James Gunn's Real-Life Dog Who Inspired Krypto In Superman

If you're a die-hard Superman fan, you probably know about Krypto the Superdog from the DC comics, television shows, or advertisements for the upcoming film starring David Corenswet as the famed Clark Kent. The caped canine will charm audiences in James Gunn's film this summer, although the 2025 "Superman" movie isn't the first time Krytpo the Superdog appeared in a live-action DC project. What many fans don't realize, though, is that Gunn's version of the pup is inspired by not only DC's comics but also his own pooch, a mixed-breed dog named Ozu.

Like that of many dogs, Ozu's story unfortunately includes a dark chapter, which Gunn shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, in October 2024. Ozu once lived in the backyard of a hoarder with dozens of other dogs, and Gunn rescued him with hopes of giving him a better life not long after he began writing the screenplay for "Superman." While his living conditions naturally improved after the rescue, Ozu was far from the perfect pup for Gunn at first.

The challenges that the dog created led Gunn to wonder what life would be like if Ozu had superpowers. The thought inspired the pet-loving director to not only include Krypto in his screenplay but also base his personality and appearance on Ozu.

As a new member of James Gunn's family, Ozu initially resisted human touch and misbehaved in a number of ways. The "Guardians of the Galaxy" director didn't reveal any specific details beyond the hoarding conditions in his X post, but the dog's fear of touch likely stemmed from his previous life of neglect. However, the post did divulge that Ozu "destroyed" various items in his new home, including furniture, Gunn's laptop, and shoes, which likely left the "Superman" director considering homemade chewing deterrent sprays for dogs.

Krypto has traditionally been portrayed as a highly intelligent, obedient, and well-behaved dog. However, Gunn has revealed in interviews that his version of Superman's canine sidekick will not behaviorally mirror the comics or previous on-screen appearances. After calling Ozu "the worst dog in the world," he told interviewer Josh Horowitz on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast that "now we get to see the worst Superdog in the world." Meanwhile, Gunn described him as a "pretty terrible dog" in a Q&A session (via IGN).

The Superdog's overall appearance also differs from previous portrayals. In comics and cartoons, Krypto is typically depicted as a white Labrador retriever or another breed with a muscular build and smooth, white fur. The latest Krypto, in contrast, was intentionally created to look more like a mixed breed, just like Ozu. If you try to visually determine the breed mix of the dog, you might conclude that both canines are part terrier. Krypto's shaggy (but still white) fur and crooked ear were also inspired by the rescue dog's appearance. See for yourself when Krypto hits the big screen on July 11, 2025.