashur Trailer, a Gladiatrix Enters the Arena! - Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Holly Hunter Takes Us Back to School in First Trailer - Watch Save the Dates: Solar Opposites Swan Song, E! News Shuts Down and More Now we have a formal synopsis, which reads, 'Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be. But this discovery also forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands.' 'What the whole season of Peacemaker revolves around' is the idea a pocket universe akin to the one Lex Luthor built in the new Superman film, Gunn said in a recent interview. Peacemaker Season 2 is set for a Thursday, Aug. 21 premiere, releasing episodes weekly. Gunn wrote all eight episodes and directed three, including the premiere; Greg Mottola, Peter Sollett and Alethea Jones also directed. Front man John Cena of course returns for Season 2, as does Jennifer Holland (as Emilia Harcourt), Steve Agee (as John Economos), Danielle Brooks (as Amanda Waller's daughter Leota Adebayo), Freddie Stroma (as Adrian Chase/Vigilante), Robert Patrick (as Chris Smith's father Auggie), Jand Nhut Le (as Judomaster) and Dee Bradley Baker (again voicing Eagly, who is back in a big way). Among newcomers, MCU vet Frank Grillo plays Rick Flag Sr. — the new head of ARGUS and father of the Suicide Squad films' late Rick Flag Jr., who was played by Joel Kinnaman. (Grillo also voiced Flag Sr. in HBO Max's Creature Commandos, and made his live-action debut as the character in Gunn's Superman film.) Additionally, SNL alum Tim Meadows plays ARGUS agent Langston Fleury; Michael Rooker is Red St. Wild, an eagle hunter with Eagly in his sights; Sol Rodriguez (Star Trek: Picard) plays Sasha Bordeaux (a Batman ally in the DC comics); and David Denman (The Office) fills an undisclosed role. You can also expect cameos from Justice Gang members Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (The Rookie's Nathan Fillion) and Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (The Last of Us' Isabel Merced), plus their backer Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). Peacemaker — which premiered Jan. 13, 2022, and earned a TVLine reader grade of 'A' — was renewed for Season 2 back in February 2022, just hours before its Season 1 finale dropped. Filming began in the summer of 2024 and wrapped in late November. Want scoop on , or for any other DC TV show? Shoot an email to InsideLine@ and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line! Peacemaker Season 2: Everything We Know — Including the New Opening Dance Number View List
CNET
44 minutes ago
- CNET
Your Comic-Con 2025 News: 'Peacemaker,' 'Starfleet Academy' and More Thrills
Though Marvel isn't hitting Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, the event is in full swing and excitement has been high over the sneak peeks at Tron: Ares, Predator: Badlands and toy booths for Lego and Hot Wheels. But there's more news coming for TV shows, movies and games. We're enthused about what we've seen from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Gen V and Welcome to Derry, so we're riding along with fans as announcements and trailer drops come out. We'll be posting highlights here from the four-day affair to help you keep up with the hottest, weirdest and most interesting stuff that hits. Stay tuned for our daily updates as the weekend rolls on. Peacemaker season 2 trailer gives a portal and Rick Flagg Sr. James Gunn arrived in Hall H with the Peacemaker crew on Saturday, giving an intro for John Cena that saw the wrestler-actor hit the stage in full costume. Gunn ceremoniously set fans up for the official season 2 trailer debut, which is set to the tune of Ozzy Osbourne's Road to Nowhere. An interdimensional portal, two Peacemakers and a vengeance-seeking Rick Flagg Sr. make for an interestingly chaotic season. Peep it below, and get ready to welcome the series back to your screen HBO Max on Aug. 21. Coyote vs. Acme gets release date After being rescued from the pile of scrapped ashes left by Warner Bros. Discovery, the Coyote vs. Acme movie will hit theaters next year thanks to Ketchup Entertainment. Footage screened during a Comic-Con panel, showed John Cena playing Acme's attorney in a case that pits Wile E. Coyote against the corporation for faulty goods. Cast members Will Forte, Eric Bauza and Martha Kelly were on deck along with director Dave Green. The film is set to debut on Aug. 28, 2026. Wile E. Coyote on stage at Comic-Con 2025. Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images Avatar: Seven Havens first look It's a 20-year anniversary celebration for Avatar: The Last Airbender, the award-winning animated series that aired on Nickelodeon. Thursday's Comic-Con panel brought together original creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino and voice cast Zach Tyler Eisen, Jennie Kwan, Michaela Jill Murphy, Jack DeSena (Sokka), Dante Basco (Zuko) and Dee Bradley Baker for a look at the past and present, including Avatar: Seven Havens. The new animated sequel series, which was originally announced in February, has 26 episodes and will be split into two installments. Fans will meet Avatar Pavi when the series debuts, but for now, here's a glimpse at the bender picking up the mantle. Nickelodeon Five Nights at Freddy's 2 The sequel from Blumhouse sees an unsuspecting group pull up to the creepy pizzeria, not knowing about the killer, life-like animatronics with nothing but evil in store. They clearly don't know about Freddy's history. Skeet Ulrich appeared in Hall H, announcing that he will be in the movie as "somebody with a very particular and specific past and somebody who has a deep emotional tie to what's going on." For those paying attention, this is sort of a Scream reunion as Matthew Lillard is returning as villain William Afton. Aside from that, details for Ulrich's character are under wraps. The film hits theaters on Dec. 5. