SUPERMAN’s David Corenswet Talks About Krypto Being “The Worst Dog in the World With Superpowers”
James Gunn’s Superman is still riding high after an extended first look was released, and while fans were pumped to finally see David Corenswet’s Man of Steel in action, Krypto is the character that stole the show.
In a conversation with Fandango, Corenswet opened up about the dynamic between Superman and his troublemaking canine companion, saying:
“Krypto needs Superman, Superman doesn’t need Krypto. Krypto’s just been — it’s a foster situation. Superman is taking care of this dog. He loves dogs, as most people do. But Krypto, as James [Gunn] has described, is the worst dog in the world with superpowers.
“So he’s always destroying the Fortress of Solitude and hunting wildlife, just always getting into trouble, never listening. And, although there’s a great love and affection between Superman and dog, it’s honestly more trouble than it’s worth.”
According to Corenswet, Krypto is less of a loyal sidekick and more of a walking disaster with heat vision, and that’s exactly what makes him fun. He’s unpredictable, powerful, and just a little out of control, which is a refreshing shift from the usual heroic pet trope.
In the clip that was released a wounded Kal-El struggles to get back to the Fortress of Solitude and calls out for help, but Krypto, clearly thrilled to see his guy, leaps on him to play instead.
It’s only after the roughhousing that the dog gets the memo. It’s a moment that’s both endearing and painful, and sets the tone for what this unique bond looks like in Gunn’s vision of Superman.
While Krypto has had a strong presence in comics and animation for years, this is his first proper live-action outing, and Gunn has hinted that the inspiration for the character came from his own late dog, Ozu.
When previously talking about Superman’s relationship with Krypto, he said: “His relationship with Krypto is complicated. He’s not nearly the best dog. There’s a lot more to Krypto than you see in this trailer.”
Gunn continued: “It was a way of saying we’re embracing all of the Superman mythology. These superhero movies have taken characters and said ‘Okay, yeah, it’s Batman, but it’s not any of the other stuff. It’s Superman, but it’s not any of the other stuff.’
“He lives in a world of superheroes. This is an alternative history world where superheroes exist but it’s also incredibly grounded. It’s about real people having real lives, there just happens to be metahumans there. Superman has friends who are other superheroes.”
Gunn adds: “He’s got a flying dog, he’s got a giant fortress. He has a lot of the things we love from the Superman comics and mythology that we haven’t been able to see as much of in a film and definitely haven’t been able to in a grounded way.”
Superman will tell the story of “Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas.
“He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
"It's set in a world very different from ours and far removed from the DCEU. Heroes have been around for ages, and we'll see how it affected this world's history and has shaped the DCU."
Superman will launch the movie part of DC Studios’ Gods and Monsters: Part 1. It’s scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11, 2025.