Look up. It’s… Donald Trump? The White House marked the release of James Gunn‘s “Superman” by photoshopping Warner Bros.’ poster for the superhero movie so that Trump is the Man of Steel. The caption for the poster reads: “THE SYMBOL OF HOPE / TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY / SUPERMAN TRUMP.”
The White House is referencing Superman’s original mantra (“Truth, justice and the American way”), which has been changed over the years to mantras such as “truth, justice and a better tomorrow.”
Dropping “America” from the tagline has proven controversial, similar to Gunn’s recent comment that Superman is an “immigrant.” MAGA supporters and conservative pundits reacted to Gunn’s quote by saying they would skip the movie. Fox News branded the film “SuperWoke” as network host Jesse Watters wisecracked: “You know what it says on his cape? MS-13.”
Gunn was unbothered by the conservative backlash when talking to Variety at the “Superman” premiere in Los Angeles, saying he doesn’t have “anything to say to anybody” spreading negativity around “Superman” and adding: “I think this is a movie about kindness and I think that’s something everyone can relate to.”
Sean Gunn, the director’s brother, was more direct and doubled down, saying: “Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants and if you don’t like that, you’re not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way.”
As Gunn’s “immigrant” comment continued to ignite conservative backlash, former Superman actor Dean Cain told TMZ that Gunn made a “mistake” going on record with the quote.
“I think it’s going to hurt the numbers on the movie,” said Cain, who played Superman on ABC’s “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” from 1993 to 1997. “I was excited for the film. I am excited to see what it is… I’m rooting for it to be a success, but I don’t like that last political comment.”
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“Superman” is now playing in theaters nationwide from Warner Bros. and DC Studios.
From Variety US