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, season 2 release date Pack up for Camp Half-Blood when the fantasy series returns, this time introducing Tantalus, Thalia and the goddess Athena to the story. The new season arrives on Disney Plus on Dec. 10, and fans will see Percy dealing with more than fantastical monsters: Grover goes missing and there's drama with friends and a new sibling. Twisted Metal season 2 sneak peek With a week left before the new episodes of Peacock's Grindhouse series returns, the show's main cast, which includes Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Anthony Carrigan and Joe Seanoa, along with showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith, hit the stage in Hall H to tease what's in store. Smith revealed two sneak peek clips for the new season. The first scene found Stu (played by Mike Mitchell) striving to be a better killer. With Sweet Tooth as his mentor, it looks like he has some lofty, murderous goals. Stu takes the crew out but he missed all the major organs, which Sweet Tooth says is a major no-no. You have to go for "the grapes, the apple or the banana," the evil clown explains. The last victim to die recognizes Sweet Tooth, which brightens the killer's spirits, until he calls him "Big Baby." Yes, there's a notorious killer out there named "Big Baby" and it looks like Sweet Tooth is going to hunt him down now, too. Michael James Shaw stars as Axel in season 2 of Twisted Metal on Peacock. Peacock The next clip finds John Doe being vulnerable as he talks about living a life without any childhood memories. But, as he realizes, things could be much worse if he had all that knowledge. The big reveal in this clip comes toward the end as Axel (played by Michael James Shaw), the character who's attached to two giant wheels, comes barrelling through flames, all smiles. Get ready for a trip back into the wastes. Twisted Metal season 2 drops its first three episodes on July 31. Outlander, season 8 teaser Outlander's final season is due out early next year, ending the love-and-war saga for Jamie and Claire. How will their story -- and history -- play out? Starz shared a teaser for the last chapter, and Frank Randall's book has everyone on edge. Check out the clip, mark your calendar for this series' end and the beginning of the spinoff, Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Invincible VS trailer shows Battle Beast Gamers were treated to a trailer for the new Invincible VS, a bloody superhero game based on Robert Kirkman's animated Prime Video series. We've been following all the details for this upcoming release but watch below to see Battle Beast bare his teeth in this latest character reveal. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is ending soon AMC served up a new trailer for season 3 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, but Hall H news revealed the show is renewed for a fourth and final season. Season 3 sees Norman Reedus's Daryl and Melissa McBride's Carol heading to Spain in the new installment as they try to find their way home. Although production for season 4 starts soon, there aren't any details about its plot. In the meantime, fans can tune in on Sept. 7 for the next round. Rick and Morty's President Curtis gets a spinoff Adult Swim announced that the popular President Curtis is getting his own animated series, with star Keith David reprising his role as the voice behind the titular character. "President Curtis has always been a blast to play," David said in a statement. "Getting to explore his world more deeply in this new series is a dream. I can't wait for fans to see what kind of chaos he stirs up when Rick isn't around to steal the spotlight." Adult Swim Alien: Earth brings the Xenomorph to TV Alien: Earth fans in attendance were treated to a world premiere screening of the pilot episode. After that, show creator Noah Hawley and executive producer David W. Zucker took the stage with cast members Timothy Olyphant, Sydney Chandler, Babou Ceesay, Samuel Blenkin and Alex Lawther to give further insight into what to expect from the sci-fi drama. The first immediate detail any fan of the franchise will notice is how familiar-feeling things will be in the first few moments of the series. Hawley revealed during the panel that the Maginot, the ship in the series, "was built to the exact specifications" of the Nostromo from the original 1979 movie. Sydney Chandler plays Wendy in FX's Alien: Earth on Hulu. Patrick Brown/FX Networks Sydney Chandler's Wendy is basically the show's Ripley. She's a different sort of synthetic human (the consciousness of a 12-year-old girl lives inside her). There's plenty of Xenomorph action, along with some other creepy specimens. Honestly, this may be the sci-fi series of the year. It premieres on Aug. 12 on Hulu. Gen V season 2 trailer