Former Superman actor Dean Cain has openly criticized director James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, calling it “too woke” and overly focused on immigration themes. Cain, who played Clark Kent in the 1990s series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, shared his concerns in a recent interview, sparking a heated debate among fans and critics.
Gunn’s film, set to release on July 11, 2025, stars David Corenswet as Superman and explores the hero’s immigrant roots. The director described Superman as “the story of America,” emphasizing themes of kindness and acceptance. However, Cain and some conservative commentators argue that this approach politicizes the character unnecessarily.
Dean Cain’s Concerns About “Woke” Superman
Dean Cain expressed frustration over modern Hollywood’s tendency to update classic characters to fit current political narratives. He specifically criticized the change in Superman’s famous motto from “Truth, justice, and the American way” to “Truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.” Cain believes this shift dilutes the character’s traditional values.
“How woke is Hollywood going to make this character?” Cain asked in a TMZ interview. “Why are they going to change these characters to exist for the times? For Superman, it was ‘truth, justice, and the American way.’ Well, they dropped that… They came up with ‘truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.’ Changing beloved characters, I don’t think is a great idea.”
Cain acknowledged Superman’s alien origins but argued that Gunn’s emphasis on immigration crosses into political messaging. He fears this could alienate some fans and hurt the film’s box office performance.
James Gunn’s Defense of Superman’s Immigrant Story
James Gunn has stood by his vision, stating that Superman’s story has always been about immigration. He pointed out that the character was created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the sons of Jewish immigrants. Gunn sees Superman as a symbol of hope and kindness in a divided world.
“Superman is the story of America,” Gunn told The Times. “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.”
Gunn also addressed potential backlash, saying he doesn’t mind if some people take offense. “Yes, it’s about politics. But on another level, it’s about morality,” he explained. “Do you never kill no matter what—which is what Superman believes—or do you have some balance, as Lois believes?”
Conservative Backlash and Fan Reactions
Gunn’s comments have drawn criticism from conservative media figures, including Fox News hosts Kellyanne Conway and Jesse Watters. Conway argued that audiences don’t want political lectures in movies, while Watters mocked the film with a joke about Superman’s pronouns.
“We don’t go to the movie theater to be lectured to,” Conway said. Meanwhile, Watters quipped, “Truth, justice, and your preferred pronouns.”
However, Gunn’s brother, Sean Gunn, who plays Maxwell Lord in the film, defended the immigrant theme. “We love our immigrants. Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people we support in this country are immigrants,” he told Variety. “If you don’t like that, you’re not American.”
Early Reviews and Box Office Prospects
Despite the controversy, early reviews for Superman have been positive, with an 86% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is projected to outperform Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in its opening weekend.
Dean Cain admitted he’s still curious about Gunn’s take on the character. “I’m excited to see what it is… I love the humor in Superman. But I don’t like that last political comment,” he said.
Superman’s Legacy and Changing Motto
Superman’s original motto, “Truth, justice, and the American way,” was introduced during World War II to promote patriotism. In recent years, DC Comics updated it to “Truth, justice, and a better tomorrow” to reflect a more global perspective.
Cain argued that the original phrase already embraced immigrants—within limits. “The ‘American way’ is immigrant friendly… but there are rules,” he said. “We can’t have everybody. Society will fail.”
Also read: James Gunn Defends Superman as an Immigrant Story, Sparking MAGA Backlash and Cast Reactions
Gunn’s film is the first in DC Studios’ new cinematic universe, with Supergirl set to follow in 2026. Whether the immigration debate affects its success remains to be seen.
Credits: Variety, TMZ, Screen Rant
