
Superman Saving a Squirrel Was Cut Out of the Movie, but James Gunn Put It Back In
'It was probably the second- or third-most hotly debated moment in the movie,' Gunn said in a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone. 'Because we showed it to test audiences, and some people did not like the squirrel. They're like, 'Why the fuck 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.''
And so, Gunn put it back in. Especially because, if he lost it, the flow of the editing of the battle got messed up. 'In addition, there were also some geographic problems with where he ended up if I didn't have him fly over with the squirrel,' Gunn said. 'So I put the squirrel back in despite the protestations of some of my people on my crew.'
Is Superman saving a squirrel extraneous? Possibly. Does it make sense? Absolutely. We know he loves animals from his attitude and interactions with Krypto. Plus, in a populated city like Metropolis, there aren't going to be many wild animals running around. But one that would certainly be there is a squirrel. And, don't forget, Gunn is the filmmaker who made a three-film Marvel series that centered around the origins of a talking raccoon. So, of course, Superman was going to have a soft spot for furry creatures.
Head over to Rolling Stone to read much more from Gunn, especially regarding its music. Superman is now in theaters.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
David Letterman Slams ‘Gutless' CBS for Cancelling Colbert's Late Show: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'
Stephen Colbert's Late Show predecessor has weighed in on CBS' decision to cancel the late night program — and no, he's not happy about it. Original Late Show host David Letterman, who helmed the CBS show from 1993 to 2015 before Colbert took over, pulled no punches while sounding off on last week's news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show, with Colbert slated to sign off next May. More from TVLine Vampire Rom-Com From Ghosts Bosses Lands CBS Pilot Order Big Brother: Unlocked: Which Two Former Houseguests Are Hosting Season 27's Companion Series? Why Sheriff Country Is Filming 2,100 Miles Away From Fire Country - Plus, Episode Count Confirmed 'This is pure cowardice,' Letterman told his former executive producer Barbara Gaines in a YouTube video posted on Friday. He also doesn't believe that the decision was 'purely financial,' as CBS emphasized in a statement, and that The Late Show was losing money: 'They've given [Colbert] another 10 months, that's another huge chunk of money they're gonna lose, according to them.' Letterman then asked: 'If they were losing that kind of money — you're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday? I bet they were losing this money a month ago or six weeks ago. Or they were never losing that kind of money. They did not handle Stephen Colbert, the face of that network, in the way he deserves.' He also criticized CBS for agreeing to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit connected to its venerable news program 60 Minutes: 'You're telling me 60 Minutes, the pinnacle of journalistic excellence and integrity for decades… they decided, 'Aw, we're sorry, let us give you $20 million.' I believe this is in the wake of that.' Letterman did see a bright side in this for Colbert: 'For Stephen, I love this, because he gets to be a martyr.' But he predicted a rough road ahead for the CBS suits who made the call to axe The Late Show: 'I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed. This is gutless.' Watch the full interview below: Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Larry Ellison to Hold 35.5% of Family's Voting Rights in New Paramount, National Amusements After Skydance Merger Closes
Upon closing of Paramount Global and Skydance Media's $8 billion merger, Oracle co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison will hold a minority voting interest of approximately 35.5% in the combined company. When Skydance first submitted its broadcast license transfer application to the FCC in September, the initial filing stated that the Skydance investor consortium would hold 100% of the equity and voting interests in National Amusements Inc., the holding company for Paramount's controlling stake. More from TheWrap Larry Ellison to Hold 35.5% of Family's Voting Rights in New Paramount, National Amusements After Skydance Merger Closes Paramount-Skydance Merger Expected to Close Aug. 7 As FCC Clears Paramount-Skydance Deal, All Eyes Are on Rebuilding the Media Giant As Skydance-Paramount Merger Closes, the 'South Park' Trump Takedown Shows the Fight Is On | Analysis Pinnacle Media, a group of three ventures formed 'as special-purpose vehicles to hold the Ellison family's interest in NAI and Paramount,' was set to control approximately 77.5% of such interests, while RedBird Capital Partners was expected to hold the remaining approximately 22.5%. The move signaled that the elder Ellison was poised to have a large role in New Paramount. But that was later amended in October, with Skydance stating that David Ellison would control 100% of the family's voting interest as its 'sole manager.' Now, according to the final order released by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, another amendment was made to Skydance's application on July 16, which states that the younger Ellison will grant Sayonara LLC, which is controlled by the elder Ellison through a revocable trust, a