Jennifer Holland reveals how her and James Gunn’s dog helped shape Krypto.
Jennifer Holland is already a familiar face in the DCU as Emilia Harcourt, but her connection to DC Studios now goes beyond her fan-favorite character. Her and James Gunn‘s real-life dog, Ozu, helped inspire Krypto, the super-powered dog who plays a major role in Supergirl.
Ahead of the film’s release, Holland spoke with Nerdtropolis about Ozu becoming part of DC history, why Krypto is so important to Supergirl’s story, the emotional power of animal characters, the visual effects used to bring Krypto to life, working with John Cena on Peacemaker, and when fans might see Harcourt again.
For DC fans, this is more than a cute behind-the-scenes story. Holland says Krypto is at the heart of Supergirl, and his bond with Kara is one of the biggest emotional reasons to see the movie.
Jennifer Holland Says Ozu Becoming Krypto Has Been “Incredible”
In Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, played by Milly Alcock, takes on an epic interstellar journey to save the life of her best friend, Krypto. The film also features DC characters, including Superman and intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo.
For Holland, seeing Ozu’s personality and look become part of the DCU has been emotional.
“It’s been incredible,” Holland told Nerdtropolis. “I mean, to get to see this scruffy adopted creature that we got, who didn’t know humans and was afraid of everything except for our other dog, Lola, who he was attached to at the hip. It’s just so amazing to see him become this larger-than-life superdog in the DC Universe.”
Holland explained that Ozu’s inspiration can be seen across the new DCU, including Superman and Supergirl.
“Getting to see him in Superman and now such an important part of the story of Supergirl, which is really at the heart of the story, it’s the relationship between Supergirl Kara and her dog Krypto, who is her compass, is her sort of center in her life,” Holland said.
That detail alone gives Supergirl a powerful emotional hook. Krypto is not being treated as a simple sidekick. According to Holland, he is one of the key reasons Kara’s journey works.
“It’s pretty incredible to see him be the inspiration for something that’s become the heart of a lot of people’s experience watching these films,” Holland added.
Why Krypto Is The Emotional Heart Of Supergirl
Superhero movies are usually built around massive action, world-ending threats, and characters with larger-than-life abilities. But Holland believes animal characters reach audiences in a different way because the connection feels instantly personal.
“I think that so many humans — I mean, I think historically humans are attached to dogs specifically because dogs helped us survive as a human race,” Holland said.
She also pointed to the personal relationships people have with animals throughout their lives.
“Most people have some sort of great relationship at some point in their life with an animal that maybe changed their life in some way or helped them through an emotional time or something,” Holland said. “Your connection to animals can be so meaningful.”
That is one of the biggest reasons Krypto may connect with audiences. Even in a cosmic DC story, the relationship between Kara and Krypto gives viewers something familiar, warm, and deeply human.
“I think that that is just an easy way in for anyone in watching a story,” Holland said. “It’s very relatable to see the relationship between humans and their animals, or the characters and their animals, and understand the depth of that connection.”
The Ozu Trait Jennifer Holland Loves Seeing In Krypto
One of the most specific Ozu details that made its way into Krypto is his ear.
Holland said it is one of her favorite pieces of Ozu that fans will be able to see reflected in the superdog.
“I love all of the personality traits that have come from Ozu and were transferred to Krypto,” Holland said. “The number one being the ear. This is not a personality trait, it’s literally a physical trait, but the ear.”
Holland compared the ear to an emotional signal.
“Ozu cannot — it’s almost like Pinocchio’s nose, right?” Holland said. “He can’t help it; it just goes up when he’s feeling certain things. It’s like an emotional meter, and it’s so cute.”
Beyond the physical details, Holland said Ozu’s personality also shines through Krypto.
“He’s got such a naughty streak in him,” Holland said. “He’s a little rebellious boy. So he’s also so incredibly loving and sweet. And so he has all of the same characteristics that Krypto has.”
For Holland, Krypto is not just loosely based on Ozu. He feels like a real reflection of him.
“Krypto is really this mirror of him,” Holland said. “And it’s just amazing to see that on the screen. I love it.”
Jennifer Holland Praises The CGI Artists Behind Krypto
Although Krypto feels lifelike on screen, Holland said the character is not a real dog. He was created through visual effects, with Ozu used as a motion reference.
“It really does feel so real,” Holland said. “They did such a great job.”
Holland praised the visual effects artists for translating Ozu’s movements and emotions into a fully CGI character.
“I think that the CGI artists really just — it’s one of, in my opinion, one of the best sort of translations of something onto the screen,” Holland said. “You really can’t tell a lot of the time that it’s not a real dog.”
She also said the work is so convincing that some people may not realize how much artistry went into creating Krypto.
“I think, which is almost a disservice to them in some way because they’re not getting the credit they deserve because it’s not a real dog,” Holland said.
According to Holland, the team used Ozu to capture real emotion and movement.
“They’re just using Ozu, our dog, as a motion reference a lot of the time and to get certain pieces of emotion and what it really looks like,” Holland said. “But they’ve done such a good job in translating that into a totally CGI character. It’s pretty amazing to see.”
