Superman? Or Super Stupid?
David Corenswet Joins Anti-Israel Film Boycott
Superman star David Corenswet has stunned Hollywood by signing the “Film Workers for Palestine” pledge, joining a growing boycott of Israeli film institutions accused of “genocide and apartheid.” His stance thrusts the DC hero into the center of a fierce firestorm.
David Corenswet, the 32-year-old Jewish American actor who starred as Superman in James Gunn's 2025 DCU reboot has signed the "Film Workers for Palestine" pledge.
This initiative, launched on September 8, 2025, by the advocacy group Film Workers for Palestine, calls for a targeted boycott of Israeli film institutions, such as festivals, production companies, cinemas, broadcasters, and sales agents, deemed "complicit in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."
The pledge explicitly focuses on institutional ties to the Israeli government or policies that "whitewash or justify" the ongoing conflict, rather than boycotting individual Israeli artists or creators. It draws inspiration from the cultural boycott that contributed to ending apartheid in South Africa and aligns with calls from Palestinian civil society.
As of November 3, 2025, the pledge has grown from an initial 1,200 signatories to over 5,000, including prominent figures like Academy Award winners Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, and Javier Bardem; directors such as Yorgos Lanthimos and Ava DuVernay; and actors including Ayo Edebiri, Tilda Swinton, Riz Ahmed, Susan Sarandon, and Liam Cunningham.
Corenswet's addition, alongside Supergirl lead Milly Alcock (who also signed), has amplified its visibility, especially given his recent high-profile role symbolizing hope and justice, leading to ironic online praise like "He really is Superman" from pro-Palestine supporters.
The pledge's full text emphasizes cinema's role in shaping perceptions: "As filmmakers, actors, film industry workers and institutions, we recognize the power of cinema to shape perceptions... We will not collaborate with Israeli film institutions that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."
A counter-letter signed by over 1,200 industry figures, including Liev Schreiber, Mayim Bialik, and Debra Messing, denounced the pledge as "antisemitic propaganda" that "advocates for the erasure of art" and imposes "collective punishment."