voting interest equal to approximately 35.5%. Meanwhile, Pinnacle Media will grant the younger Ellison 64.5% of its respective voting interest in NAI. In accordance with the voting percentages, David Ellison and Sayonara will have the right to designate the Ellison family directors of NAI and New Paramount. The amendment notes that Sayonara will not have any 'veto rights, or any special or outsized voting rights,' in NAI or New Paramount as a result of the minority voting interest. It added that the changes were being undertaken for 'the sake of efficiency and cost savings at New Paramount.' Under the two-step deal, Skydance is set to acquire controlling shareholder Shari Redstone's holding company National Amusements, which controls 77.4% of the Paramount Class A common stock outstanding and approximately 9.5% of the overall equity of the company, before merging with the Hollywood studio. The deal provides $2.4 billion for Redstone, $4.5 billion to non-NAI Paramount shareholders and an additional $1.5 billion in new capital to help pay down debt and recapitalize the company's balance sheet. Larry Ellison is providing $6 billion in financing for the deal, while the remainder will come from RedBird. Skydance's consortium of investors will control 70% of shares outstanding. The combined company will have an enterprise value of $28 billion, while Skydance is being valued at $4.75 billion. David Ellison will serve as New Paramount's CEO, while Jeff Shell will serve as president. Redstone will exit Paramount's board of directors and Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy will exit the company following the deal's closing. The company's stock will also begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PSKY. Shares of Paramount closed down 1.58% at $13.05 apiece on Friday. The stock is up 13.8% in the past year and 23% year to date. As of the end of Friday's trading session, Paramount has a market capitalization of $9.19 billion. The post Larry Ellison to Hold 35.5% of Family's Voting Rights in New Paramount, National Amusements After Skydance Merger Closes appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
David Letterman Blasts CBS and Skydance on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Cancellation: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'
David Letterman unloaded on CBS and Skydance on Friday for cancelling 'The Late Show,' which he launched 32 years ago, saying the network had mistreated his successor, Stephen Colbert. In an interview posted to his YouTube channel, Letterman said he does not buy the official explanation that the show was cancelled for financial reasons. More from Variety Stephen Colbert Hails 'South Park' Premiere's Naked Trump as 'Important Message of Hope for Our Times' FCC Chairman Brendan Carr 'Pleased' With Skydance Commitment to Reform CBS Elizabeth Warren on Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation: Is the Paramount Trump Payoff a Bribe? 'This is pure cowardice,' Letterman said. 'They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert — the face of that network — in the way he deserves to have been handled.' Letterman offered his first comments on the cancellation in a Zoom interview with Barbara Gaines, who was executive producer of 'The Late Show' for 15 years. The former late night host brought up Paramount's $16 million payment to settle President Trump's lawsuit over a '60 Minutes' interview, saying the company had 'decided they didn't care about freedom of the press.' Letterman also mocked Skydance Media, soon to be the new owner of Paramount, asking if it is a discount airline and referring to founder David Ellison as 'the Oracle twins.' 'The Ellison twins, the Oracle boys, they don't want any trouble along the lines of freedom of the press or free speech or freedom of expression,' Letterman said. 'They don't want to get their hands dirty. They don't want the government going after them, because that concept of freedom of the press and freedom of speech — that's so old-fashioned.' Imagining a conversation between the 'Ellison twins' and CBS, Letterman suggested that the new owners wanted Colbert ousted to avoid problems with the Trump administration. 'So they say to the CBS people, 'Geez, what about that kid, Stephen Colbert? He's always shooting his mouth off about the administration. We don't want any trouble from that guy,'' Letterman said. 'So the CBS people say, 'Hey, boys, here's what I'm going to do. Not only are we going to get rid of that guy, we're going to get rid of the entire franchise so you don't have to worry about another guy. It's gone, buddy.'' Reports have said that 'The Late Show' was losing $40 million to $50 million a year. But Letterman said he found that to be an unpersuasive excuse. 'Here's what I know. If they were losing this kind of money, you're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday?' he said. 'I'll bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago. I'll bet they were losing this kind of money six weeks ago. Or they have never been losing money.' As a late-night host, Letterman often mocked his corporate overlords at NBC and CBS. Colbert succeeded him when he retired in 2015. He said he believes Colbert will be fine. 'For Steven, I love this. He's a martyr,' he said. 'Good for him. And if you listen carefully, you can hear them unfolding chairs at the Hall of Fame for his induction, right?' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples