James Gunn reveals Superman’s most controversial scene was about a squirrel

Of all the things to stir up controversy in James Gunn’s Superman, no one expected it to be… a squirrel. Yep, a two-second scene where Clark Kent pauses mid-battle to rescue a helpless squirrel sparked some of the loudest debates in early test screenings.

But for Gunn, that wasn’t just a quirky throwaway moment—it was the heart of his Superman. A gentle, almost poetic reminder that this hero doesn’t measure lives by size or spectacle. In a world of collapsing cities and cosmic threats, he still kneels for the smallest creature. And that’s exactly the kind of Superman Gunn wants us to believe in.

Speaking to Josh Horowitz, the director opened up on how the scene saw mixed reactions from fans as he said,

"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?"

Why the squirrel scene is an important moment in Superman

In a movie packed with kaiju battles and existential threats, the moment people can’t stop talking about is Superman saving a squirrel. That blink‑and‑you’ll‑miss‑it beat of a scene sparked heated debate during test screenings, with some viewers asking, "Why is he saving a squirrel?" Yet that’s exactly why it belongs in the film. It distills Superman’s core: immense power, boundless care.

Gunn’s love of animals as emotional anchors runs deep. Think Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Sebastian the rat in The Suicide Squad, or Krypto in Superman. In each case, animals aren’t fluff—they’re shorthand for empathy, trauma, and hope. The squirrel embodies that emotional truth in miniature: even tiny lives are sacred.

David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman echoes this. This Clark Kent feels vulnerable, warm, driven by profound kindness. He hesitates mid‑battle not out of weakness, but conscience, even when the stakes are cosmic. That thin sliver of beautiful humanity sets him apart from the calculating Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, who treats people like pawns.

In another interview with The Rolling Stone, Gunn opened up on the scene's significance and how it almost didn't make the cut as he said,

"It was probably the second- or third-most hotly debated moment in the movie. Because we showed it to test audiences and some people did not like the squirrel. They’re like, “Why the f*ck is he saving a squirrel? Why is he taking time out, saving a squirrel?” There was a cut where I cut it out and I’m like, “I really miss the squirrel. He’s gotta save the squirrel.” So I put the squirrel back in despite the protestations of some of my people on my crew."

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More than symbolism, it’s tone‑setting. The Superman DCU Gunn is building is about goodness as much as grandiosity. If heroes like Batman or Wonder Woman get their own quiet, meaningful moments, the franchise could redefine blockbuster heroism: emotional depth beneath the spectacle.

So yeah, Superman still punches aliens into orbit. But first he picks up a squirrel. And that? That’s the soul of his heroism.