While Warner Bros. Discovery celebrates the success of DC Studios’ Superman, the true winners from this past weekend’s blockbuster may have more in common with Krypto.
The Superdog who stole the movie has inspired an uptick in pet adoption interest. According to dog-training app Woofz, “Google searches for ‘adopt a dog near me’ jumped up 513%” in the days after the James Gunn-directed film’s opening weekend, while “‘rescue dog adoption near me’ hit 163% in increase.” And it makes sense, as Gunn has shared that his rescue dog, Ozu, inspired Krypto the Superdog. Their shared genetic makeup of a shnauzer and terrier mix impacted the searches too, with “adopt a schnauzer” seeing an increase of 299%.
In the movie, Superman (David Corenswet) refers to Krypto as a “foster situation,” the meaning of which comes to light in the film’s last act after the duo save each other from certain doom. It speaks to the heart of the film, centering love for all living beings and just how amazing Krypto is at embodying that when he comes to the rescue. Shelter pet parents know that, as the saying goes, “Who rescued who?” is such an understatement.
In a statement to the Wrap, Woofz’ CEO Natalia Shahmetova said, “Adoption is a real commitment. The hype will fade, but your dog will stay, so make sure you’re ready to give them the time, care, and training they need and deserve.”
In response to the news James Gunn shared on Instagram, “This film has been a barrage of blessings for me: this one may be the greatest. Ozu has no idea any of this is happening but, if he did, he’d be proud.”
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
English (US) ·