The comedian Bassem Youssef was expected to be involved in the upcoming James Gunn-DCU film, Superman: Legacy until recent developments saw him abruptly dropped from the script. Rumors swirled that his outspoken criticisms of Israel during its tense conflict with Hamas might have led to his exclusion. However, the veil of mystery surrounding this situation was finally lifted when James Gunn stepped forward to shed light on the matter.
Bassem Youssef Explained Why He Thinks He Was Written Out of Superman: Legacy!
Bassem Youssef, initially considered for a role in the upcoming DCU film Superman Legacy, found himself written out from the script following the uproar over his controversial remarks about the Israel-Hamas conflict during an interview with Piers Morgan that went viral. He intended to play dictator Rumaan Harjavti a leader from a Middle Eastern nation within the DC universe.
Insider sources revealed that although the comedian did not have any official offer, discussions between the comedian and the DCU chief James Gunn regarding the potential role took place before the writers’ strike commenced in May. However, despite the character being under consideration, it was eventually scrapped from the final script following the resolution of the labor dispute in late September, but before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
He thus, explained, to Salon, why he thinks he was supposedly written out of the script, he said,
“I was cast in the movie, Superman, and then they told me, ‘We changed the script,’ after this Piers Morgan interview,–I want to assume good faith. I want to know, I want to believe that this is true. I was a little bit bitter, and I wanted to go, I was like, ‘Oh, screw DC, screw Warner Bros.’ But then I understand, I understand the emotional burden that those people have. I mean, those people have a connection with Israel.”
While there were no official statements that assert Youssef’s exclusion from the script was related to his comments, he suspected they may have played a role in the decision. However, more recently, James Gunn has stepped forward to address the situation.
James Gunn Breaks Silence on the Situation!
Taking to social media, James Gunn shared an IGN post. The article reported that Bassem Youssef’s part as dictator Rumaan Harjavti had been removed from the upcoming superhero film before Youssef’s interview with Piers Morgan went viral in October. And Gunn confirmed the accuracy by captioning it as “This is accurate.”
As it turns out, Youssef’s suspicions were not true at all. The decision to remove the character occurred before his comments during the Piers Morgan interview, rendering the entire situation a significant misunderstanding.
Therefore, Gunn in a different post explained,
“There isn’t one word against another,–[Bassem] and I talked and we’re good. I understand how he thought things might be (which he was clear about in his interview), and I told him the whole story.”
Post by @jamesgunnView on Threads
Gunn confirmed that all is well between the involved parties, including the DCU chief and the comedian. He personally spoke with the comedian, resolving any misunderstandings and ensuring there were no lingering tensions.
Superman Legacy will be making a debut in theaters on 11 July 2025.
