SMALLVILLE Showrunners Back James Gunn After SUPERMAN “Immigrant” Controversy
Before Superman hit theaters last month, James Gunn described the Man of Steel’s story as “the story of America.” He elaborated, saying, “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.”
It was a sentiment that fits perfectly with Superman’s decades-long legacy, but it didn’t take long for the comment to get twisted. Certain outlets and critics jumped on it, taking Gunn’s words out of context and using them as ammo against the DCU reboot.
Fox News and former Lois & Clark actor Dean Cain chimed in with criticism. In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz about Wednesday Season 2, Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar admitted they haven’t seen Gunn’s Superman yet, but they were quick to stand by his interpretation of the hero.
They also pointed out that they explored similar themes on Smallville and faced pushback for it too. Miles Millar explained:
“It's also interesting, we always saw Superman as a great allegory for immigration, that he was the ultimate illegal alien. The fact that James said, and it's so controversial, was sort of like...I couldn't believe, I was like, 'That's so embedded in what it is.'“
Al Gough recalled a specific moment from the show’s run:
“We did an episode in season 6 with, where we sort of talked about it directly. Clark finds a boy who's working on one of the farms. I remember, at the time, thinking, [because] this is, again, 2006, the network was like, 'I don't know...this feels a little political for the show,' and we're like, 'It's literally the Superman story [laughs,] what do you want?'“
Millar added:
“The fact that it's still [this] controversial idea...that's [what] is so great about the Superman story, that I think that's why its legacy has been so powerful. It really speaks to what the American dream is, and all those sort of elements of Americana.”
From his debut in 1938, Superman has been an immigrant, a refugee from Krypton who makes Earth his home. That identity has always been central to the character’s mythos.
In today’s climate, it’s not surprising that some voices would try to frame that as a political statement rather than a fundamental truth of the character. But as Gough, Millar, and Gunn all agree, Superman’s immigrant roots aren’t a controversial rewrite. They’re the foundation of his story.