Jennifer Holland, Mom to the Rescue Dog Who Inspired “Supergirl”'s Krypto, Shares How Fame Has Changed the Pup (Exclusive)
Jennifer Holland, Mom to the Rescue Dog Who Inspired “Supergirl”'s Krypto, Shares How Fame Has Changed the Pup (Exclusive)
Kelli BenderFri, June 26, 2026 at 3:45 PM UTC
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Jennifer Holland and Krypto on the poster for "Supergirl"Credit: David Jon/Getty; Warner Bros.
Jennifer Holland is the proud pet parent to a super canine acting sensation.The actress, 38, and her husband, director James Gunn, are the owners of Ozu, the real-life rescue dog that inspired the Krypto character in Gunn's Supermanand Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, in theaters June 26."When I first adopted Ozu, I was starting to write the Superman script. Ozu was such a terrible, uncontrollable dog — tearing up our entire house — I thought, 'What if he had superpowers? We'd be screwed.' And thus, the filmic Krypto was born," Gunn told PEOPLE in June 2025, adding that Superman captured footage of Ozu's body and "used it as the model for Krypto, just changing the color of his fur. We also used the hundreds of video references for the way Ozu played."
Holland, who has joined Milk-Bone in promoting Supergirl, says that since Superman's premiere in 2025, Ozu's fame has skyrocketed, and the dog appears to have taken notice.
"It's getting to his head a little bit. My older dog gets treats for going outside, going potty, and then coming back in. He thinks he gets treats for any reason at all," she tells PEOPLE. "He thinks he's pretty special, and I guess he is."Even though Krypto has a few more superpowers than Ozu, Holland recognizes her dog in the onscreen character, especially in the ears.
"He has one ear. It's just one ear that sticks straight up," the Peacemaker star says of the Ozu trait that carried over to Krypto.
"Ozu's ear is kind of like an emotional meter. He can't stop it from sticking up when he's interested, intrigued, or excited. It's just like he can't hide his emotions because his ear betrays him. So, that's probably the thing I notice the most," she adds.Holland hopes Supergirl viewers appreciate Ozu's contribution to Krypto and the film, as well as the quality of the movie itself.
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"I'm really excited about the character of Kara, of Supergirl. I think she's a really dynamic, interesting take on a superhero," Holland says of Kara Zor-El a.k.a. Supergirl, played by Milly Alcock in the new film. "She's not perfect. Her moral compass is more complicated than, say, Superman's."
She notes that dog lovers will find a lot to like, as Supergirl and Krypto's relationship is "the emotional center of the film in many ways."
Ozu is eagerly awaiting the release of Supergirl at home with Holland and Gunn's other dog, Lola, a 16-year-old puggle, who is Ozu's best friend."They get along like gangbusters. When Ozu first came into the family, he did not like humans. He did not understand humans. He didn't have a relationship with humans. And so he instantly imprinted on Lola," Holland explains.
Today, Ozu understands the joy humans bring, especially when they have treats. Holland shares that the pooch will do almost anything for a Milk-Bone treat. The actress has used the dog's food-motivated attitude to help with his recall skills.
"We always give them a treat, a Milk-Bone treat, when they get back into the house. I decided at one point that if they get rewarded any time they come back to the house, then, if for some reason they ever get out, they'll be really excited to find their way back," Holland says.Supergirl is in theaters on June 26. DC Studios and Warner Bros. will follow up the film with the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, in theaters July 9, 2027.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
