TheSmallvilleshowrunners address Superman being an immigrant story, following the controversy that emerged with James Gunn’sDC Universemovie. Over the last few decades, there have beenmanySupermanmoviesand TV shows to reimagine Krypton’s last son in the world of animation and live-action on the big and small screens.
However, as theSupermanmovie became one of the biggest releases for 2025, a topic that gained attention with Gunn’s film was how the DCU project is an immigrant story through Clark Kent. While there have been a lot of different sides on the subject, some of the most popular Superman storytellers are chiming in on the Man of Steel’s legacy in pop culture.
In an interview withHappy, Sad, Confused, Al Gough and Miles Millar, who created Smallville,addressed how they agree with Superman’s immigration aspect, in response to Gunn having spoken about it for his movie. For Gough and Millar, they always looked at Tom Welling’s show going for that concept, including howSmallvilleeven did a story that directly addressed it in season 6:
Miles Millar: It’s also interesting, we always saw Superman as a great allegory for immigration, that he was the ultimate illegal alien. The fact that James said, and it’s so controversial, was sort of like…I couldn’t believe, I was like, ‘That’s so embedded in what it is.’
Al Gough: We did an episode in season six with where we sort of talked about it directly. Clark finds a boy who’s working on one of the farms. I remember, at the time, thinking, [because] this is, again, 2006, the network was like, ‘I don’t know…this feels a little political for the show,’ and we’re like, ‘It’s literally the Superman story [laughs,] what do you want?’
Miles Millar: The fact that it’s still [this] controversial idea…that’s [what] is so great about the Superman story, that I think that’s why its legacy has been so powerful. It really speaks to what the American dream is, and all those sort of elements of Americana.
What Miles Millar & Al Gough’s Smallville & Superman Comments Mean
Ever since Superman was created,the idea that immigration is part of Kal-El’s existence has always been there. Even if otherSupermanmovies and TV shows didn’t always go as deep into those themes, it never erased the fact that Clark is an illegal alien, because he still came from Krypton to Earth.
TheSmallvilleepisode that Gough and Millar are referencing is episode 9 of season 6, “Subterranean”, which literally has Welling’s hero calling himself an illegal immigrant. Clark’s speech alone, along with the themes of the episode, was a great example of how it showcased that theSmallvillecastand creators perfectly understood the representation of Superman.
The only reason why Superman being an immigrant has people divided is because of how social media exists, and how it has gotten larger since the days ofSmallvilleand previous Superman projects. But even years later, Gough and Millar’s comments make it clear that the lesson of Superman is still with them to this day.
Our Take On Miles Millar & Al Gough’s Smallville & Superman Comments
After seeing the outrage that has emerged about Superman’s immigration story, it’s great to hear creators like Gough and Millar call out what has become a ridiculous debate. Following theSupermanmovie ending, time will tell if future DCU stories will continue to tackle the concept in greater depth.
But, as theSmallvilleco-creators said themselves, Superman has always been a great allegory for immigration, and that will never change. Whether it is theSupermanmovie orSmallville, or even future Superman projects from other creators down the line, this will always continue to be reflected in the DC legend’s legacy.
Smallville
Cast
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
Superman
Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
