‘Superman’s’ Gunn: ‘Screw’ Fans Who Don’t Like Film’s Politics
Comments come after Man of Steel actor refuses to say 'American Way'
They can’t help themselves.
No matter the stakes, the budget or the expectations, stars must flex their progressive bona fides during press interviews. Even when said project is the biggest of their professional careers.
We just watched Rachel Zegler take down a beloved Disney IP with her dismissive and cruel comments. “Snow White” crashed and burned at the box office earlier this year.
Is it “Superman’s” turn?
First, star David Corenswet buried the character’s all-American tagline during an interview, yet another example of Hollywood rejecting Superman’s heartland roots. The star, speaking to “CBS This Morning,” reconfigured the iconic phrase, “truth, justice and the American way” while discussing the project.
Reacting to criticism of the recently released scene where Lois (Rachel Brosnahan) interviews Superman through Clark, Corenswet said, “And so that scene, I think, is the crux of that character that we see. And the reality is that when he doesn’t have to be Superman, when he doesn’t have to be this calm, reassuring presence to the public, when he doesn’t have to symbolize safety and security and truth and justice and all those good things [emphasis added], he still feels those values.”
Hollywood has been at war with that phrase for some time, including the disappointing 2006 reboot “Superman Returns.”
Now, writer/director James Gunn is making his anticipated reboot a treatise on immigration. His comments come as polling shows Americans support President Donald Trump’s tough stance against illegal immigration.
The smart move would be to avoid politics entirely during a film’s press push. What could be easier?
The less wise move? Don’t pick the “wrong” side of an issue when your film is just days away from release – July 11.
Gunn ignored both positions in a new interview with The Times of London.
“I mean, Superman is the story of America,” Gunn says. “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.” I ask if he has considered how differently the film might play in say, blue state New York — aka Metropolis — and Kansas, where Kent grew up? “Yes, it plays differently,” Gunn admits. “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.”
Gunn also downplayed Superman’s all-American roots.
“He is a hero for the world.”
Gunn is no stranger to controversy. His inappropriate jokes got him temporarily removed from directing “Guardians of the Galaxy 3.” He previously compared President Donald Trump to Hitler and Vladimir Putin, adding he doesn’t care if his opinions cost him at the box office.
RELATED: SEAN GUNN CALLS MAGA ‘NOT AMERICAN’ FOR DEFENDING U.S. BORDERS
Now, at the worst possible moment, he injects hard-Left politics into the film’s multi-million dollar marketing campaign. The entire DC Comics reboot is riding on the film, and Gunn would rather push his political opinions than consider the consequences.
If “Superman” underperforms this weekend, he might change his mind about his comments impacting the box office.
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The big take most people had that were offended, shocked, and disgusted at Gunn awhile back… was, wait for it… CORRECT!!
He feigned remorse to get his career back – and some actors (even on the Right) foolishly stood up for him. Gunn is free to have his views and even spew them with his video content, but telling the public that doesn’t like those politics (rather ignorantly and erroneously messaged) to screw themselves only ensures more will avoid his work. Thanks, jerk. We were right about you.
I love it when the haters bleat their stuff here.
Kindness? No Republican would be guilty of that.
Superman is an illegal alien.
Won’t waste the $14.00 to see this movie or film or whatever it is.
Worst cast of superman ever
Too democratic for me
I will pass on another Disney flop
Best fix the ceo problem again.
gee galt your real funny
GT, Disney has nothing to do with Superman. It’s a WB property. You’re so constantly offended that you can’t even keep things straight.
Can you hear that? It’s the sound of another DC movie bombing!
These people just cannot help themselves. I blame the executives, but those same executives will learn when the shareholders start losing huge value! Them these pompous asses will be replaced with AI!
Barbie was the wokest movie ever made and plenty of rightwing influencers like Matt Walsh and Ben Shapiro called for a boycott. Yet it still made 1.45 billion and become the highest grossing movie of the year.
If you really must see this movie or any other movie by morons and traitors, my advice is torrents. Any Hollywood person who says “I don’t care about the money” is a liar. Hit them where it hurts.
How fitting. Director of new Superman film turns out to be the human equivalent of green kriptonite that kills off any future Superman films.
Bingo!
Well, my no-movies streak is at about 15 years and looking pretty healthy… sure ain’t putting a nickel in this dude’s pocket!
You tell them you refuse to watch anything they make, then turn around and act surprised they only cater to the left.
I am on the side of ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’. It is Socialist liberals that want to destroy all those things, they hate MAGA.
We see revisionists re-write white culture for the Woke Socialist Progressives. I feel sorry for the chemically neutered Adderall generation who don’t know the truth, just what Leftists in Hollywood tell them.
Big movies are now made for international markets. Not just America. And considering how badly America is viewed right now by the majority of people in every other first world country, it wouldn’t be smart to make this a MAGA movie.
Ugh…
There goes the other shoe. I was holding on for dear life because I wanted to give this movie a chance but just forget it. I’m out.
Same here‼️I’m so disappointed .. it seemed like an all American good old fashioned movie like what Tom Cruise has been doing ❣️I loved Super Dog’s persona .. Then like you said .. the other shoe dropped ‼️
I’m bummed ! I’ll go see How to Train Your Dragin❣️
Tom Cruise’s last 2 mission impossible movies have flopped. And he films most of those movies in countries other than America.
So “immigrants” like the aliens in Independence Day are acceptable, too? One more movie I will not be seeing. It must be nice to be able to insult the very people you want to see your movie or buy your product but when they refuse to buy the movie ticket and cost you money, that you have so much wealth that you can absorb the lost.
What makes you think he wants MAGA to see the movie? Movies are made for an international audience now because that’s how studios make most of their money. Conservatives have spent 30 years saying they refuse to watch anything coming out of Hollywood. Don’t start the “why insult your customers” routine when you keep telling Hollywood you won’t watch their movies no matter what.
Hollywood is such garbage. They spend hundreds of millions on corporate slop and just expect us to pay and watch it. Can’t die fast enough.
Hollywood is making billions in profits and is expanding in international markets. They are also a huge part of our GDP. Wanting the industry to not exist just because their political views are different from yours is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
What a dumbass. people do not like politics .
Then why did Barbie make so much money despite being the wokest movie of the year and despite getting boycotted by many conservatives?
So Gunn doesn’t care about money or if his movie makes any money because of his political comments. OK. I’ll help the best I can.
I wonder how many immigrants Gunn has welcomed into his own home? His guest room? His refrigerator?
Oh that’s right. None of them practice what they preach. Just expect “government” to ptovide for them, then hide their own considerable wealth in tax shelters.
Eff Gunn, and eff his movie.
He never said anything about illegal immigrants. He said Superman is an immigrant from another planet. You’re falling for rage-bait.