gets a boost from Starlight A panel for Boys spin-off Gen V teased a tense and gory sophomore year for Marie and fellow supes at Godolkin University. Gen V's second season is set after the fourth season of The Boys and debuts with three episodes on Sept. 17. During the panel, which featured series creator Eric Kripke, producer Michelle Fazekas and stars Jaz Sinclair, London Thor, Derek Lu, Maddie Phillips and newcomer Hamish Linklater, a brand-new trailer for the upcoming season was shown. It looks like Starlight is coming to Godolkin, and she has a big job for Marie that'll surely inform the new storyline and, potentially, the plot of the final season of The Boys. The Boys season 5's Jared Padalecki Speaking of The Boys ... To whet the appetites of the fans in the room, Kripke dropped a little clip for the fifth and final season of the hit comic book series. In the sneak peek, Homelander (who now has political power) addresses a crowd. "This is a safer, more god-fearing nation," he says. Yet fear is the only thing on the faces of those he's speaking to. Other characters who pop up are a furious Billy Butcher, Soldier Boy in a cryo-tank and a first-ever glimpse of Supernatural star Jared Padalecki. Having Padalecki and Jenson Ackles back on screen together is enough to get me to tune in. Predator: Badlands sneak peek Director Dan Trachtenberg and stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning hit the Hall H stage to promote Predator: Badlands. Is this the Predator/Alien crossover movie we've been yearning for? It doesn't seem so. Trachtenberg revealed that Badlands will focus on the relationship between Elle Fanning's Weyland-Yutani android (a detail that connects both franchises) and the Predator. 20th Century Studios Everything is apparently out to kill the Predator here. "He's essentially the Dutch of this movie," Trachtenberg revealed, referencing Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the classic film. Fun tidbit: The scene of the droid and Predator being strapped together in Badlands was inspired by Chewbacca and C-3PO from Star Wars. As for a sneak peek, the first 15 minutes of the movie were shown. In it, the Predator had to fight another Predator -- his brother, it turns out -- in a cave. Our main Predator loses the battle, which prompts his Predator father to send him out into the wild to prove himself. He must head to another planet and hunt an "unkillable" creature that even sparks fear in his own dad. Tron: Ares had a light show and music video Jared Leto is Ares in Tron: Ares, which will hit theaters on Oct. 10. Leah Gallo/ Disney After nearly 15 years, Tron returned to San Diego. The last time fans headed to the grid, Tron: Legacy took Hall H by storm. It's been a long time coming, and director Joachim Rønning and stars Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cameron Monaghan, Gillian Anderson and Evan Peters gave the Comic-Con crowd an exciting look at the next entry in the iconic franchise: Tron: Ares. One clip showed Peters' Julian Dillinger (who shares the name of the villain from the 1982 movie) sending Leto's Ares and Turner-Smith's Athena on a mission to get Eve Kim (played by Lee) and the stick of important code that she stole from Encom, Dillinger's company. Eve evades them and steals Athena's light cycle. She barely escapes and another clip found her entering the Grid for the first time. Ares rescues her from an ocean of digital water. She finally agrees to help Ares find the code. Glitzy red and blue laser light beams bounced across the room and screen, dazzling the crowd for a final time when Nine Inch Nails' music video for As Alive As You Need Me to Be played. Crunchyroll to launch 'Anime Nights' Crunchyroll's presence at SDCC this year includes a FanFest music event featuring artists across multiple genres in a two-day anime-inspired concert series. But on Saturday, the anime giant announced the addition of Anime Nights, which will see the company screen feature films in theaters across the US each third Monday of the month. Beginning Oct. 20, fans can gather to see films like Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved. Crunchyroll will offer programming at "225 theaters across participating chains throughout the U.S., including Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, AMC Theatres, Regal, Cinemark Theatres, Harkins Theatres and Landmark Cinemas." Starfleet Academy joins Star Trek family An original Paramount Plus series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set to drop in 2026, just in time to celebrate the franchise's 60th anniversary. Saturday's panel presentation included a teaser trailer of the new show, which focuses on a group of young student cadets looking to earn their place as Starfleet officers. Check out the clip and Paul Giamatti's villainous turn as Nus Braka. Talent on hand at SDCC included Holly Hunter, who plays Nahla Ake, the captain of the USS Athena and the school chancellor. Panelists also included co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, along with Starfleet cadets Sandro Rosta (who plays Caleb Mir), Karim Diané (who stars as the Klingon Jay-Den Kraag), Kerrice Brooks (playing Sam), George Hawkins (who stars as Darem Reymi) and Bella Shepard, who plays Genesis Lythe, the daughter of an admiral.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Ad Sparks Outrage, But Fans Praise Her For 'Killing Woke Advertising'
