Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for James Gunn’s SupermanKrypto the Superdog is easily one of the best and most adorable parts of James Gunn’s Superman. A wildly rambunctious super-powered canine (with limited house training), Krypto is as cute as he is destructive, while still being quite loyal to the Man of Steel. However, I’m truly worried about Krypto’s future in the DCU.
Inspired by James Gunn’s real-life dog, the DCU’s Krypto isn’t the most well-behaved at the start of Superman. However, he does prove to be a big help to Superman during the movie’s third act. That said, James Gunn’s Superman features some key setup for Krypto’s next appearance, and I’m now very concerned that the next DCU movie may be a superhero version of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick.
Superman Sets Up An Appearance From Krypto In 2026’s Supergirl
“More Of A Foster Situation”
In the middle of Superman, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane inquires about Clark having a dog. Superman confirms that his looking after Krypto is “more of a foster situation“, meaning that the superpowered canine doesn’t actually belong to him. Sure enough, Superman’s ending has Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El making her DCU debut ahead of her own Supergirl movie releasing next year.
Picking up Krypto from the Fortress, it’s confirmed that Superman was watching Supergirl’s dog while she went and partied on worlds with red suns (so she could get drunk). As such, this heavily implies that Supergirl will be opening exactly like Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic series. Not only was that the Supergirl movie’s original тιтle, but the movie’s script has also been written by Tom King himself.
In Woman of Tomorrow’s first issue, Supergirl is indeed drunk on another planet, having hit a low point in her life and feeling rather purposeless. Krypto’s also with her to keep her company, and it now looks like the same will be true for the DCU adaptation. However, this makes me very concerned for Krypto, considering what else happens by the end of that same first issue.
Will Milly Alcock’s Supergirl Become A Superpowered John Wick?
The Comics Make Me Worried For Krypto…
In the first John Wick, Keanu Reeves’ тιтular character comes out of retirement as a hitman, seeking revenge and returning to a life of extreme violence after the son of a Russian mobster kills John Wick’s dog (shortly after the pᴀssing of his wife). When it comes to Krypto, I have the foreboding suspicion that Supergirl may echo John Wick.
“I feel like I’m justifiably worried about the DCU’s Krypto and his future with Supergirl..”
In the Woman of Tomorrow comic, Supergirl encounters a young alien girl named Ruthye whose family was murdered Krem of the Yellow Hills. Both characters are confirmed to be in Supergirl’s cast. However, Krem also shoots Krypto with a poison arrow when the dog tries protecting Kara, unaware that the red sun’s rays had made him more vulnerable.
Although Krypto makes a surprise recovery with an antidote by the series’ end, Supergirl’s dog being critically wounded similarly kickstarts Kara and Ruthye’s quest as they track down Krem across the galaxy. All such, I feel like I’m justifiably worried about the DCU’s Krypto and his future with Supergirl. After all, it’s quite possible that the movie adaptation may choose to darkly raise the stakes more than the comic did.
For the time being, it seems we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds for Krypto the Superdog when Supergirl releases next year.
James Gunn’s Superman is now playing in theaters. Supergirl releases in 2026.
