James Gunn, the director of the highly anticipated upcoming Superman reboot, is banking on nostalgia to help his “man of steel” fly, restoring the iconic Superman March to the film and introducing audiences to the super-dog Krypto.
The new trailer for the film marks the big screen debut of Superman’s four-legged super-pooch, and if social media reaction is any indicator, Krypto looks certain to steal the show when the film is released next July.
Krypto, the super-dog, rescues Superman.Credit: Warner Bros
In the trailer, Superman, played by David Corenswet, is seen injured on a snow drift, and is rescued by Krypto, who arrives on the scene faster than a speeding bullet.
Krypto was first introduced in the comic books as a companion to Superboy – the teenaged version of Superman – in 1955. The Kryptonian pooch has also been seen over the years in the television series Smallville, Titans and most recently Superman & Lois.
In a pre-release press conference, Gunn said the trailer’s glimpse of Krypto is “a sort of simple version of [the relationship between Superman and] Krypto, and in the movie you will realise his relationship with Krypto is much more complicated”. In other interviews Gunn has described Krypto as a “not-so-good good boy”.
Of the decision to restore the iconic John Williams music suite to the film, Gunn said he instructed British composer John Murphy to “turn it into [something] that will represent this film and this story”.
The suite was originally composed by Williams for the 1980s movies starring Christopher Reeve and became one of the most celebrated soundtrack compositions of all time.
“There’s a very powerful thing about it,” Gunn said. “There’s also a slight melancholy thing about it, and I think those are both parts of this very emotional and touching story that we’re telling through the movie.”
