James Gunn denies 'Superman' reflects Israel–Palestine, says script finished before genocide began

Director James Gunn has continued to push back against claims that Superman was written as a reflection of the Israel–Palestine genocide.

The film centres on fictional nations Borovia and Jarhanpur, whose territorial dispute and population displacement have been widely viewed by audiences as resembling real-world events.

Borovia is portrayed as a militarised state with US support, attempting to seize Jarhanpur’s land. Many viewers saw the narrative as a direct allegory, particularly in scenes where Superman and the Justice Gang resist Borovia’s aggression.

In an interview with Variety, Gunn rejected this interpretation. “Absolutely 100% of that movie was written and done before anything ever happened between Israel and Palestine, and everyone continues to refuse to believe that that’s not what it’s about. It’s not. It just isn’t,” he said.

The director also doubled down in the comments section of Instagram, replying to a user who criticised him for being willing to set an entire season of Peacemaker on “an earth full of Nazis” while “too scared and ignorant” to admit the Israel–Palestine contrast in Superman.

Gunn responded, “That may be what it’s about to YOU, and that’s fine. But there are parallels to many conflicts. And the script was finished – I posted photos of it online! – before that particular conflict ever began. So I have no clue why you’d need to believe something that is simply not accurate.” The exchange has since been deleted.

Photo: Reddit

Gunn has noted that the script was completed in May 2023, before the Writers Guild of America strike, suggesting it could not have been shaped by later events.

Still, many observers argue the conflict’s long history makes the parallels difficult to dismiss.