Dean Cain Calls James Gunn's Ma and Pa Kent "Stupid Rednecks" in SUPERMAN
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman star Dean Cain is sharing his thoughts on Superman, and while he had a few nice things to say, he definitely didn’t hold back on what rubbed him the wrong way about James Gunn’s take on the iconic characters.
The actor, who played Clark Kent in the beloved '90s series, recently sat down with Variety and offered up a mixed bag of opinions about the new film.
Surprisingly, he started on a positive note, saying, “Seeing Krypto in the trailer gave me goose bumps. He saves a squirrel. He saves a little girl. I respect that.” That moment clearly struck a chord with Cain, even if the rest of the movie didn’t land the same way for him.
Cain didn’t confirm whether he’s actually seen Superman, but he didn’t mince words when it came to one creative decision in particular.
“James Gunn and his decision to make Ma and Pa Kent the stupid rednecks. That’s a choice,” Cain said. “And Superman has to be saved, like, repeatedly? On a movie this size, every decision is a choice made carefully. And [DC Studios co-head] Peter Safran is a Princeton guy, too, a year ahead of me, but he’s never hired me.”
Now, calling the Kents “stupid rednecks” definitely isn’t cool, especially since many fans like myself embraced the down-to-earth, heartwarming portrayal of Jonathan and Martha Kent in the film. These weren’t caricatures; they were loving, honest people doing their best to raise a son with godlike powers. So for Cain to label them that is mean-spirited and way out of touch.
Cain went on to reflect on the impact playing Superman had on his life. “My buddy turns to me and goes, ‘Man, for the rest of your life, people are going to call you Superman.’ I couldn’t fathom that being the case at the time, but it changed my life insanely.”
He also recalled some of the backlash he faced back in 1993 for taking on the role. “I remember a fan going, ‘We wanted Superman, not Sushi Man,’” Cain said, referencing his Japanese American heritage. “For the love of God, he’s a Kryptonian. He could be green. Does it matter?”
Despite the hate, he made it clear he’s all for more diverse casting, even throwing out Michael B. Jordan as a future Superman, saying he “has all the qualities of Superman — that humility, that kindness, that openness, that earnestness.”
Even if Cain’s critiques feel a little off-base, it’s interesting to see how former Supermen are reacting to the new era of the character. For better or worse, Superman is sparking big conversations, and that’s always a sign that something’s working.