‘Superman: Legacy’ Wrote Out Bassem Youssef’s Character Before He Criticized Israel

Ryan Gajewski and Aaron Couch
·2 min read
22

Superman: Legacy sources are pushing back on actor Bassem Youssef’s claim that he lost a potential role in James Gunn’s upcoming Warner Bros. film over comments he made that were critical of Israel.

The Egyptian-born comedian told Salon this week that he had been in talks for a role but was later told that the part was no longer in the DC Studios movie following script changes. Youssef said he learned of the script changes after his October interview with Piers Morgan went viral in which the comic made comments critical of Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas.

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“I was cast in the movie, Superman, and then they told me, ‘We changed the script,’ after this Piers Morgan interview,” Youssef told the publication. “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.”

According to insiders, Gunn and Youssef discussed a role prior to the writers strike beginning in May, but the character was ultimately cut from the final script after the labor dispute ended in late September, but before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The actor did not have a formal offer for the role.

Youssef was eyed to play the leader of a fictional a middle eastern country in the DC universe.

On Friday, Gunn cleared the air about the situation, writing on Threads, “Baseem 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.”

David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent/Superman and Rachel Brosnahan stars as Lois Lane in the feature, which is due in theaters July 11, 2025. It is expected to go before cameras in March.

Youssef’s words struck a chord, as the Israel-Hamas War is a lightning rod in Hollywood. Scream producer Spyglass fired actor Melissa Barrera late last year following social media posts she made in support of Palestine.

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