James Gunn’s “Superman” has carried out effectively theatrically. It is a film that has resonated each with critics weary of superhero film slop and likewise with audiences who have been hesitant to consider in yet one more try at bringing the Man of Metal to the massive display.
In true Gunn vogue, that is an earnest, honest, and foolish superhero film that totally embraces its comedian ebook roots moderately than try to cover them behind a depressing and uber-serious tone. Certainly, “Superman” options kaiju fights, a Inexperienced Lantern with a ridiculous haircut, Lex Luthor yelling online game struggle combos, literal monkeys engaged on keyboards as web trolls, and likewise Krypto the Superdog being concurrently the cutest and likewise worst canine on the planet.
After all, the success of Krypto was moderately fast and noticeable, with the film inspiring a rise in canine adoptions within the U.S., and resulting in us speculating whether or not James Gunn’s newly introduced follow-up to “Superman” would possibly simply be a Krypto film. Even when he does not get his personal function movie (although do not forget about that current animated “DC League of Tremendous-Pets” film), Krypto did simply get his personal sequence of quick animated movies.
That is proper, Krypto is the star of his personal present! Warner Bros. simply launched the primary episode of an animated shorts sequence titled “Krypto Saves the Day” on HBO Max, with extra episodes dropping all year long and into 2026. The shorts are 2D animated, with the primary episode following Krypto inflicting all types of chaos by means of Metropolis earlier than saving a faculty bus full of youngsters. It is cute, humorous, and it additionally rescues an deserted thought from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
James Gunn is trying to construct a cinematic universe with out homework
Again within the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel launched a number of quick movies titled One Pictures that have been included as particular options on some Blu-ray and residential video releases of its motion pictures. These have been meant to be self-contained tales that answered some small unanswered questions or just frolicked with aspect characters individuals preferred. There have been a pair that informed tales about Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) going about his each day life as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., one a few random couple who discover a discarded Chitauri gun within the aftermath of “The Avengers,” and likewise the foolish “Workforce Thor” mockumentary quick movies about Thor transferring to Australia and residing with a roommate within the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil Warfare.”
Although these have been largely foolish and pointless, the shorts might additionally have an effect or fill within the gaps of the flicks. “All Hail the King” adopted up “Iron Man 3” and targeted on Ben Kingsley’s character from that film, proven to be an actor employed to pose as The Mandarin. (The corporate initially had very totally different plans for that character.) There was additionally “Agent Carter,” which straight led to Hayley Atwell starring in her personal TV sequence of the identical identify because the titular Peggy Carter.
The “Krypto” shorts appear to be in the identical vein as Marvel’s One Pictures. They’re foolish, cute shorts that increase the world of the film and the cinematic universe, whereas nonetheless remaining their very own separate factor. It lets individuals spend extra time with characters they like with out forcing them to do homework to grasp what is going to occur subsequent within the cinematic universe. And after the credit scenes in “Superman” did not current any world-changing teases for what’s to return, we’re glad DC is embracing this system and taking the “no homework required” strategy thus far. Let’s examine how lengthy they stick with it.
