Summary
- Superman introducing Krypto brings unique charm and abilities to the DC Universe.
- Including Krypto may risk the film's tone feeling cartoonish if not appropriately handled.
- James Gunn's past success with animal characters in Guardians of the Galaxy all but ensures Krypto will be well-executed.
The trickiest aspect of James Gunn's Superman movie is something he's already proven to excel at. Gunn wrote and directed the upcoming Superman film that sees David Corenswet donning the hero's tights in the first major film in the planned DC Universe. The DCU is the new slate of movie and TV projects for DC Studios, which Gunn and Peter Safran took control of in 2022. Their plans began with the animated series Creature Commandos, and will continue with Superman, Peacemaker season 2, the Lanterns series, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, among other announced projects.
Superman trailers have highlighted the vast universe of characters Gunn is setting up, including Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Metallo, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl. One of the most notable additions to the live-action comic book film is Superman's dog Krypto. While Krypto may be able to capture the hearts of audiences worldwide, some are concerned about how his inclusion may affect the film's tone. However, Gunn has already proven himself more than capable of handling Krypto in Superman.
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With The Release Of Superman, James Gunn Is Introducing Krypto Into The DC Universe
Krypto first made his debut in Action Comics #210 in 1955. His origins came from Superman's Kryptonian father testing the evacuation pod he built for Kal-El with a dog. That test flight was knocked off course, sending Krypto spiraling into space for years. However, he later arrives on Earth as intended, with Kal-El now living as a teenage Clark Kent, who takes him in. Krypto also has superpowers that are in line with Superman's, as he can fly, he's invulnerable, with heat vision, super senses, and super strength. He is also intelligent and able to understand the people around him, with some iterations, like the animated series Krypto the Superdog, even showing that he can talk through a communicator.
Krypto was the lead character in the DC League of Super-Pets movie, which featured him communicating with other super animals, including Ace, Batman's dog. Although the heroes and humans in the film couldn't hear the animals speaking, this gave audiences a glimpse of Krypto's capabilities. However, the superpowered pup has never been adapted into a live-action Superman film. With the DC Universe looking to set itself apart from prior adaptations, the inclusion of Krypto makes for a unique choice that audiences haven't seen before.
Adapting Krypto Could Be Problematic For Superman In More Ways Than One
Including Krypto comes with all the issues of adapting a comic book character for movie-going audiences. Superman risks feeling cartoonish with the inclusion of an overly animated dog in the mix, with many likely concerned over how Krypto may influence the story. Versions saw Krypto donning the name Skip as part of his secret identity as the Kent family's beloved pet dog, and often wearing a patch on his back to help disguise himself when in costume with Superman. While these are part of the character's history, they may appear overly hokey if included or handled poorly in their execution.
The Crisis on Infinite Earths event in DC Comics saw Krypto wiped from existence, and other takes, like the New 52, had him trapped in the Negative Zone before he was shuffled between heroes. There was even a short time when Krypto was brought back as a regular dog without powers. While comics are notorious for reinventing themselves, some instances surrounding Krypto feel like writers not knowing what to do with the character, seeing him as a nuisance rather than an integral element of Superman's story, which is the same problem a live-action iteration could run into.
Trailers have already seen him saving Superman when he's down, flexing his super abilities in proper cinematic form. Krypto may also serve the movie emotionally, adding to the stakes. Still, the glimpses shared with audiences paint Krypto as a loyal superpowered pup, with many elements surrounding his story remaining to be shared.
James Gunn Has Already Proven He's The Man To Bring Krypto To Life
While much of Krypto's portrayal remains to be seen, Gunn shared that he was modeled after his own dog. The director has a track record of well-crafted animal characters, which he has shown throughout the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. While Rocket was a raccoon that could walk on two legs and talk, his story in the third film came full circle with one of Marvel's most emotionally moving stories. The third Guardians film filled in Rocket's backstory, showing the cruel experimentation he and his fellow animal friends endured. Gunn's portrayal of animals would earn him an award from PETA, which named him their Person of the Year in 2023.
However, the character from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies that most embodies Gunn's ability to bring Krypto to life is Cosmo. Cosmo is a talking dog whose backstory isn't delved into, but he began life as a Soviet test subject launched into space. While usually a male character, Gunn made Cosmo a female, which made for a reasonable change. Cosmo was briefly seen in the first Guardians film, making their proper debut in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would see Cosmo taking a larger role in the team, which sees her using her telekinetic powers and becoming an official Guardian.
Cosmo was brought to life with care, looking like the average dog that doesn't seem laughably out of place while using their powers. Furthermore, Cosmo began as a side character who is now poised to be a central figure if the Guardians of the Galaxy return to the MCU. While Krypto likely won't be talking in Superman, Gunn has already shown his deft hand in breathing life into semi-anthropomorphic animal characters. Many fans may be concerned about how Krypto could influence the tone and feel of Superman, but Guardians of the Galaxy is all the evidence needed to know the superpowered pup will be a crowd-pleaser.
Superman
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Runtime
- 130 minutes
Cast
-
David CorenswetSuperman -
Rachel BrosnahanLois Lane
WHERE TO WATCH
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first movie in Warner Bros.' Rebooted DC Universe to center around the titular comic book hero. It introduces a new version of the Man of Steel after Henry Cavill's departure from the role, honoring the character's roots as "the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way."
