Actor Sean Gunn said those who dislike immigrants aren’t truly American, responding to backlash over the new Superman film, which portrays the hero as an immigrant to Earth.
He shared his views in a Monday interview about the movie directed by his brother, James Gunn, stating: “We support ‘our people’ we love our immigrants, and yes Superman is an immigrant, and yes the people that we support in this country are immigrants, if you don’t like that then you are not American. People who say no to immigrants are against the American way. That is what the American dream is all about.”
The actor, who plays the character of Maxwell Lord in the film, overlooked that the U.S. admits about one million legal permanent residents annually, with 2.6 million authorized immigrant arrivals in 2022—figures often doubled by illegal immigration. Director James Gunn confirmed the new Superman film will be political, emphasizing the hero’s identity as an immigrant from another place.
“Superman is the story of America,” the director told The Sunday Times in a recent interview. “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.”
Additionally, the new film will be scrapping the expression “the American way.” Last week, actor David Corenswet, who plays Superman, recited the hero’s famous slogan but swapped out “the American way” with “and good things.”
The original slogan is “Truth, justice, and the American way.” It gained widespread popularity during the 1940s radio serial “The Adventures of Superman” and was later reinforced in comics, television, and film. Gunn will be excluding the tail end of the expression to appeal to international audiences.
Sean Gunn on the MAGA backlash to Superman being called an immigrant: “People who say no to immigrants are against the American way.” pic.twitter.com/XgivaD34PE
— Variety (@Variety) July 8, 2025
