How James Gunn sees Superman fitting into our political world

Apple cake. Baseball. These are things you think of when you think of America. Another thing that could be added to the list, however, is the superhero. From 1938, when Superman grace the cover of Action Comics #1superheroes have become a major American export. And, because it was the first, Superman will always be a little more American than the rest.

Of course, Superman is not American at all. He is an immigrant. A foreign immigrant at that – and today, these words have a very different connotation than they did in the past. In a recent event attended by io9, writer-director James Gunn talked about what he feels his version of Superman suitable in today’s politically charged America.

“When I look at the trailer and the movie, we have a sort of beaten vision of Superman at the beginning. I think this is our country,” Gunn said. “I believe in the goodness of man. And I believe that most people in this country, despite their ideological beliefs (or) their politics, they do their best to get by and try to be good people, despite that that can seem to the other side. I think this movie is about the basic kindness of man, and can be seen as under siege when some of the darkest voices are some of the loudest voices. That’s what happens when you let the internet seem like it’s the world, when it’s not the world.”

Gunn compared it to his own experiences. “I live in a very rural part of Georgia,” he said. “I see the kindness and beauty of people every day who don’t share all the same political beliefs as me. But I think that’s the film, the fundamental decency of humans. All over the world, by the way.

The meaning, yes, Superman can be seen as a beacon of hope and goodness in America, the country of origin of the character, but also in the whole world that the hero oversees.

Do you think Gunn is on to something here with his reading of humanity? Will Superman be a film embraced by all people? We’ll find out in a few months when Superman opens in theaters July 11.

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