Former Superman Actor Dean Cain Criticizes New Film’s Political Direction: "How 'Woke' Will It Get?"

The controversy intensified when Gunn described Superman as “an immigrant who came to America from another place and helped build the nation.” The comment angered right-wing audiences and apparently Cain as well.

“I think it was a mistake for James Gunn to frame Superman as an immigration issue,” Cain said. “It’s going to hurt the film’s numbers. I hope it succeeds, but I don’t like the political message he’s pushing.”

Cain emphasized he believes Superman should be a universally inspiring figure, not a political symbol. "Yes, Superman is friendly to immigrants," he said, "but there have to be laws. You can’t come in and say, ‘Let’s get rid of America’s laws because we want it to be more like Somalia.’ That doesn’t work, people left Somalia to come here. There has to be borders. We can’t take in everyone. Society would collapse."

Is the New Superman Politically Charged?

While director James Gunn has acknowledged that Superman will reflect contemporary global issues, no specific link to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the war in Gaza has been made by the filmmakers. Still, the film does feature Superman embroiled in a complex international crisis tied to Lex Luthor, with potential implications for U.S. foreign policy, a storyline that opens the door for real-world parallels.

Whether these elements will resonate with global audiences or alienate parts of the fan base remains to be seen. For now, Superman is shaping up to be more than a superhero saga, it’s a lightning rod for the culture wars playing out in Hollywood and beyond.