Joe Rogan is known for his unapologetically blunt opinions on a variety of topics, and his recent comments about David Corenswet’s upcoming portrayal of Superman have certainly turned heads. While the upcoming Superman reboot by James Gunn has generated significant buzz, Rogan is decidedly unimpressed. In fact, on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, he called the iconic superhero “stupid” and voiced his frustration with Hollywood’s constant reliance on reboots.
But what’s really interesting is the context in which Rogan made these comments. Despite dismissing the Superman project outright, Rogan took a more nuanced stance when it came to Gunn’s past controversies. James Gunn’s 2018 tweets, which made light of highly sensitive subjects like pedophilia and rape, sparked massive backlash. The director was even temporarily fired from Disney and Marvel. But Rogan, ever the contrarian, defended Gunn in his own way, offering a perspective that’s worth unpacking.
Joe Rogan’s Disdain for Superman and Hollywood Reboots
When asked about the upcoming Superman movie, Rogan didn’t hold back. Joining him in the conversation were regular podcast co-hosts Matt Serra, Brendan Schaub, and Bryan Callen, but none of them could convince Rogan to change his opinion. “I’m a grown man,” Rogan said dismissively. “Superman is stupid.” His disinterest in the movie wasn’t merely a passive opinion—it was a broader commentary on the superhero genre itself.
Rogan’s critique centers on Hollywood’s fixation with rebooting iconic characters over and over again. Superman has already been reinterpreted multiple times, and other beloved characters like Spider-Man and The Hulk have had countless iterations on the big screen. Rogan’s frustration with this trend is clear: “Why do we need another Superman? It’s the same thing over and over again.” His words reflect a larger skepticism about Hollywood’s creativity, or lack thereof, when it comes to fresh storytelling.
One specific element of the trailer for the new Superman movie that particularly irked Rogan was the inclusion of Krypto, the Superdog. “Why was the dog able to drag him?” he asked. For Rogan, the very idea of a super-powered dog was just too much to handle. While his co-hosts tried to defend James Gunn’s ability to bring quirky characters to life—much like he did with Guardians of the Galaxy—Rogan remained resolutely uninterested. The fact that he had a soft spot for the talking fox in Guardians didn’t seem to help Krypto’s case.
A Defended James Gunn: Rogan’s Take on the 2018 Tweet Controversy
Though Rogan’s dismissive stance on Superman may have dominated the conversation, his comments on James Gunn’s 2018 tweet controversy shed light on a more nuanced aspect of his perspective. For those unfamiliar, Gunn’s old tweets—some of which jokingly referenced sensitive topics like pedophilia and rape—led to his firing from Disney and Marvel, despite his work on Guardians of the Galaxy being widely praised.
While Rogan acknowledged the highly inappropriate nature of the tweets, he offered a surprising defense of Gunn. “They’re f*cking terrible,” Rogan admitted during the 2018 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. “The problem is they’re not funny, and they are jokes, they are really gross.” Rogan wasn’t excusing the tweets, but he took issue with the harsh public reaction to them.
Rogan argued that while Gunn’s tweets were in poor taste, they didn’t constitute criminal behavior. “He’s a sh*tty joke teller,” Rogan said bluntly, “but that doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.” Instead of firing Gunn outright, Rogan felt the incident raised bigger questions about the culture of “canceling” people for past mistakes. For Rogan, it was less about the content of the jokes and more about the broader culture that seeks to punish people for actions long gone.
“It’s the culture we’re living in today,” Rogan remarked. “It’s the activists going after people for stuff they said in the past.” Though the tweets certainly weren’t without consequences—Gunn was temporarily removed from the director’s chair for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3—Rogan felt that the extreme public shaming and firing were disproportionate, especially given the fact that Gunn was remorseful and had grown from the experience.
The Intersection of “Cancel Culture” and Hollywood’s Obsession with Reboots
Rogan’s thoughts on Gunn’s past are a stark contrast to his frustration with Superman’s continued presence on the big screen. Both topics intersect in a larger conversation about accountability, creative evolution, and Hollywood’s tendency to recycle the same stories over and over again.
While Rogan’s critiques of Superman are largely about his personal tastes—feeling the superhero genre is overplayed—his remarks about Gunn reflect a deeper reflection on modern cancel culture. For Rogan, it’s not just about whether the content is offensive, but about the nature of public retribution and whether people can be allowed to evolve beyond their past mistakes.
Whether or not James Gunn will appreciate Rogan’s defense of his past tweets remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that Rogan’s perspective provides a unique lens through which to examine the complex relationship between fame, past mistakes, and public accountability. In a time when every tweet, joke, or misstep is scrutinized under the social media microscope, Rogan’s defense of Gunn serves as a counterpoint to the prevailing culture of canceling individuals based on past actions.
While Joe Rogan may not be the target audience for James Gunn’s Superman movie, his commentary on Hollywood’s trends and cancel culture is worth noting. Rogan’s criticism is a reflection of a broader sentiment shared by many who feel fatigued by the never-ending cycle of reboots and the rigid expectations placed on creators. In a world where reboots of classic superhero characters seem like a constant, Rogan’s call for something fresh and original hits home for many.
As for Gunn, it’s clear that Rogan doesn’t hold any ill will toward the director. If anything, his comments suggest that he respects Gunn’s growth and ability to push boundaries—something that might be appreciated by Gunn himself, especially considering the director’s controversial past.
In the end, whether or not Superman will live up to its potential, or whether Gunn can continue to weather the storm of public scrutiny, remains to be seen. But Joe Rogan’s unfiltered take reminds us that the conversation around reboots, cancel culture, and public accountability is far from over.