How James Gunn Adapts Superman to Our Politically Charged World

Apple pie. Baseball. These are the things that come to mind when you think of America. Another thing that can be added to the list is a superhero. From 1938, Superman graced the cover Action Comics #1superheroes have become a major American export. And since it is the first There will always be Superman a little more American than the rest.

Of course, Superman is not American at all. He is an immigrant. An alien immigrant – and these words have a very different meaning these days than they did in the past. At a recent event attended by io9, writer-director James Gunn talked about how he feels his version Superman fits to today’s politically charged America.

“Looking at the trailer and the movie, we get a kind of dull idea of ​​Superman. I think this is our country,” Gunn said. “I believe in the goodness of people. And I believe that most people in this country do their best to be good people and try to be good people, regardless of their ideological beliefs (or) politics, whatever they look like to the other side, and whatever the other side may do. to be I think this movie is about that. It’s about the basic kindness of people. And when some dark sounds are louder, it can seem cool and under siege. This is what happens when you let the internet look like the world, when it isn’t. The world is us.”

Gunn likened it to his experience. “I live in a very rural part of Georgia,” he said. “Every day I see the kindness and beauty of people who do not share the same political beliefs as me. But I think that’s what the film is about. All over the world, by the way.”

So, yes, Superman can be seen as a beacon of hope and goodness in the character’s home country of America, but also in the entire world that the hero controls.

Do you think Gunn is onto something he’s reading about humanity here? will Superman Can there be a movie that includes all the people? We’ll find out when in a few months Superman Opens in theaters July 11.

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