James Gunn’s Dog Loves Watching Himself in ‘Superman’

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It’s a topic up for discussion whether dogs truly understand and appreciate watching television. Some dogs completely ignore a TV playing in the background; others may fix their gaze on the screen or even chase after virtual animals that appear on-screen. As for my dog, she hasn’t shown any interest in the television; however, if she hears a fellow canine barking on a show, it surely catches her attention.

I’ve never witnessed a dog barking at himself in a movie until now – and this time it’s Ozu, the beloved pet of DC Studios co-CEO and Superman director James Gunn, who is the one on screen. While it’s common knowledge that the new Krypto in Gunn’s Superman is inspired by Ozu, a recent video posted by Gunn himself offers a unique glimpse into Ozu’s reaction towards his superheroic counterpart.

In this Instagram video, Gunn laughs as his dog, Ozu, barks at the screen. Interestingly, the character Krypto in the video was modeled based on Ozu’s physical appearance. They 3D scanned Ozu and created Krypto from him. Additionally, whenever Ozu sees himself onscreen, he becomes very agitated and seems to want to destroy himself.

You can watch the full video below…

Of course, it makes perfect sense that a super canine would identify himself in a movie. After all, he possesses enhanced Kryptonian-like abilities!

It appears that Krypto is generating a similar powerful response from viewers. So far, DC and Warner Bros. have given him significant attention in Superman’s trailers and promotional materials, indicating he’s a leading figure. This fellow certainly seems like a star – I bet he could command high prices for autographs at Comic-Con this summer!

Gunn’s Superman premieres in theaters on July 11.

Actors Who Turned Down DC Roles

1. Warren Beatty, Superman

Prior to selecting Christopher Reeve for the title role in the 1978 movie “Superman,” producers considered several well-known actors including Warren Beatty, a major star in Hollywood at the time. Initially offered the part, Beatty declined, stating that he felt it wasn’t suitable to turn a comic strip into a film. As he contemplated taking the job, Beatty even tried on some underwear to visualize himself in a Superman costume. The image was so amusing, he recalled, that he instantly contacted the producers to say “Forget it!” Eventually, Beatty changed his mind about comic book adaptations; he starred in and directed the 1990 film “Dick Tracy,” but it’s worth mentioning that his character did not wear Spandex.

2. James Caan, Superman

In the 1970s, another prominent actor who could have portrayed Superman was James Caan, who was basking in the success of movies like The Godfather and Rollerball. Interestingly, Mario Puzo, the author of The Godfather, was a collaborator on the Superman screenplay. However, this connection didn’t convince Caan to accept the role. Later, he expressed that the script he read was too humorous or light-hearted for his taste.

3. Pierce Brosnan, Batman

Prior to assuming the role of James Bond, Pierce Brosnan nearly embodied another renowned character – Batman. In a Reddit AMA some time ago, he shared that he had discussions with Tim Burton about the part, but ultimately passed due to finding it hard to maintain a serious demeanor as any man wearing his undergarments outside his trousers would be difficult to take seriously. Brosnan now acknowledges his initial views on superheroes were misguided – and today, he’s set to portray DC’s Doctor Fate in Black Adam (it remains uncertain whether Doctor Fate will don undergarments outside his pants).

4. Madonna, Catwoman

During the early 1990s, when Tim Burton was preparing to cast Batman Returns, Madonna’s acting career was at its height. He proposed that she play his Catwoman, a role and performer pairing that seems almost too ideal. However, Madonna declined. Years later, she expressed regret about turning down the opportunity to play Catwoman, admitting it would have been quite intense. It was Michelle Pfeiffer who eventually took on the role, and she certainly lived up to her reputation for being fierce.

5. Leonardo DiCaprio, Robin

Pondering over how Leonardo DiCaprio’s illustrious career might have unfolded differently had he accepted the role of Robin in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever is an intriguing thought. Yet, we can only guess as to whether he would have embarked on the Titanic journey if he’d played the caped crusader’s sidekick. The truth is, Schumacher was keen on DiCaprio for the role and even held discussions with him about it. In a later interview, DiCaprio shared that he attended the meeting but wasn’t interested in playing Robin. When asked if he felt fortunate to have declined the part, DiCaprio simply chuckled.

6. Jude Law, Superman

A new quest to find an actor for Superman started before the release of “Superman Returns” in 2006. Actors that Warner Bros. considered included Jude Law, who was then enjoying a successful streak with critically praised films like “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” “Cold Mountain,” and “Closer.” The production team contacted Law, but he declined, telling Stephen Colbert he didn’t want to take on the role. However, he did try on the Superman suit. According to Law, as soon as he looked in the mirror, he felt like Superman. But then he imagined himself in the costume on posters worldwide and changed his mind. In the end, Brandon Routh took over the lead role from Christopher Reeve.

