James Gunn’s DCU will have Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Authority, and Swamp Thing, and another name joining the roster is Krypto, the Superdog. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Curt Swan, Krytpo first appeared in Adventure Comics #210 in March 1955 in a Superboy story. Ever since the character’s introduction, he has been a fan-favorite Superman supporting character. He even led his own animated series, Krypto the Superdog. The character was recently voiced by Dwayne Johnson in DC’s League of Super-Pets.

Krypto will now make the leap to live-action, as legendary comic writer Mark Waid has seemingly confirmed. Speaking on an episode of the Capes and Lunatics Podcast, via Collider, Wade talked about what he admires about director James Gunn and his approach to the DC Universe and seemingly revealed Krypto’s involvement in Superman. While the film is already confirmed to feature many DC characters, including Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Guy Gardner, this is the first reference to Krypto appearing in the film.

“I like Gunn’s reverential approach by and large to this kind of stuff, and you know reverential without taking it too seriously. I mean, the movie has a dog in it, a superpowered dog with heat vision.”

James Gunn’s Documented Love of Krypto

Mark Waid is one of the most influential comic book writers and has a long history with the Superman franchise. He famously wrote the 1996 comic Kingdom Come with art by Alex Ross. James Gunn’s Superman S-crest is modeled after the signature Kingdom Come design. Waid also wrote Superman: Birthright, a twelve-issue series that reimagined Superman’s origin for the 21st century. Waid was one of many comic book writers and artists who visited the set of Superman back in May 2024, so he likely has seen concept art for Krypto in Superman.

Many fans assumed Krytpo would appear in Gunn’s DCU, given that the character plays a big role in Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is being adapted as a DCU film and set for release in June 2026. The canine superhero’s inclusion in Superman is a nice reference to his history as Superman’s pet and could lay the groundwork for future appearances. Gunn is a fan of Krypto and almost directed a solo Krypto movie. When DC gave him the option to adapt any DC property for a film back in 2018, before he settled on The Suicide Squad, he considered focusing on Krypto.