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James Gunn's Dog, Ozu Reacts to Seeing Himself as Krypto in "Superman"

Posted on May 05, 2025 by Neil Cole

As excitement builds for James Gunn's highly anticipated "Superman" movie, one unlikely star is soaring into the spotlight; Krypto the Superdog. Fans have taken note of the lovable canine's emotional presence in the film's trailers - but the heart of this super-powered pup runs deeper than fiction. Krypto, as it turns out, is modeled directly after Gunn's own dog, Ozu, whose real-life quirks are inspiring both laughs and love across the internet.

In the following video which was recently shared to social media, Gunn captured the moment Ozu watched himself - or rather, his digital alter ego - on screen during a clip from the "Superman" sneak peak trailer. As the now-familiar scene played of Krypto gently trying to play with an injured Superman before heroically pulling him by his cape back to the Fortress of Solitude, Ozu had a dramatic reaction. "This is my dog Ozu barking at the screen," Gunn explains in the video. "Krypto was actually 3D modeled after Ozu's body. We 3D captured Ozu and turned him into Krypto. We turned him white. And anyway, every time he sees himself come on screen, he tries to murder himself."

The story behind Krypto goes beyond visuals. In a heartfelt post from October, Gunn revealed that the real-life Ozu had a rough beginning - adopted from a hoarding situation involving over 60 dogs. "He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture - he even ate my laptop," Gunn explained. "It took a long time before he would even let us touch him. I remember thinking, 'Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?' - and thus Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life."

Krypto the Superdog has quickly become a fan favorite, offering heart, humor, and high-flying heroism to a new generation of DC fans. With buzz building that another trailer for the film may be released in the very near future, anticipation continues to mount.

"Superman" hits theaters on July 11, 2025.

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