Superman’s super dog Krypto may look all innocent in the trailer, but James Gunn says he is a "terrible dog" and is based on his own mischievous mutt

Superman
(Image credit: DC)

He may look all cute and innocent in the first trailer, but DC boss James Gunn says Superman’s dog Krypto is actually a pretty terrible pet.

"You'll see in the movie that Krypto probably comes off as a better dog in the trailer than he is in the movie," said writer and director Gunn at a Q&A session held after a press screening for the new Superman trailer (H/T IGN). "Pretty terrible dog! You love him because he's a dog and how can you not? And he's got the cute, innocent eyes, but he's a terrible dog."

The first Superman trailer, which dropped earlier this December, opens with star David Corenswet’s Superman lying injured on the snow with a bloody head when his pet dog Krypto runs to his recuse. At first glance, Kryto looks to be a fluffy white dog who seems to be loyal to his owner, however, based on Gunn’s comments, this may not be true.

"Ozu, who came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other dogs and never knew human beings, was problematic, to say the least," Gunn said. "He immediately came in and destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture — he even ate my laptop… I remember thinking, 'Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?' — and thus Krypto came into the script and changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life."

Editorial Associate, GamesRadar+

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.