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Former Superman star Dean Cain has expressed concern over James Gunn's interpretation of the iconic superhero in the new Superman movie, accusing the director and Hollywood of pushing a "woke" agenda. Cain, who portrayed the Man of Steel in the 1990s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, spoke out in several interviews criticizing the film's political messaging.
The backlash began after Gunn told The Times, "Superman is the story of America... an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country," adding, "It is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost." Gunn emphasized that the film focuses on kindness, noting, "There will be jerks out there who are just not kind... but screw them."
Cain took issue with this framing, saying to TMZ, "We know Superman is an immigrant, he's a freaking alien... But there are rules." He continued, "You can't come in saying, 'I want to get rid of all the rules in America, because I want it to be more like Somalia.'" Cain claimed such messaging could harm the film's box-office performance, stating, "I think that was a mistake by James Gunn to say it's an immigrant thing, and I think it's going to hurt the numbers on the movie."
Referencing the shift in Superman's motto from "Truth, Justice and the American Way" to "Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow," Cain said, "Changing beloved characters I don't think is a great idea."
At the film's premiere, Gunn addressed the controversy briefly, stating, "I think this is a movie about kindness, and I think that's something everyone can relate to." His brother Sean Gunn, who plays Maxwell Lord, offered a firmer response: "We love our immigrants... If you don't like that, you're not American."
The debate has gained traction among conservative voices, including Fox News host Jesse Watters, who joked Superman's cape might soon display "MS-13." Cain echoed this sentiment, asking, "How woke is Hollywood going to make this character?"
Despite his criticism, Cain admitted he is still interested in seeing the film, saying, "I'm rooting for it to be a success, but I don't like that last political comment." Superman, starring David Corenswet, opened in theatres July 11.
