James Gunn is bringing Krypto the Superdog to the DC Universe, drawing inspiration from his own rescue pup, Ozu. Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, slated for release on July 11, 2025, will mark Krypto’s first live-action appearance, a move that has thrilled both fans and dog lovers alike.
In a touching social media post, Gunn revealed how Ozu, a rescue dog adopted while he was working on the Superman script, inspired Krypto’s character. “Krypto was inspired by our dog Ozu, who we adopted shortly after I started writing Superman,” Gunn shared. “Ozu came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other dogs and never knew human beings. He immediately came in and 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 reminisced about the early chaos with Ozu and imagined, “How difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?” That thought led to Krypto’s inclusion in the Superman story. “And thus, Krypto came into the story and changed its shape as Ozu was changing my life,” Gunn said. He also mentioned that Krypto’s introduction couldn’t be more fitting, coinciding with #AdoptAShelterDog month. “Ozu today is, fairly often, a very good boy,” Gunn added fondly.
The first glimpse of Krypto, shared as a motion image, shows David Corenswet’s Superman sitting with Krypto on the moon, both gazing at Earth. It’s a calm, hopeful visual—highlighting Superman’s quieter moments, even as he remains the protector of humanity.
Krypto the Superdog first appeared in Adventure Comics #210 in 1955 and has been a fan-favorite through several animated series, including Krypto the Superdog, which aired on Cartoon Network in 2005. The series featured Krypto, Superman’s childhood pet from Krypton, who arrives on Earth with superpowers, masquerading as an ordinary dog while secretly fighting evil.
The new Superman film aims to stay true to the dual nature of Clark Kent’s identity—balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. As the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, Gunn’s Superman is driven by human kindness in a world that often views kindness as outdated.
The film features David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The ensemble cast also includes Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Sean Gunn, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Isabel Merced, and Nathan Fillion.
With October being Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, this touching addition to the Superman universe serves as a timely reminder of the challenges and rewards of rescuing dogs, adding a heartfelt layer to the superhero mythos that’s bound to connect with audiences.
