James Gunn Posts Image of Krypto From Superman

Movies

Superman’s dog is getting ready to melt hearts and sell some movie tickets. Today, James Gunn posted an image from Superman, his upcoming DC film that kicks off the DCU (aside from Creature Commandos, I guess… and Peacemaker, if that’s involved). The first image in his post, which is a stationary shot with a video background, depicts Superman and his Kryptonian dog Krypto sitting on what appears to be the Moon and looking at Earth the way a regular guy who couldn’t leap tall buildings in a single bound would sit on the porch with his dog. Gunn’s post also has a comic book panel on which the movie image of Superman and Krypto is based, as well as a picture of Gunn and his real-life dog, Ozu, whom he says is the inspiration for Krypto. (He means Krpto as he’s depicted in the film; Krypto’s first comic book appearance was in 1955.)  The story of how Gunn and his wife adopted Ozu is sweet, and he’s sharing his story and the Krypto image because it’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. You can see Gunn’s post below:

Krypto arrives on screens in Superman this summer. Krypto was inspired by our dog Ozu, who we adopted shortly after I started writing Superman. 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… pic.twitter.com/zw8rVqv0n0

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 15, 2024

In general, I’m mostly indifferent to Krypto; he’s fine, but it’s not a make-or-break Superman element for me. However, his inclusion in this movie does make me hopeful for James Gunn’s version of Superman. That image is perfect, a wholesome vision of who Superman is when he’s not saving the world from destruction. He’s a good-natured guy who loves his dog, perfectly at peace looking at the wonders of the universe with Krypto by his side. It’s a beautifully American image, and one that shows Superman’s humanity shining through his godlike power. He can fly to the Moon and look at the world in a way most men never will, and the few that do will need a rocket to get there, but once he’s there, he just wants to hang with his dog. This is the kind of Superman Gunn and Peter Safran have promised since they took over DC Studios, and I’m glad to see they’re sticking to it. I’m sure the big battles and rescues will be great, but I’m glad they’re going to emphasize the good nature and human charm inherent in Superman.

That being said, I’ll be surprised if Krypto doesn’t get in on the action, too. His inclusion is begging for a scene where some bad guys underestimate him and think he’s just a garden-variety dog, only to find their hash settled by a Kryptonian canine. Maybe they break into the Fortress of Solitude and discover that Superman’s sole security measure when he’s off fighting an alien invasion is Krypto, and he’s more than enough. It’d be neat to see Krypto rescue some people, too, maybe hold up a falling bus with his teeth like he’s playing Frisbee with Clark. I know there are, like, a million DC superheroes in this film (which I’m still not sold on), so Krypto’s screen time may be limited, but if you’re going to include him, you may as well use him and have some fun with him. Then again, Krypto did recently get his own movie with the rest of the DC heroes’ pets (which I haven’t seen), so maybe he’ll just put in a small appearance here. I wouldn’t put money on the Rock voicing him again, though. (And that’s a good thing, because he’d just insist Kevin Hart be given a role.) But I’m looking forward to seeing Superman, and I think Krypto portends this being the kind of Superman movie I want.

Let us know what you think of Krypto being in Superman in the comments!

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