The writer-director of “Superman Legacy,” James Gunn, has clarified that comedian and TV host Bassem Youssef’s absence from the movie is due to a script alteration rather than any controversy surrounding Youssef’s remarks.
Youssef gained attention for his discussion on the Gaza conflict during an interview with Piers Morgan in October 2023. Addressing the matter in a recent interview with Salon, Youssef expressed disappointment over losing his role in the film, attributing it to his comments and indicating a sense of bitterness.
Youssef remarked, “I was quite saddened by the situation. It’s perplexing that in the United States, one can freely critique figures like Joe Biden or Donald Trump, but facing repercussions for criticizing a foreign government is disheartening. It’s unfortunate because my involvement in ‘Superman’ was terminated following the Piers Morgan interview.”
Contrary to Youssef’s implication, a source informed IGN that the character Youssef was slated to portray, Rumaan Harjavti, had been excised from the script long before the aforementioned interview aired.
Variety, citing a production insider, reported that although Gunn discussed the role with Youssef, no formal offer was extended as the part had already been removed from the script. These script changes were implemented prior to the October 7 incident referenced by Youssef.
Gunn took to social media to address these assertions, affirming the accuracy of IGN and Variety’s reports regarding the timeline of events. He stated on Threads, “There is no dispute here. Bassem and I have communicated, and we’re on good terms. I understand his perspective, as he articulated in his interview, and I provided him with the full context.”
During his appearance on Morgan’s show, Youssef had made pointed remarks regarding the conflict in Gaza, including a critique of Israel’s military actions. Meanwhile, “Superman: Legacy” features David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film is slated for release in July 2025, with the first trailer expected to debut later in 2025.
