Why Krypto Is The Secret Weapon To James Gunn’s DCU Success

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 25, 2024 5 Views 10 Min Read
Why Krypto Is The Secret Weapon To James Gunn's DCU Success

Summary

  • The success of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie will determine the future of the new DCU.
  • The introduction of Krypto in the teaser trailer has garnered an overwhelmingly positive response.
  • Gunn’s track record with non-human characters, like Rocket Raccoon, suggests Krypto will play a significant role.

When it comes to the future of James Gunn’s new DCU, it all hinges on whether or not his upcoming Superman movie is a critical and commercial success. The first teaser trailer dropped last week, and if the overwhelmingly positive response from the viewership alone is any indication, it sure looks like audiences are starting to re-engage with DC Comics on the big screen that doesn’t involve Batman.

By the time Superman hits theaters next July, it will have been 12 years since the last standalone film centered on one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history. While Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, which starred Henry Cavill in the role is not without its fans, this interpretation of Kal-El, along with his subsequent appearances in DC Extended Universe projects failed to resonate with the general public in the same way that a superhero like Chris Evans’ Captain America has. Part of the struggle many filmmakers have had with adapting Superman stories to the big screen is to make this character, who seems to be near-invincible beyond the presence of Kryptonite, relatable to audiences. One of the biggest critiques lobbied against the character from his detractors is that he’s inherently uninteresting to follow due to his overwhelming abilities, making him unrelatable to the average person.

Split image of Despero, David Corenswet's Superman, and Mongul

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However, the first moment in the teaser trailer introduces audiences to David Corenswet’s Superman in a vulnerable state. We see him take a violent fall into the snow, and we hear him breathe in agony. From this first appearance alone, the beloved hero is at a low point without any Kryptonite present, immediately addressing many Superman detractors’ critiques regarding his abilities making him hard to relate to.

A Boy And His Dog

The moment in the trailer that has become the most viral element of this first official glimpse at Superman is not even the titular hero himself, but rather one of his supporting players who will be making his live-action cinematic debut. In that same vulnerable position in the snow, Superman makes a whistling call, to which an obscured figure is shown barreling through the snow. It’s none other than Krypto, whom Superman, amidst all agonizing pain, simply asks to take him home. Krypto grabs Superman’s cape with his jaws, as perhaps the true MVP of this first teaser trailer.

If James Gunn wanted the first teaser trailer for Superman to make a significant impact on the internet, he succeeded. The trailer became the most-viewed trailer within a 24-hour debut in Warner Bros. history, and also broke into the top 5 biggest trailer debuts of all time, alongside the likes of Deadpool & Wolverine, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Avengers: Endgame. While some might attribute the trailer’s successful debut to audiences’ general interest in what this new DCU will bring, it’s possible to say that the introduction of Krypto might be the secret weapon in this whole affair.

Krypto Is The Key To All Of This

Krypto King Shark Rocket

In the making-of documentary Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, George Lucas infamously stated that “Jar Jar is the key to all of this.” Of course, Jar Jar Binks is one of the most universally hated characters in modern film history and has been subject to much derision among not just Star Wars fans, but the general moviegoing public. Lucas putting a massive emphasis on Jar Jar in Episode I, thinking that an annoying comic relief character that reflects negative racial stereotypes would be key to the film’s success was clearly wrongheaded.

Thankfully, James Gunn has a much better track record when introducing non-human characters brought to life with CGI. The most notable example is with his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, in which audiences immediately fell in love with Rocket Raccoon and Groot. Also, in his first foray with DC, The Suicide Squad introduced audiences to the endearing King Shark. Through his TV shows like Peacemaker, we are introduced to Eagly, and with his latest effort Creature Commandos, we see perhaps the most tragic story Gunn has ever written in Season 1 Episode 4, “Chasing Squirrels” which was centered on Weasel.

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The love and care that Gunn brings to these characters are reflective of his self-professed love of animals. Gunn previously mentioned that adding Krypto to the Superman script was mostly inspired by the adoption of his dog Ozu, and fewer things in cinema will make audiences connect with a main protagonist than their beloved dog. After all, look at the entire John Wick film series.

Take Us Home, Krypto

Krypto Superman DC James Gunn

In regards to Krypto’s role in Superman, James Gunn has teased that what was shown in the trailer is only a small sample size of what he will bring to the movie. Gunn has said that, as cute as Superman’s dog may seem, he will pose plenty of problems – not just for our beloved titular hero, but for the overall story. One can only imagine the types of messes a super-powered Kryptonian dog will bring to Metropolis.

It is unknown whether or not this version of Krypto will talk exclusively like a normal dog, or will eventually speak English like in iterations seen in his own animated series, or in DC League of Super-Pets, in which Dwayne Johnson gave him his voice. Whatever choice James Gunn ultimately makes, he’s shown success with animal characters on both ends of this spectrum. Rocket Raccoon is one of the most quotable characters in the MCU, and Weasel, while not having any dialogue of his own, is endearing thanks to his tragic backstory.

With seven months to go before Superman hits theaters, the marketing campaign has some work to do when it comes to engaging audiences with not just this new film, but a brand new DCU altogether. Thankfully, the first teaser trailer is a solid foundation to build from, and if James Gunn wants audiences to fall in love with David Corenswet’s Superman, he’s likely found the key ingredient in accomplishing that with Krypto. Much like what we see in the trailer, perhaps this fluffy Superdog will be the one to take audiences home to the cinematic universe that DC fans truly deserve.

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