Matthew Eberle, the visual effects lead on James Gunn’s Superman, revealed that the film almost began with a disturbing scene involving David Corenswet’s Clark Kent and Superman’s dog, Krypto. This opening showed a pile of dead abominable snowmen, a darker moment that was ultimately removed from the final cut of the movie.
Eberle posted on social media, explaining,
“Originally… when Krypto is dragging Superman, they pass by several dead abominable snowmen… Superman says ‘Krypto, you have to stop killing abominable snowmen’… Hit the cutting room floor. I was there,”
—Matthew Eberle, VFX Artist
Cutting Room Mysteries Explored Through Promotional Clues
This revelation clarifies confusion regarding early promotional materials released before Superman’s premiere. A toy figure hinting at a creature in the Fortress of Solitude, with white fur and sharp teeth, previously sparked speculation. Now, it appears that the creature was meant to be the abominable snowman from the deleted scene, providing insight into the filmmakers’ original vision.
Additional Excluded Scenes Featuring Krypto and Other Characters
Krypto’s role in the movie faced several cuts beyond the violent opening. Actress Sara Sampaio, who plays Eve Teschmacher, mentioned to Jake Hamilton that a scene where Ultraman strikes Krypto performed poorly during testing and was removed in editing. María Gabriela de Faría, portraying Angela Spica, defended her character’s actions after controversy over another discarded scene involving Krypto.
She stated,
“It’s not okay. You can’t punch a dog.”
and clarified,
“No, I did not punch the dog. The dog attacked me first.”
—María Gabriela de Faría, Actress
Besides these, a deleted interaction between Krypto and Michael Holt (played by Edi Gathegi) never made it to theaters, further reducing the dog’s screen presence in the final version.
Impact of Removing Darker Elements from James Gunn’s Superman
The removal of these intense scenes reflects the filmmakers‘ decisions to tone down the movie’s darkest moments, possibly to balance the film’s tone or respond to test audience reactions. While Superman’s theatrical release screens now, these omitted sequences highlight an edgier vision that might have transformed the film’s opening and character dynamics significantly.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does James Gunn believe in God?
A. Gunn grew up in a family that practiced Catholicism and has shared that prayer is still significant to him. However, he also described himself as “somewhat anti-religion.”
Q. Is James Gunn no longer with Marvel?
A. After being removed from the Guardians of the Galaxy series in 2018, the director thought his career might end. Fortunately, in 2022, he and Peter Safran were chosen to lead DC Studios, allowing him to start a new superhero project.
Q. What is James Gunn’s religion?
A. Ozu was the model for the new CGI version of Krypto the Superdog in Gunn’s 2025 Superman film remake. Gunn grew up in a Catholic home and still values prayer in his life. However, he’s also expressed some opposition to organized religion.
