By Liam McLaughlan
The new Superman film is currently making waves at the global box office, reigniting audience interest in the Man of Steel.
The hero’s return to screens has triggered heated political discourse from across the spectrum, sparking debate over the film’s themes and perceived messaging on global conflicts.
Potential allusions to Israel-Palestine
Central to Superman’s plot is the conflict between two fictional nations: Boravia and Jarhanpur.
Online commentators have drawn parallels between this conflict and the ongoing Israel-Palestine situation.
The left-wing streamer Hasan Piker argued that Boravia resembles Israel, noting its depiction as a US-backed military power.
Piker compared Boravia’s attempted takeover of Jarhanpur in the film to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
These views were echoed by film critic G. Allen Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle, labelling the Boravia-Jarhanpur conflict as ‘very similar to the Israel-Hamas conflict.’
In comparison, right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro dismissed this interpretation of the film, insisting the conflict bears no similarity to Israel-Palestine.
Shapiro claimed that it can only be seen this way by those with ‘left-wing brain’, claiming ‘it did not match up to the facts’ enough to resemble either the Israel-Palestine or Russia-Ukraine conflicts.
Conservative Youtuber Tim Pool agreed with Shapiro’s take, suggesting that Boravia was portrayed as a Eastern European power, while Jarhanpur reflects a poorer South Asian nation.
James Gunn denies Israel-Palestine connection
Director James Gunn has denied that Boravia and Jarhanpur are references to Israel and Palestine.
Speaking to comicbook.com, Gunn said: “When I wrote this the Middle Eastern conflict wasn’t happening. So I tried to do little things to move it away from that, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the Middle East.”
The film’s script was submitted in May 2023, months before the October 7th attack on the Nova music festival and the escalation of violence in Gaza.
“When I wrote this the Middle Eastern conflict wasn’t happening.”
“So I tried to do little things to move it away from that, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the Middle East,” Gunn added.
“It’s an invasion by a much more powerful country run by a despot into a country that’s problematic in terms of its political history, but has totally no defense against the other country.”
“It really is fictional.”
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Backlash to Gunn’s ‘immigrant’ comments
While denying any allusions to Israel-Palestine, Gunn has openly acknowledged immigration as a theme in Superman.
Prior to the film’s release, Gunn described Superman as an ‘immigrant’, sparking backlash from American conservative media.
Fox News branded the film ‘Superwoke’, while the official White House twitter account released a mock poster featuring Donald Trump as the titular hero, alongside the classic slogan: “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.”
Former Superman actor Dean Cain joined in, asking, “How woke is Hollywood going to make this character?” and calling Gunn’s immigrant framing “a mistake.”
Sean Gunn, Gunn’s brother, defended the director’s original comments:
“Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants and if you don’t like that, you’re not American.”
“People who say no to immigrants are against the American way.”
Immigration and the Superman mythos
This immigrant narrative has been central to the character’s lore.
Superman’s journey from the dying planet Krypton to Kansas has long been seen as a metaphor for the immigrant experience.
Creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were themselves children of European Jewish immigrants.
Modern depictions have moved away from emphasising American nationalism – Superman’s motto now reads “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow,” replacing the Cold War-era “American Way.”
Superman dominating the box office
Superman has been a smash hit at the box office, raking in $300 million globally since its wide release on the 11th of July.
The reboot is currently leading in the box office and is projected to continue its dominance, outpacing the new releases I Know What You Did Last Summer and Smurfs.
The film has been well received by critics and fans, boasting an 83% critic score and 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
David Corenswet’s debut as the Man of Steel has been widely praised, marking a fresh start for the character after mixed reactions to Henry Cavill’s earlier portrayals.
The film also serves as the official launch of the James Gunn-led DC Universe (DCU), with Superman acting as the launchpad for a new interconnected cinematic era for DC’s iconic heroes.
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