Former Superman star moans about new Superman film being ‘woke’

Former Superman actor Dean Cain has hit out at James Gunn, the director of the new Superman movie, after he likened the story to one of an “immigrant” coming to America.

Cain, who played Clark Kent and his lycra-clad alter ego Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman between 1993 and 1997 alongside Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher, dubbed the new film “woke” in an interview with TMZ.

The former Ripley’s Believe It or Not! host and ardent Donald Trump supporter was reacting to an interview in which James Gunn suggested Superman is the story of “an immigrant that came from other places”.

Speaking to The Times recently, Gunn said: “Superman is the story of America … An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.”

Cain raged about Gunn’s comments and condemned Hollywood for changing popular stories to “exist for the times”.

“How woke is Hollywood going to make this character? How much is Disney going to change their Snow White? Why are they going to change these characters [to] exist for the times?” he said.

“Superman has always stood for ‘truth, justice and the American way,’ and the ‘American way’ is immigrant friendly, tremendously immigrant friendly,” Cain continued.

“But there are rules. 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.’ Well that doesn’t work, because you had to leave Somalia to come here.

“There have to be limits, because we can’t have everybody in the United States. We can’t have everybody, society will fail. So there have to be limits,” he added.

Cain went on to call it a “mistake” for Gunn to bring immigration into his Superman analysis, suggesting that it would “hurt the numbers” at the box office as a result.

“I was excited for the film. I am excited to see what it is,” he said. “I’m rooting for it to be a success, but I don’t like that last political comment.”

In Gunn’s new movie, Superman will be played by The Politician star David Corenswet.

Cain joined a growing list of right-wing commentators who have slammed Superman for apparently going “woke”.

Fox News host Jesse Watters recently said on air, in response to Gunn’s remarks: “Superman is fighting for truth, justice, and your preferred pronouns.”

Gunn, however, has doubled down on his stance, telling Variety that he doesn’t have “anything” to say to anybody spreading negativity about Superman.

“I’m not here to judge people,” he said. “I think this is a movie about kindness and I think that’s something everyone can relate to.”

Fans of the DC Comics will know that Gunn’s comments are far from the first time Superman has been referred to as an immigrant.

In fact, during an episode of Gunn’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the superhero was grilled by an immigration officer on whether he had a “green card” – aka a Permanent Resident Card – to be in the US.

“You are an alien, are you not?” the officer asks, in a clip widely shared on social media following the recent Superman controversy.

In response, Cain’s Superman simply sighs and lifts his head skyward in irritation.

https://t.co/SB8fCOc565 pic.twitter.com/I1BQS9CcaA

— ‎ ‎ً (@izzietayIor) July 10, 2025

Superman has also long been viewed as a gay icon and queer allegory of sorts, owing to the double life he leads and having to conceal his identity, an experience many in the LGBTQ+ community are familiar with.

His macho bravado, combined with his skintight outfit, have also seen him brandished as a gay hero by some in the community.

Plus, in the Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 DC comic released back in 2021, Superman’s son Jon Kent came out as bisexual.

James Gunn’s new movie Superman is in cinemas now.

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