Jennifer Holland On Harcourt’s Role In The DCU
While Holland’s connection to Krypto is a major part of the Supergirl conversation, DC fans also know her as Emilia Harcourt.
Harcourt has appeared across multiple DC projects and has become one of the connective characters in the universe. When I described her as a Nick Fury-like presence in the DCU, Holland appreciated the comparison.
“Well, thank you. I’m glad that you see my character in that way,” Holland said. “That’s really nice. I’m just so happy to be a part of it.”
Holland said playing Harcourt is always something she enjoys.
“I love the character of Harcourt,” Holland said. “Any opportunity to play her ever in anything is a joy.”
She also said she wants to do right by longtime DC fans.
“I’m always just hoping that I’m doing the character justice for all of the fans out there who have any connection to these characters, who’ve been reading them for their whole lives or whatever,” Holland said.
For Holland, Harcourt’s appeal comes from how layered she is.
“I just love getting the opportunity to play such a strong, complicated human being that Harcourt is,” Holland said.
Whether Harcourt appears in a small role, a larger Peacemaker storyline, or somewhere else in the DCU, Holland said she is happy to keep stepping into the character.
“However, I get to be a part of that, whether it’s in small pieces in other films or in Peacemaker or whatever, I just love doing it and getting to work with all of these other characters,” Holland said. “There’s just nothing wrong with getting to be on set with all of these other unique parts of the DC Universe. It’s just a fun time.”
Jennifer Holland Talks Working With John Cena On Peacemaker
Holland also reflected on working with John Cena, who has made Peacemaker one of the DCU’s most surprising and emotional characters.
“It’s mind-blowing to get to see the sort of trajectory, the arc that John Cena as a human being has gone through in his acting career and getting to see how much he has grown through the portrayal of Peacemaker,” Holland said.
She said working opposite Cena has been an incredible experience.
“Just getting the opportunity to work with him has been really incredible,” Holland said. “He’s such a great guy.”
Holland said Cena’s reputation as a generous and thoughtful person is real.
“Everyone says that and you meet him and you’re like, ‘Oh, he seems really cool and everything,’” Holland said. “But he’s just really a great guy.”
She also shared that Cena continues to teach her through the way he approaches life and work.
“He’s learned so much from life,” Holland said. “He constantly continues to learn from life. And I learned from him, I learned from him all the time.”
Holland said that growth shows in his performance as Peacemaker.
“I feel like I learned something new from John all the time about himself, about myself, about whatever,” Holland said. “I love getting to work with him and see him grow. And I just think his performance in Peacemaker is really fantastic.”
For Holland, watching Cena bring the character to life up close made the experience even more meaningful.
“I got to see it firsthand working with him,” Holland said. “So it was pretty amazing.”
When Will Jennifer Holland Return As Harcourt?
The big question for DC fans is when Harcourt will return.
Holland made it clear she is ready to come back, but she does not know when it will happen.
“I am so ready to see more of Harcourt,” Holland said. “I really am. I’m with you.”
She added that she is in the same position as fans waiting for answers.
“I am just as in the dark as everyone else,” Holland said. “I don’t know when we’re going to get to see Harcourt again. And I don’t know where she’s been and what she’s doing.”
Holland also said she hopes Harcourt’s return ties into Peacemaker’s story.
“I’m really excited to find out,” Holland said. “And I hope everyone else is excited as I am. I hope that she gets brought back in some sort of way that’s hopefully related to finding Peacemaker.”
Holland sounded just as worried about him as the audience.
“I’m stressed out as a person about what’s happening, and is he okay?” Holland said. “Where, what is he doing? How is he? Is he able to feed himself? Like, I wanna know what’s happening with Peacemaker, where Rick Flag, you know, sent him.”
Whenever the call comes, Holland said she will be ready to get back into Harcourt mode.
“When I get that call again, I’ll be so ready,” Holland said. “And my trainer Paulo is going to be getting my arms back in shape.”
Jennifer Holland Says Fans Can Expect More From The DCU
Holland’s excitement for the DCU does not stop with Supergirl, Krypto, or Harcourt. She also teased that there is plenty for fans to look forward to.
“There’s definitely — you can expect a lot of exciting things coming,” Holland said. “I’m very excited about what they have cooking.”
Milk-Bone Teams Up With Supergirl For Limited-Edition Krypto Treats
Milk-Bone is also teaming up with Supergirl to celebrate one of the film’s most important relationships: Supergirl and her super-powered pup, Krypto.
In partnership with Warner Bros., Milk-Bone is releasing limited-edition Milk-Bone treats inspired by Supergirl. The treats spotlight the bond between Krypto and Supergirl as a reflection of the connection pet parents share with their own dogs.
Milk-Bone x Supergirl limited-edition dog treats are inspired by Krypto and arrive as the film brings DC’s beloved superdog to the big screen in a major new way.
About Supergirl
Supergirl undertakes an epic, unmissable interstellar journey to save the life of her best friend, her dog, Krypto.
Starring Milly Alcock in the title role and featuring DC characters including Superman and Lobo, the cinematic adventure explores the origin of a reluctant superhero as Kara finds her own brand of heroism on her own terms.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, DC Studios’ Supergirl opens only in theaters on June 26.
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