Sydney Sweeney's new American Eagle campaign, promoting jeans to support domestic violence survivors, has sparked backlash for its suggestive tone. Some critics claim it oversexualizes a serious cause. However, despite controversy, fans have defended the actress and the campaign, with some praising her for "ending woke ads. Meanwhile, executives are reportedly calling Sydney Sweeney their biggest collaboration yet, betting her star power can revive sales and position American Eagle among trending "meme stocks." Sydney Sweeney's 'Great Jeans' Campaign For American Eagle Sweeney is facing criticism over her new American Eagle campaign, which, despite aiming to support domestic violence survivors, has been labeled "tone deaf" by some viewers for being "all about her boobs." The 27-year-old "Euphoria" star recently launched a new initiative with the fashion brand, titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans." The campaign features a denim line designed by Sweeney, with 100% of the purchase price of The Sydney Jean, priced at nearly $89.95, going directly to Crisis Text Line, a charity that offers confidential mental health support to victims of domestic abuse. A butterfly motif is featured on the back of the jeans, symbolizing "domestic violence awareness, which Sydney is passionate about." However, one promotional video sparked particular backlash. In the clip, Sweeney jokes about her "genes" being responsible for her body, as the camera pans down to her chest. She then cheekily says, "Hey! Eyes up here," before laughing. The Actress's American Eagle Campaign Divides Viewers: Is It An Empowering Message or 'Tone-Deaf' Marketing? While Sweeney's American Eagle campaign has been praised for its charitable intent—donating proceeds to a domestic violence support organization, it has also stirred significant backlash for its execution. Critics argue that the campaign's tone, particularly its focus on Sweeney's body, undermines the seriousness of the cause. Many viewers felt the ad prioritized sexual appeal over substance, with one viral post on X asking, "Is this really the advertisement they came up with for raising money for a domestic violence org?" Another person commented: "As someone who has utilized & also volunteered for this organization, this is SO disgustingly tone deaf." One X user raged, "Launching a pair of jeans with the hope of combating domestic violence and then immediately making the campaign vid all about a woman's t-ts is the most r-tarded, gross marketing decision. You people are rearing whole legions of brain maggots, oh my god," one user raged. Some Netizens Defended Sydney Sweeney's Ad For Killing 'Woke Advertising' Despite the criticism, Sweeney still had supporters online. One fan on X wrote: "Woke advertising is dead. Sydney Sweeney killed it." Another defended her against the backlash, stating, "I've never seen so many people actively try to hate on a woman enjoying her run and career. B-tches be hating." A third person wrote, "I love her and think these ads are great, but no one is passing down American Eagle jeans. They don't last." Another commented, "This is genius. She's takinggggg it. American Icon era," while a fifth person joked, "American Eagle stock about to spike through the roof." The Actress Boosts American Eagle Stock As Brand Bets On Star Power Amid' Meme Stock' Buzz Since news of the Sweeney collaboration broke, American Eagle's struggling stock saw a notable boost, reportedly climbing more than 10% on Thursday. Despite this surge, the stock remains down nearly 40% over the past year. Some market analysts suggest the spike could place American Eagle among so-called "meme stocks," companies whose valuations are heavily influenced by online hype rather than traditional financial metrics. "Once a stock falls under the 'meme' category, the price movements can be violent and volatile, so it's certainly not for everyone," said Bret Kenwell, a U.S. investment analyst at eToro, in an earlier statement to the Daily Mail. "Chasing can result in being burned." Still, American Eagle is betting on Sweeney's star power to help turn things around. "With Sydney Sweeney front and center, she brings the allure," said company president Jennifer Foyle. "We add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude, and a little mischief." American Eagle Shifts Strategy With Sydney Sweeney As Solo Campaign Star: 'Our Biggest Get Yet' The campaign comes as American Eagle is shifting its marketing strategy by focusing on a single celebrity, Sweeney, marking a departure from its usual approach of featuring multiple public figures in its campaigns. Craig Brommers, the brand's Chief Marketing Officer, described the move as a milestone. Sweeney is "the biggest get in the history of our brand," he told Modern Retail. "We've had a lot of success working with multiple talent in one season, so it's not like that recipe is dead." He added that once Sweeney expressed interest, the team recognized it as a rare opportunity. "There are only a few celebrities that have the cachet to be the face of a dual-gender brand, and Sweeney is one of them," he said. "When she was into the idea of working with us, that's when you say, I think this is a special, unique moment, and it needs to feel like that." Solve the daily Crossword
