Behind the Squirrel Scene That James Gunn, ‘Superman’ Director, Says Almost Got Cut

“You’ll believe a man could fly.” That was the tagline for the 1978 “Superman” movie, made when superhero films were so rare that simply watching someone soar through the sky felt magical.

Today, though, comic-book movies are commonplace, with flight and other superpowers handed out so liberally that even Annette Bening has blasted energy beams from her hands. (That happened in 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” What, you don’t remember?)

James Gunn’s new take on “Superman,” in theaters now, has its fair share of flight scenes and they’re all convincingly done. But the movie’s mission statement has more to do with a pure spirit than a special effect: In the middle of one frenetic action sequence, after noticing a tiny squirrel is in danger of being crushed by debris, Superman leaps into action to rush the animal out of harm’s way.

Sure, you’ll believe a man could fly. But would you believe that man would go to the trouble of saving a squirrel?

“The squirrel moment is probably one of the most debated,” Gunn told me recently. In early test screenings, some audiences were confused about why Superman (David Corenswet) would prioritize a tiny critter when all of Metropolis was in jeopardy. But to Gunn, that was exactly the point: His cleareyed, upbeat incarnation of Superman prizes saving every life, human or not.

“A lot of people were anti-squirrel. They thought it was too much,” he said. “And I think it really comes down to, do you like squirrels or not?”