How Political Is James Gunn’s Superman? | With ScreenCrush’s Colton Ogburn

Is James Gunn’s *Superman* a political film—and what happens when audiences find political meanings that a filmmaker may not have consciously intended?

In this extended conversation, Nicolas Michaud of Philosophy All Along is joined by Colton Ogburn, producer, writer, editor, and on-screen host for @ScreenCrush, to discuss the politics of *Superman* (2025).

We examine the film’s depiction of Boravia and Jarhanpur, the parallels some viewers have drawn to Israel and Gaza, and whether those connections are genuinely present regardless of James Gunn’s stated intentions. We also explore the larger questions raised by the film: Does authorial intent determine what a work means? Should superhero movies address contemporary political conflicts? Can Superman remain a symbol of universal morality while entering politically contested territory?

The conversation expands beyond one particular allegory to consider the changing relationship between Hollywood, superhero cinema, political storytelling, and audiences increasingly divided over what popular art should say and whether it should say anything at all.

Featuring Colton Ogburn:

YouTube: @ColtonOgburnChannel

ScreenCrush: @ScreenCrush

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What did you see in James Gunn’s *Superman*? Was the Boravia–Jarhanpur conflict simply a fictional superhero narrative, or did it inevitably evoke contemporary political realities?

#Superman #JamesGunn #FilmAnalysis #Superman2025 #PoliticalCinema