James Gunn Says His SUPERMAN Is About an Immigrant's Hope and Why Basic Human Kindness Still Matters — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

5 days ago

James Gunn is not shying away from the heart of Superman . In a new interview with The Times of London, the director and co-head of DC Studios broke down the deeper meaning behind his take on the iconic hero, and it goes far beyond capes, heat vision, action, and Lex Luthor.
To Gunn, this isn't just another superhero movie. He explained:
'I mean, '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 isn't trying to rehash old beats, he's digging into what makes Superman relevant now, in a world that often feels cynical, divided, and compassion-starved.
He's fully aware some people will take issue with the themes, but Gunn isn't flinching.
'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.'
So is the movie political? Gunn says absolutely, but not in the way you might think.
'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.'
That conflict between idealism and pragmatism, principle and compromise is at the core of Gunn's Superman , and it gives the film emotional stakes that go beyond world-ending threats. It's about who we are, what we believe, and whether we're still capable of empathy.
Superman hits theaters July 11th and stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, alongside Nathan Fillion, Skyler Gisondo, and Isabela Merced.
Whether you're a lifelong Superman fan or a skeptic, Gunn's message is clear: this isn't just about a man who can fly, it's about what it means to be human.