(Nicholas Dye/Staff Writer)

This is a brand new segment that my editor and fearless leader, Joshua Gilmore, gave me the greenlight to launch. It is a segment that allows us to get things off our chest about the pop culture community that may irk us from time to time. The Void is our sacred place. The ether to which we send out our ideas and voices. To that end, welcome to Violating the Void.

As all Star Wars fans know, but few are willing to admit, the biggest threat to the Star Wars universe, isn’t Kathleen Kennedy or the Disney corporation, it’s the toxicity of its fans. While the toxicity of Star Wars fandom is far too vast to cover in one simple post (and believe me, we will make the attempt at a later date), it’s just one example in a larger world of unmitigated hatred towards casting choices, writers, directors, storylines, and so on. I remember all the hatred aimed at Heath Ledger when he was cast as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Hell, you could even go back as far as 1989 and read articles where critics ripped Michael Keaton apart for being cast as Batman. But for this inaugural post, I am going after those who have gone after James Gunn, and all those who are involved with or who support the upcoming Superman movie.

The backlash began when James Gunn announced that he would be directing and writing an upcoming Superman film that was loosely based on All-Star Superman, initially titled Superman Legacy. With that announcement, he dropped the logo that would be used. Toxic nerd went ape-shit. Jump ahead several months and we start seeing set photos. Bring on the toxic nerds who began to rip apart the choices in actors and costume designs. Fans initially cheered the casting of Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner of the Green Lantern Corps and just as quickly ripped him to shreds when they saw what he looked like on film. I don’t get it! These toxic nerds screamed for comic accuracy, and when it’s delivered, they lose their minds and not in a positive way.

Jump ahead to just a couple of weeks ago when we get our first teaser trailer for the film itself. Here comes the toxic nerds with their pitchforks and torches and systematically rip the movie apart based off a handful of seconds. Cries for the restoration of Henry Cavill in the titular role rang out. Corenswet looks terrible in that costume. Corenswet looks terrible as Clark Kent. Krypto (who stole the trailer by the way) looks terrible. Guy’s haircut and outfit look goofy. Snyder should’ve had another chance. Gunn is a piece of shit! All of this hatred and venom spewed towards a film, its actors, and it’s director from the very people claiming to be fans of a character based in hope and kindness. I was absolutely disgusted.

I think what sickened me the most came a day or two after the release of the teaser. David Ayers, the director of Suicide Squad, came out in full support of James Gunn and his Superman film…and was promptly met with hatred and death threats. Yep, you read that right, death threats. Ayers responded with an official post stating that he was taking a step away from social media.

My love for Superman is well documented throughout the history of our podcast and website. I cannot wait to see James Gunn’s vision brought to life. I believe the choices in casting are right on par with the original 1978 film as well is the more recent Superman & Lois TV series which was also perfectly cast. I guess the point is this, you don’t have to like a film. You can be disappointed in how it looks or who is playing your favorite characters. You absolutely have the right to voice your opinion but how dare you send death threats, and bully and belittle those who are involved in and support the film. Oh, and if any of this garners me a death threat…bring it. In the meantime…here’s the poster and trailer for the upcoming Superman directed by James Gunn.