Superman Substitutes Ultraman’s Krypto Punch Scene with Controversial Moment

In a surprising turn of events, the upcoming Superman film directed by James Gunn initially featured a scene where Ultraman delivers a punch to Krypto, Superman’s beloved canine companion. This controversial moment was ultimately removed from the final cut after audience reactions during test screenings were overwhelmingly negative.

Fans are eagerly anticipating the premiere of the film, scheduled for July 11, 2025, which marks a new chapter in the DC Universe, characterized by fresh portrayals from actors David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor).However, it appears that Krypto, inspired by Gunn’s own pet dog Ozu, is poised to become a standout character in the storyline.

It’s worth noting that Krypto’s appearances will mainly involve CGI, ensuring no animals were harmed during production. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some audience members who reacted negatively to the original portrayal of Ultraman attacking the Superdog in the early screenings.

Revealing Insights on Krypto’s Cut Scene and its Controversial Replacement

Krypto the dog staring at Superman — Warner Bros.

Although Gunn’s team opted to remove the scene involving Ultraman and Krypto, another scene featuring María Gabriela de Faría’s character, Angela Spica (also known as The Engineer), treated Krypto unkindly, which shocked audience members at an early viewing. Jake Hamilton from Extratv reported, “During the screening, even the most seasoned film journalists reacted audibly, saying things like, ‘Oh, hell no’ when they witnessed Spica’s harsh treatment of Krypto.”

Sara Sampaio, who plays Eve Teschmacher, chimed in on the conversation, revealing that the original scene featuring Ultraman hitting Krypto was removed due to its poor reception.“They cut Ultraman punching Krypto because apparently it did really bad in the test screening, ” she stated.

Faría emphasized, “It’s absolutely unacceptable to punch a dog. I did not harm the dog; it was simply protecting itself. I just ensured it was secure in a little bubble.”

Ultraman.pic.twitter.com/KvdcMYL3XZ

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 24, 2025

Rest assured, the film will not feature any depiction of dogs—real or CGI—being abused. Faría elaborated on the complexity of filming scenes with Krypto, explaining that her interactions often involved a tennis ball serving as a stand-in, which she humorously noted was rather challenging.“I had to emote fear as I reacted to a tennis ball. James kept instructing me, ‘You’re really scared. It’s going to get you!’ It was quite the performance endeavor, ” she shared.

With the anticipation building for its release, watch for Krypto, the dog who promises to be a memorable addition to the Superman legacy.

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