Warning: Spoilers for Superman ahead!
In a movie packed with collapsing buildings, cosmic threats, and heart-to-hearts with Lois Lane, one small furry moment has sparked one of the biggest debates in James Gunn’s Superman: the squirrel save.
Yes, amid the chaos of Metropolis facing destruction, Superman swoops in to save a lone squirrel – a blink-and-you-miss-it moment that some test viewers (and even Gunn’s own crew) questioned.
But the director stood firm. The squirrel stayed.
“I cut it once,” Gunn admitted in an interview with Rolling Stone. “And I missed it. Not just emotionally – geographically, it made sense to keep it. But more than that, it felt like Superman.”
To Gunn, Superman’s choice to save every life – human or not – speaks volumes. It’s not about screen time. It’s about message. Saving the squirrel says: life matters, no matter how small.
This tiny creature became a symbol of Superman’s all-encompassing compassion. The same hands that wrestle kaiju and carry skyscrapers also gently cradle a squirrel from harm’s way. Gunn’s critics argued it was unnecessary or distracting. But others saw the genius: it’s not a pause in action – it’s a quick, character-defining gesture that takes a nanosecond for Superman, yet echoes through the film’s core theme.
It’s a cinematic “show, don’t tell” – one that resonated with audiences who understand the hero beyond punches and capes.
Whether you found it powerful, hilarious, or oddly heartwarming, one thing’s clear: this squirrel wasn’t just saved by Superman – it was rescued by James Gunn himself.