James Gunn addresses the one Superman scene that received unexpected backlash. The DCU’s first Superman installment leans heavily on the Man of Steel’s lighthearted qualities and hopeful themes. David Corenswet’s Superman makes sure collateral damage is minimized in every battle, even if it requires him to sacrifice his public image or the credit he gets from his opponents’ defeat.
Speaking to Josh Horowitz, Superman director James Gunn admits he wasn’t expecting a mixed reaction to the scene where Superman saves a squirrel, which wasn’t too popular with audiences. Gunn describes the scene as “heatedly debated”, as many audience members questioned why Superman would take the time to protect a single sequel while Metropolis is being attacked. Read Gunn’s full quote below.
“Saving the squirrel. Heatedly debated. Some audience members didn’t… ‘Why is he saving a squirrel?’ ‘Cause it’s a cute little adorable squirrel that was about to be crushed by a tail.”
“It wasn’t a small amount of people. There a lot of squirrel haters out there. Who knew?”
What James Gunn’s Superman Squirrel Scene Means
Superman’s Squirrel Girl Encapsulates The Hero’s Core Values
Superman saving a single squirrel may have drawn mixed reactions, but it perfectly encapsulates the Man of Steel’s core values. Unlike other heroes like the Justice Gang, Superman is driven by an unwavering belief that every life matters, no matter how small. This brief moment in James Gunn’s Superman encapsulates how pure-hearted and generous David Corenswet’s hero is in the DCU.
Superman’s squirrel scene also serves as a stark contrast to Lex Luthor’s cold, utilitarian worldview. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is willing to let himself and his own team die crushed by a black hole in Superman‘s cataclysmic ending if it means achieving victory over Superman. Whereas Luthor sees life as expendable, Superman values all life equally, even when it slows him down. The squirrel rescue might seem minor on the surface, but it symbolically reinforces why Superman is the heart of the DCU.
Our Take On James Gunn’s Superman Squirrel Scene
The DCU Will Likely Thrive On Small Details
Small moments like Superman saving a squirrel may become a defining feature of the DCU moving forward, as these types of moments help humanize heroes. If the DCU continues this approach, audiences could see similar moments from other characters. For instance, the DCU’s Batman could help a child victim of crime instead of just stopping the criminal, and Wonder Woman could offer compᴀssion to a defeated enemy rather than treating them as a casualty of war.
Traditionally, superhero movies emphasize spectacle, focusing on large-scale destruction and climactic showdowns. While that’s essential for the genre, the DCU’s inclusion of smaller, personal moments like Superman‘s squirrel scene reflects a refreshing shift toward exploring the full spectrum of what it means to be a hero. These details reinforce the idea that a superhero’s main goal is helping their community and not just fending off powerful threats.
Source: Josh Horowitz
