What’s up, Superman?

? Welcome back, Superman. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn is adding a twist to the DC Universe with his own take on Superman. In the latest adaptation, Gunn kicks off a new story that has already garnered widespread public approval, with theories linking the narrative to the ongoing war in Gaza.

The plot: The story begins three weeks after Superman (David Corenswet) intervenes to stop an aggression by the US-allied nation of Borovia against its neighbor Jarhanpur. The aggression is led by Borovia’s president, Vasil Glarcos (Ztalko Burić), who’s supported by super-tech company LutherCorp, owned by our protagonist’s biggest enemy, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).

An existential crisis. When the conflict between Superman and Luthor intensifies, the latter infiltrates Superman’s sanctuary in Antarctica. There, he succeeds in destroying most of the superhero’s robots, kidnapping his dog Krypto, and publicly broadcasting the message left to him by his parents when he was sent to Earth from Krypton. Superman then finds himself in a mental state that pushes him to question everything he had once believed.

Is Superman criticizing Israel? Many scenes carry significant political symbolism, hinting at the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The ambitions of Borovia are fundamentally colonial, aiming to divide the country between itself and Luthor. Many war scenes reflect what’s happening on ground in Gaza, with the displacement of children, women, and the elderly.

Ring a bell? A slew of users on social media shared their surprise at the resemblance between the character Glarcos and Israeli PM Netanyahu. While filmmakers have neither confirmed nor denied this theory, Gunn stated that the film is indeed political in nature. We’ll give it to the filmmakers — this was a bold move, and undoubtedly a courageous step for a Hollywood film with a wide global fanbase.

Narratively speaking, however, the events of the movie felt a little scattered, and the visual effects were akin to a video game. To be fair, though, the film did stay true to Superman’s comic counterpart, which perhaps justifies Hoult’s caricatured villainous performance. Despite criticism, the movie essentially greenlights a new phase within the DC universe, enabling its creators to break from the norm in an industry that never tires of repeating itself.

WHERE TO WATCH- Superman is screening at Vox Cinemas in City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and Mall of Alexandria. You can also catch the film at City Stars Cinemas, Scene Cinemas at CFCM and District 5, Cima Arkan, and P90 Cinema. You can also watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:19).