Dean Cain, best known as the actor who played Clark Kent/Superman in the Superman TV show, Lois & Clark, has a rather disapproving message for the new Superman. According to Cain, James Gunn’s Superman is a little too woke, and that while the character is well-understood to be an immigrant, the former Superman actor says there should be a limit to the portrayal.
Cain laid out his woes at the current state of the character, and needless to say, he doesn’t like it. The current Superman is played by none other than David Corenswet and directed by Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. This new Superman, however, has grown controversial, especially among fans who consider director Zack Snyder’s version superior, and now, conservatives and Republicans are also not liking the new iteration. Here’s what Cain has to say:
“How woke is Hollywood going to make this character? How much is Disney going to change their Snow White? Why are they going to change these characters that exist for the times? For Superman, it was truth, justice, and the American way. Well, they dropped that, they let it go– that trademark…
Superman has always stood for the American way, and the American way is immigrant-friendly– but there are rules. You can’t come in and say I want to get rid of all the rules in America…. There have to be limits,” according to Dean Cain, interview courtesy of TMZ
It’s worth noting that James Gunn brought the pro-immigration angle for Superman, not during filming but just recently, stating that the new Superman is about immigrants and basic human kindness. Hence, outlets such as Fox News have started mocking this angle and story for Superman, even though comic books have been establishing this origin for close to a century now.
By technicality, of course, Superman/Clark Kent is an undocumented immigrant since his ship landed in Kansas, US, and was raised as an orphan by the Kent family. Meanwhile, James Gunn’s brother, Sean Gunn, has reiterated his brother’s stance about the new Superman:
“We support our people, you know? We love our immigrants. 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,” according to Sean Gunn, transcript coutrtesy of EW
Fans Were Quick to Dig Up Dean Cain’s Background
Dean Cain may not be as famous as he once was, since his Superman TV drama ended in 1997, but people are now highlighting his political stance, stating that he voted for Donald Trump and is a self-proclaimed Republican. Additionally, some have also spotlighted Cain’s name because it wasn’t his actual birth name, which was Dean Tanaka.
Dean Cain or Dean Tanaka was, in fact, half-Asian and was born to a Japanese immigrant. The rest of Cain’s ethnicities are Welsh, Irish, and French Canadian. Dean Cain, however, wasn’t fond of his biological father and mostly looked up to his stepdad, screenwriter Christopher Cain.
In any case, it appears James Gunn spotlighting the immigrant angle for Superman has riled up a lot of Republicans, especially those who currently support Trump’s immigration policies and ICE’s continued enforcement. That doesn’t stop people from criticizing Dean Cain, though.
“I’m so confused how else you would tell the story of a literal alien migrating to the United States,” questions Sudden_General628
“I hate when actors don’t put a shred of effort into understanding their roles. The original Superman comics were metaphors for what the creators felt as sons of Jewish immigrants in America. Able to pass (Abel if you will) In modern society but afraid of being ostracized if they showed their true culture or history.
Furthermore more the name was meant as a means to reclaim the ubermensch label originally used by Nietzsche that was being co-opted by nazis to justify genocide,” explains Rodney_Jefferson
“Superman is LITERALLY an undocumented immigrant,” argues Datacin3728
“Dean Cain ain’t too bright,” according to Jack-Cremation
