'I'm not here to judge people': After massive online backlash, James Gunn defends the bold immigrant narrative in his Superman reboot

Director James Gunn has come under fire after a recent comment he made following an interview with The Times of London on Sunday, July 6, 2025, regarding the new Superman reboot. Gunn stated that DC’s latest Superman portrays “the story of an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country,” implying that Superman is “the story of America,” stressing how it involves politics and morality. 

Netizens were seemingly aghast at this statement, and Gunn quickly became the recipient of massive backlash on the internet, as fans took to social media to express their disdain. 

Following the interview, Gunn was quick to make a statement during Monday night’s premiere of Superman at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre.

“I don’t have anything to say to anyone,” he said to a reporter at the premiere. “This movie is for everybody,” he continued, “I’m not here to judge anybody.”

What did Gunn mean with his statement?

Ahead of the film’s scheduled July 11 release, Gunn attempted to clarify his remark, stating that the movie is about kindness and morality. “Yes, it’s about politics, but it’s also about morality,” he continued to explain Superman’s policy of never killing no matter what, while Lois Lane believes in doing so if the situation calls for it.

Gunn also emphasized that Americans love and support their people, including immigrants, and that Superman is an immigrant trying to do good in a foreign land. “We support immigrants and if you don’t like that, you’re not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way,” he went on to say.

“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,” he said.

What can we expect from the new Superman movie?

The upcoming Superman, as James Gunn aptly put it, is about Superman trying to create justice in America, a land foreign to him. Starring David Corenswet as Superman himself, the movie also stars:

• Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
• Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
• María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer
• Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern
• Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen 
• Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl

Superman is out in cinemas across the US on Friday, July 11, 2025, and fans are eager to break box office sales.