7. Josh Hartnett, Superman AND Batman

In the early 2000s, Josh Hartnett, a rising star in Hollywood, had the chance to play Superman in Routh’s “Superman Returns.” The role came with a reported $100 million three-movie deal, which he declined. Interestingly, Hartnett also turned down the opportunity to portray both members of the World’s Finest team, as he was considered for the young Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins.” Regretting his decision later, Hartnett admitted to Playboy that he made mistakes by turning down some offers due to fatigue and a desire to spend more time with loved ones, which is not typically appreciated in the industry.

8. Paul Walker, Superman

Due to his popularity from “The Fast and the Furious,” Paul Walker was a highly sought-after young actor when casting started for “Superman Returns.” He even had the chance to play the new Superman, but after consulting with Richard Donner, who directed Christopher Reeve’s “Superman” and worked with Walker on “Timeline,” Walker decided against it. In a conversation with ComingSoon.net, Walker said he asked Donner if he thought he needed or should take the role. Donner advised him not to do it just for the money, but only if he truly wanted to. Fearing that he might be remembered solely as Superman, Walker took Donner’s advice and declined the role in “Superman Returns.

9. Will Smith, Superman

In the same vein as Paul Walker, Will Smith declined an opportunity to portray Superman, concerned about potential repercussions for his career. He explained to MTV in 2008 that he was offered the role in ‘Superman Returns’, but found the script unappealing due to his previous role as Jim West from ‘Wild Wild West’. Smith stated, “I am not going to play Superman! Because I had already done Jim West, and you can’t be messing up white people’s heroes in Hollywood!” Eventually, Smith did take on a DC character by starring as Deadshot in David Ayer’s ‘Suicide Squad’, providing a somewhat satisfying resolution… though not without its complications.

10. Heath Ledger, Batman

Initially, Christopher Nolan had planned for Heath Ledger to play Batman in ‘Batman Begins’, offering him the role as a young Bruce Wayne. However, Ledger declined, stating that he wouldn’t be a part of any superhero film. Later, after appreciating the unique approach in ‘Batman Begins’ and finding it distinct from the more light-hearted DC movies, Ledger agreed to portray the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’, which he did to great acclaim.

11. Matt Damon, Harvey Dent

In an alternate scenario, Heath Ledger could have portrayed Batman instead of the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” and he might have fought Matt Damon as Two-Face rather than Aaron Eckhart. Damon revealed to MTV that it wasn’t a matter of disinterest but rather a scheduling conflict that kept him from starring in the movie or even discussing it with Christopher Nolan. Despite being unable to be part of the production, Damon commended Eckhart’s performance and acknowledged that the film didn’t suffer without him. This is one of those Hollywood “what-ifs” that Uatu the Watcher might find intriguing.

12. Keanu Reeves, Dr. Manhattan

Before Zack Snyder presented him with the role of Doctor Manhattan in his film adaptation of ‘Watchmen’, Keanu Reeves had already agreed to a part in DC – starring as the title character in ‘Constantine’ (2005). However, the opportunity for Reeves to play Doctor Manhattan didn’t materialize as planned. Instead, Billy Crudup took on the role. Recently, Reeves has expressed interest in revisiting DC, particularly a potential sequel to ‘Constantine’, should Warner Bros. be open to the idea.

13. Jon Hamm, Green Lantern

In the realm of acting, there’s no actor who embodies the character Hal Jordan from Green Lantern comics quite like Jon Hamm, star of Mad Men. Consequently, it’s not unexpected that Warner Bros. pursued Hamm for the role. However, Hamm declined the offer. In a subsequent interview, he explained, “They went after me aggressively, but I just wasn’t keen on it.” Hamm confessed he isn’t particularly fond of superhero movies, stating, “I don’t enjoy going to see those types of films.” Interestingly, Hamm seems to have no qualms about them in a television context, as evidenced by his voice acting in numerous comic-book shows. Notably, he has lent his voice to Invincible and M.O.D.O.K., and even played Tony Stark in multiple episodes of the latter.

14. Jake Gyllenhaal, Rick Flag

Among several actors who were considered for the role of super-soldier Rick Flag in the movie “Suicide Squad”, Jake Gyllenhaal was one of them. His rejection for the part even made headlines in Variety magazine. Prior to Gyllenhaal’s offer, Tom Hardy had been considered for the part. Eventually, Joel Kinnaman landed the role and played Rick Flag in the original film. He also returned for the 2021 sequel. However, instead of playing Rick Flag in the DC Universe, Gyllenhaal joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe and appeared as Mysterio in “Spider-Man: Far From Home”.

15. Charlize Theron, Wonder Woman

In a turn of events that Charlize Theron found less than ideal, Warner Bros. didn’t ask her to be Wonder Woman but instead approached her to play Wonder Woman’s mother. This was surprising to her, as she had assumed they were considering her for the lead role. She shared this experience on an episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” stating it as an example of ageism in Hollywood. At the time, Theron was 40 years old, which is ten years older than Gal Gadot and ten years younger than Connie Nielsen, who eventually portrayed Queen Hippolyta in the 2017 film.

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2025-05-05 20:25