"Luigi Mangione is Superman" — Internet compares Luigi Mangione's NY police escort to a scene from James Gunn's Superman trailer

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the alleged assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, gained attention after some viral photos showed him being escorted by New York police. On December 19, 2024, he was transported from Pennsylvania by helicopter, and was seen wearing an orange prison jumpsuit.

A significant contingent of New York police officers heavily guarded the individual. As a result, onlookers could not help but compare the visuals to the iconic imagery from James Gunn's highly anticipated Superman movie's leaked footage clip uploaded by The World News on YouTube. Also, coincidentally, the released trailer came out on the same day.

"Luigi Mangione is Superman," one wrote on X.

Moreover, many users remarked that the suspect's "perp walk," flanked by police, closely mirrored the scene where Superman is escorted similarly —

"Hmm. The whole #luigimanigone thing is giving very… #Superman in reality vibes tbh. Just a thought 🤷🏻‍♂️ #Luigi #SupermanMovie #Crime #News," a user on X commented.

"They escorting Luigi like he Superman bruh 😭😭," one more on X.

"if there's one thing I know, it's that perp walking Luigi with the same number of armed guards they'd use to detain Superman in a movie will in no way cause his infamy and heroic status to grow exponentially," a netizen commented.

Some users expressed frustration, criticizing the timing and style of the police escort, claiming it overshadowed the trailer's release and unintentionally copied its presentation.

"In retrospect, maybe it wasn't the best optics to parade Luigi Mangione to his extradition on the same day that the Superman trailer came out… (At least from law enforcement's POV.)," a user on X commented.

"They are making him look cool in every shot, no pun intended," one more commented.

"They tried to show force but it's backfiring. Now he'll be seen as a superhero. NY…full of fails lately," another commented.

As of now, neither the New York Police Department nor any members of Luigi Mangione's family have responded to the reactions that have been circulating online.

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Luigi Mangione's New York escort scene draws parallels to the Superman trailer

This dramatic scene quickly drew comparisons to a leaked, behind-the-scenes clip from the highly anticipated Superman film, slated for release on July 11, 2025. The clip features David Corenswet as Superman, dressed in full costume, handcuffed and escorted by heavy security forces like Mangione's transport.

Mangione's custody is in connection with the December 4, 2024, murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan.

On Thursday morning, a federal criminal complaint was unsealed, charging Mangione with murder using a firearm, two stalking offenses, and a firearms violation, as reported by CNN.

This led to Mangione's appearance in a federal courthouse in downtown Manhattan rather than the state courthouse where he had been initially expected. The indictment against him includes 11 charges, such as first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and additional weapons and forgery offenses.

Since his arrest on December 9, 2024, Mangione has attended two court hearings, during which he did not contest extradition.

Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan while in the city to present budget and financial reports. According to The New York Times, Mangione shot Thompson from behind before continuing to shoot him in the calf and chest as he fell, fleeing the scene afterward.

As of now, there are no further updates regarding the legal proceedings related to Thompson's alleged assassination.