Former Superman Dean Cain slams Hollywood for making character too pro-immigration under James Gunn

Dean Cain, who once portrayed Superman, criticizes James Gunn’s vision for emphasizing immigration in the new film.

Dean Cain, best known for playing Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993 to 1997, expressed concerns over James Gunn’s updated portrayal of the character. Speaking in a video interview with TMZ, Cain questioned how much Hollywood is changing legacy characters to reflect contemporary values. “How woke is Hollywood going to make this character?” he asked, referencing Gunn’s take on Superman as an immigrant symbolizing basic human kindness.

Cain acknowledged Superman’s extraterrestrial origins, calling him “a freaking alien,” but took issue with what he sees as an overly politicized depiction. Gunn had previously likened Superman’s journey to “the story of America,” calling him “an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country.” Cain responded, saying, “The ‘American way’ is immigrant friendly, tremendously immigrant friendly. But there are rules.”

Cain’s remarks resonate amid an intensifying political climate, where immigration remains a divisive issue under President Donald Trump’s administration. Since his re-election, Trump has implemented aggressive immigration measures, including community raids and attempts to revoke the legal status of naturalized citizens. Critics have linked Gunn’s comments to a broader ideological push, with Fox News host Jesse Watters satirizing the film’s message, quipping, “Superman is fighting for truth, justice, and your preferred pronouns,” and suggesting he wear the MS-13 symbol.

When asked to address the controversy, Gunn stated, “I’m not here to judge people.” Nathan Fillion, who plays Green Lantern in the film, encouraged audiences to simply “see the movie for what it is.” Sean Gunn, who also appears in the film, went further, saying, “If you don’t like that Superman is an immigrant, you’re not American.”

James Gunn’s Superman hits U.S. theaters on July 11 after opening internationally this week.