James Gunn Superman Will Include Krypto, See The Heartwarming First Look
If there is one thing that moviegoers will always pay good money to see in theaters, it’s an adorable dog that they know will most definitely not meet a cruel and untimely fate. And there is likely not a better example of that type of nearly invincible dog than Krypto the Superdog, Superman’s trusted and loyal canine companion who will officially make his live-action film debut when he appears in James Gunn’s Superman.
In a heartwarming and impossible-to-hate first look, Gunn announced the upcoming appearance of Krypto in a moving post on X, detailing just what inspired him to include the super-powered pooch in his upcoming film.
A Boy And His Dog
On October 15, Gunn took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce that Krypto will be featured Superman when it hits theaters next summer. The force behind the addition of the Superdog was Gunn’s own dog Ozu, who the filmmaker adopted shortly after beginning to write the script for Superman. While Ozu’s story might sound like a cheesy tale scripted in Hollywood, it was anything but.
James Gunn Reveals The Inspiration For The New Krypto
In his post, Gunn explained that adopting his dog wasn’t exactly a match made in heaven at first, but the patience that came along with rescuing Ozu eventually inspired him in his work. “Ozu, who came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other dogs & never knew human beings, was problematic to say the least. He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture — he even ate my laptop. It took a long time before he would even let us touch him,” Gunn admitted in his post.
A Good Boy
While Gunn’s patience was certainly tested in the early days with Ozu, he soon pondered how more difficult his situation would have been if his energetic dog had superpowers to go along with his taste for destruction and electronics. “And thus Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life,” he wrote. And just like that, Superman’s canine best friend Krypto found his way to securing a featured role in a live-action Hollywood blockbuster.
The New DC Universe
Slated to hit theaters on July 11, 2025, Superman will see actor David Corenswet take on the role of the iconic superhero as the film attempts to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. While much of the film’s plot still remains under wraps, it has been described as Clark Kent’s personal journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. In addition to Corenswet in the titular role, the film’s cast includes Rachel Brosnahan as franchise staple Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the always mischievous and scheming Lex Luthor.
70 Years Of Krypto
For now, Krypto’s exact role in Superman is still unclear, but Gunn included a brief teaser in his post on X that shows Superman and Krypto sitting side by side, enjoying the view of Earth from afar, resting atop what appears to be the moon. After making his comic debut in Adventure Comics #210 in March 1955, Krypto has seen several iterations over the years. Most recently, Krypto often appears as Superman’s pet dog, usually depicted as a white dog of various breeds.
In addition to his announcement, Gunn made a direct reference to Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, an event sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The event, which is held every October, is an effort to promote the adoption of dogs from local shelters. According to the ASPCA, over three million dogs enter shelters every year.