Supergirl Is Using the Best Part of Superman To Turn It Into the DCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy Replacement

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Like many films by James Gunn, the best part of Superman is its memorable characters. Almost everyone in the movie – from David Corenswet as Superman to the members of the Justice Gang and even Lex Luthor’s girlfriend, Eve Teschmacher – makes a strong impression. But Krypto, Superman’s adorable but mischievous dog, was a clear standout. Audiences quickly fell in love with him, despite the trouble he caused. The film later reveals that Krypto actually belongs to Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, which explains why the super-powered dog is so rambunctious.

Krypto the Superdog will be back in the upcoming Supergirl movie, and this time he’ll have a much larger role. The new trailer shows that the story revolves around Krypto being poisoned, forcing Kara to find an antidote and save everyone. This creates a powerful emotional core for the film, and positions Supergirl as a DC Universe story with a similar feel to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Krypto and Kara’s Dynamic Is the Heart of Supergirl

Superman and Supergirl have very different origins, which greatly impacts who they are. Superman, raised as Clark Kent by supportive parents on Earth, has a hopeful outlook. Supergirl, however, witnessed the destruction of her home planet, leaving her more cynical and world-weary. She copes with this trauma by traveling the galaxy and enjoying herself. The only consistent source of comfort in her life is her dog, Krypto. As she tells him, “Home is wherever you are,” highlighting the emotional heart of the story. Ultimately, this is a story focused on the bond between Kara and Krypto.

Kara’s connection with Krypto is what makes her character appealing to viewers. Without it, she could easily come across as simply irritating – just a cynical person who dismisses Superman’s heroism for no clear reason. However, her past trauma, combined with her deep affection for her dog, makes her understandable and sympathetic. This allows the audience to connect with her unique outlook and the reasons behind her behavior. It’s easy to imagine feeling the same way if we experienced what she has.

The upcoming Supergirl movie won’t just focus on Kara’s fight to rescue Krypto now; it will also show flashbacks of how they first met and became close when Krypto was a puppy. This approach is similar to what Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 did with Rocket, switching between his difficult past and the present-day efforts to save him. Guardians 3 successfully used this technique to create a very emotional and impactful film, leveraging the audience’s affection for Rocket and the team to deepen their connection to the story.

Expect a different feel to the flashbacks in Supergirl. While past flashbacks, like those in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, built tension knowing a tragedy was coming, the Supergirl flashbacks of Kara and Krypto will likely be more heartwarming and nostalgic, showing their happy life before Krypton was destroyed. This approach aims to deepen our connection to the characters and their history, potentially making us even more fond of Krypto than we were after seeing his story in Superman.

Krypto Enhances Supergirl‘s Guardians of the Galaxy Comparisons

Even before the newest trailer for the Supergirl movie came out, people were already comparing it to Guardians of the Galaxy. The promotional materials, with their upbeat pop music, suggested a space adventure starring a somewhat rebellious hero who wasn’t focused on saving the world – at least not initially. Many comic book fans noticed the film’s style, despite being directed by Craig Gillespie, felt very similar to the work of James Gunn. It seemed DC had finally created a movie like Guardians of the Galaxy after several attempts, including Suicide Squad.

The Guardians of the Galaxy films did well, so copying their style isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, some people feel the new Supergirl movie is trying too much to imitate those films, and that’s become a concern during the marketing process. While these comparisons were probably expected – Supergirl is inspired by the Woman of Tomorrow comic, which features a flawed and cynical Kara – it’s still a challenge the movie needs to overcome, and the introduction of Krypto the Superdog is a key part of how it will do that.

By including the Krypto storyline – a departure from the original comics – the new Supergirl movie goes beyond simply resembling Guardians of the Galaxy. The film aims to capture what made Guardians so successful: it’s not just about the music or space setting. Those movies connected with viewers because they told emotionally resonant stories with relatable themes. Supergirl is built around the relationship between Kara and Krypto, and this is key to its potential as DC’s next big space adventure. The exciting locations and action won’t matter as much if that emotional connection isn’t there. Instead of being a copycat, the Krypto plot actually improves Supergirl, making it one of the most promising summer releases.

It seems like Supergirl is really benefiting from James Gunn’s involvement. Often, when a movie unexpectedly becomes a huge hit – like the first Guardians of the Galaxy – studios try to copy its success but miss what truly made it work. Gunn, having written and directed all three Guardians films, understands exactly what made those movies special. He knows that simply having funny, sarcastic heroes or wild, space-based adventures isn’t enough. And from what we’ve seen, Supergirl appears to be hitting all the right notes.

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2026-04-02 22:41