Superman star responds to fan outrage after James Gunn called the superhero an 'immigrant'

James Gunn’s latest film isn’t even out yet and some people have had a rather furious reaction to the director’s comments about Superman essentially being an immigrant.

In the last couple of months, James Gunn has been drumming a whole lot of hype for his upcoming DC film, simply titled Superman.

Gunn’s story features a whole new cast of familiar characters and a lot of fans are hotly anticipating the director’s take on the Man of Steel character, who will be portrayed by David Corenswet.

But this week, Gunn has faced backlash from some ‘fans’ who took issue with his recent characterization of the superhero.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Gunn said: “I mean, 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.”

This seemed to rub some individuals the wrong way and actor Nathan Fillion, who stars in the new movie, was asked about it while on the red carpet for the flick.

When asked about some of ‘MAGA’s reaction’ to Gunn’s comments, Fillion leaned back laughing and had a rather short response.

He said: “Somebody needs a hug, it’s just a movie guys, it is just a movie.”

Nathan Fillion on MAGA backlash to James Gunn calling Superman an immigrant: "Somebody needs a hug. It's just a movie guys." pic.twitter.com/MzVNZMKZ72

— Variety (@Variety) July 8, 2025

It seems some conservatives don’t see it as something so trivial, however.

Fox News anchor Kellyanne Conway said on The Five: “We don’t go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us. I wonder if it will be successful.”

Laura Ingraham had a similar stance, writing on Twitter that this is ‘another film we won’t be seeing’.

However, fans who have been paying attention to all of Superman’s stories before this release have pointed out that the hero has always been a story about an immigrant.

One Twitter user commented: “Every superman story is about immigration because he's literally an illegal alien who symbolizes everything good about what america wishes it was on its best day.”

Another commented: “Superman began his life as Kal-El on Krypton. His loving parents saw that their planet was dying so to save him packed him into a spaceship that landed in Kansas and was discovered by Martha and George Kent. Kal-El was an illegal alien.

With a third adding: “The only thing that I’m wondering is which version of Superman did they ever watch because all of them are the same story...

“baby is born on a different planet, planet is about to blow up, parents put baby in a rocket to save [him], baby arrives on earth raised by the humans, become Superman.”

The film is set to release in theatres on July 11.

UNILAD has contacted Gunn's reps for comment.