SUPERMAN Cut a Brutal Krypto Scene That Upset Test Audiences

James Gunn knows how to make audiences fall in love with CGI animals, and then completely devastate them. Whether it’s Groot, Rocket, Cosmo, or the heartbreaking quartet of Lylla, Floor, and Teefs, Gunn’s love for adorable, heroic creatures is only matched by his willingness to put them through hell.

But apparently, there is a line he won’t cross, especially when it comes to a certain superpowered pup. Krypto the Superdog is finally making his big-screen, live-action debut in Superman, and he’s already won over fans just from a few brief trailer appearances.

Krypto’s cute. He’s loyal. He’s got superpowers. Warner Bros. has made him a key part of the film’s marketing campaign, and it’s clear the studio knows audiences are going to fall hard for the dog.

But during a recent interview with Jake Hamilton, Superman actress Sara Sampaio revealed that there was a Krypto moment that pushed things too far, and it didn’t survive the test screenings. There was a point in the film that Ultraman punched Krypto and audiences hated the moment, so it got cut out of the film.

“They actually cut a worse scene, me and [Nicholas Hoult] were a bit pissed about it, but it’s okay. They cut Ultraman punching Krypto. Apparently, it did really bad in the test screenings.”

Watching Krypto getting decked by a god-tier villain is the kind of moment that could turn a fun superhero flick into instant trauma for some audiences. It’s worth noting that Ultraman is no lightweight, he’s expected to be a serious powerhouse in the film. A full-on punch from him could’ve jacked Krypto up.

While that controversial moment is now on the cutting room floor, Krypto’s future in the DCU is still bright. Not only will he survive Superman, but he’s also set to star in a series of seasonal animated shorts after the movie hits theaters snd he’ll return for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

We’ll see Krypto do his thing when Superman flies into theaters on July 11th.