Audiences watching the latest Superman installment were quick to notice striking parallels between the film’s fictional conflict and the real-world Israel-Palestine situation. The movie centers on a battle between two nations, Borovia and Jarhanpur. Borovia, equipped with a high-tech, heavily armed military and full U.S. backing, attempts to seize Jarhanpur’s territory and displace its people, a storyline that mirrors many viewers’ perception of Israel’s actions in the region. Fans particularly enjoyed seeing Superman and the Justice League oppose Borovia, including a memorable sequence involving Hawkgirl and the Borovian leader.
Despite the obvious parallels, director and writer James Gunn insists the film was not inspired by the ongoing conflict. In a Variety interview, Gunn stated:
“Absolutely 100% of that movie was written and done before anything ever happened between Israel and Palestine, and everyone continues to refuse to believe that that’s not what it’s about. It’s not. It just isn’t. You can take whatever you want from that, to mean what you want, but I didn’t write it to be a stand in for Israel and Palestine.”
However, a closer look at the timeline challenges Gunn’s claim. The script began in August 2022 and was completed by May 2023, meaning it predated recent escalations in the conflict. That said, critics point out that the Israel-Palestine situation has been a longstanding global flashpoint. It’s plausible that Gunn was consciously or unconsciously influenced by the decades-long conflict between a U.S.-backed state and a defenseless neighbor. The story’s resonance with contemporary events suggests that audiences interpreted the Borovia-Jarhanpur conflict as a thinly veiled allegory, even if that wasn’t Gunn’s explicit intent.
Interestingly, even some Israeli viewers recognized the parallels, highlighting how the narrative struck a chord with real-world politics. While Gunn maintains it’s a coincidence, the film’s blockbuster success shows that audiences were ready to cheer for a superhero taking on what they perceived as oppressive forces.
Whether intentional or accidental, the movie has ignited conversations about art imitating life. For many, the fictional struggle between Borovia and Jarhanpur provides both catharsis and a lens through which to explore the complexities of the ongoing Middle East conflict.