I can’t get overSupermanalmost cutting one of its best scenes from the movie, despite it being a deeply effective demonstration of who theDCUMan of Steel is. 2025’sSupermanmovie has now been released for just over a week, and the success of the film has become increasingly clear in this time.
During the span of this window alone,Supermanhas garnered itself a $409 million box officeresult (viaThe Numbers), and a 82% Tomatometer and 92% Popcornmeter onRotten Tomatoes. With the final cut of the movie looking so successful right now, it’s interesting to note that one key scene was almost absent from the released version of the film.
Superman’s Squirrel Scene Perfectly Demonstrates What Makes The DC Hero Work In The Span Of Seconds
Superman Is Committed To Saving All, Not Just Humanity
While a blink-and-miss-it kind of moment, the scene inSupermanwherein the titular hero saves a squirrel from certain doom quickly and efficiently encapsulates what makes the hero work. During the fight wherein Superman and the Justice Gang take on a monster Lex Luthor has unleashed on Metropolis, the Man of Steel rescues several innocents, including one smaller critter.
Realizing a squirrel is in the path of destruction, Superman dives to save said squirrel, with the scene getting a suitably dramatic shot as the creature is saved.Though it’s a quick scene, it’s one that reinforces the idea that the hero values all life, and wishes to protect those around him point-blank, rather than solely being humanity’s protector.
Though some have expressed finding the scene over the top, the kind of compassion for all that Superman embodies is on best display here. This is doubly true given the fight sequence also sees Superman explain to his hero colleagues that he’s been trying to work out a non-lethal way to take the monster down, showing care even for his opponent.
Superman’s squirrel save being somewhat over the top is arguably the point. The Man of Steel’s perspective in this sequence is shown to be considered a bit much even by his fellow heroes, with Mr. Terrific rolling his eyes at Superman’s efforts to try and bring the kaiju in safely too - but also seemingly having his trust in Superman as a hero reinforced by this.
Superman’s Squirrel Scene Was Almost Cut From The Final Movie
Gunn Considered Cutting The Superman Scene
James Gunn has revealed that the squirrel scene was almost absentfrom the final cut ofSuperman. Describing the scene as"heatedly debated", Gunn delved into how this part of the film garnered mixed responses from audiences, since some felt that the hero going out of his way to save the small critter was unnecessary. Gunn explained:
“Saving the squirrel. Heatedly debated. Some audience members didn’t… ‘Why is he saving a squirrel?’ ‘Cause it’s a cute little adorable squirrel that was about to be crushed by a tail… It wasn’t a small amount of people. There a lot of squirrel haters out there. Who knew?”
Gunn expanded upon this in an interview withRolling Stone, wherein he explained that they had considered cutting the squirrel scene. However, when it came to seeing the version of the movie that didn’t have this moment in it, Gunn decided the scene needed to stay in the final version ofSuperman:
“There was a cut where I cut it out and I’m like, ‘I really miss the squirrel. He’s gotta save the squirrel.‘In addition, there were also some geographic problems with where he ended up if I didn’t have him fly over with the squirrel. So I put the squirrel back in despite the protestations of some of my people on my crew.”
While it makes sense that the team factored in test audience’s responses to this scene, and tested what a different version of the film could have looked like accordingly, I’m glad the lucky critter got to make it to the final film. Ultimately, it makes sense this was the end decision, too, for a number of reasons.
Superman Arguably Needed The Squirrel Scene To Help Bring The Movie Together
The Squirrel Scene Is A Perfect Way To Show A Lot About The DCU Hero
First and foremost, the decision to keep the squirrel scene makes sense on a practical level. The pacing of the kaiju fight appears carefully put together, with moments like the squirrel scene serving as a way to justify Superman being in specific positioning in the battle, and to give audiences a brief less intense moment before the action unfolds again.
As such, without this scene, it seems like the pacing of the fight could have been detrimentally affected. However, the bigger topic at hand when it comes to cutting this scene is the way in which it would have dampened the film’s ability to buildthe DCU timelineversion of Superman.
While a small scene, the squirrel moment effectively establishes Superman as someone who wants to help others almost no matter the circumstances. It’s thus a moment that helps build up to bigger plot points like Superman giving himself up to try and find Krypto because he thinks it’s the right thing to do.
One of the most endearing ideas about Superman is the idea that he has the power to rule over Earth, and instead chooses to look after as many as he can. This idea is perfectly demonstrated by the squirrel scene, which works ostensibly because Clark goes so far out of his way for a creature others wouldn’t even think about.
It’d be unreasonable to say cutting the squirrel scene would have ruinedSuperman- especially given how many other strong scenes there are in the film. But, as it stands, few other moments could sum up DCU’s Superman in as little time with as much effectiveness as this part of the film, and even fewer could do so mid-action scene.
