Superman Director Brushes Off Right-Wing Backlash After He Claimed New Film Is An Immigrant Story

Superman director James Gunn has responded to the right-wing backlash he’s found himself at the centre of as the result of recent comments he made about the film.

Over the weekend, The Sunday Times published an interview with the Guardians Of The Galaxy filmmaker in which he said: “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.”

Regrettably, as you can imagine, certain critics on the far-right have not taken too kindly to James’ remarks, with Fox News staging a debate on Monday with the title “Superwoke”, featuring former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway.

“We don’t go to the movie theatre to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us,” Conway claimed, while Fox contributor Jesse Watters offered: “You know what it says on his cape? MS-13.”

Speaking to Variety at the film’s premiere, James insisted that his film was“for “everyone” and that he didn’t have “anything to say to anybody” who criticised his stance.

“I’m not here to judge people,” he maintained. “I think this is a movie about kindness and I think that’s something everyone can relate to.”

Perhaps pre-empting a backlash, James added during his original Times interview: “[The film is 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.”

The new film marks the debut of Pearl and The Politician star David Corenswet as the iconic superhero character, with Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult playing Lois Lane and the villainous Lex Luthor, respectively.

Superman arrives in cinemas on Friday 11 July.