Superman’s James Gunn on Why Krypto Isn’t a Labrador in the Movie
James Gunn has confirmed that Krypto, Superman‘s loyal companion, will appear in the upcoming DC movie Superman. Inspired by Gunn’s own dog, Ozu, Krypto will make his live-action debut alongside Superman. This marks the character’s first major appearance in a live-action film, and fans are eager to see how the iconic superdog will play into the story. The film, starring David Corenswet as Superman, will explore the Man of Steel’s journey while introducing his super-powered canine sidekick.
James Gunn says ‘Krypto is historically a generic white dog’ and ‘an alien’
James Gunn confirmed that Krypto, Superman’s dog, will appear in the upcoming Superman movie. Responding to fan inquiries on Threads, Gunn stated, “Krypto is historically a generic white dog, sometimes also a lab, white shepherd, husky, or Dalmatian. But obviously he’s an alien, so he wouldn’t necessarily be exactly any one of these things.” He emphasized that Krypto’s design allows flexibility due to his alien origins.
Gunn also revealed in another post that his adopted dog, Ozu, inspired Krypto’s inclusion in the film. The director described Ozu’s difficult background, coming from “a hoarding situation” with “60 other dogs.”
Reflecting on Ozu’s behavior, Gunn said, “He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture – he even ate my laptop.” The challenges of handling Ozu inspired Gunn to imagine “how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers.” This led to Krypto’s role in the script.
The character’s story ties into Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, which occurs in October. Gunn timed his post to raise awareness about shelter dogs, noting how Ozu eventually became “a very good boy” after overcoming his initial behavioral issues.
The film Superman, starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, is set to release on July 11, 2025. Nicholas Hoult will portray Lex Luthor, and Krypto will make his big-screen debut alongside Superman, reflecting both his comic origins and Gunn’s personal experience with Ozu.