With James Gunn’s Superman a huge hit, Krypto the Superdog ended up being as big a breakout star as David Corenswet. And while they inspire fans with their super-powered actions, a lovely Amazon Prime commercial titled “Anyone Can Be Super” shows how that can translate to everyday heroism. And it happened to star an acclaimed canine actor and furry friend of ours: Darby of The Joy Crew. So we interviewed him to go behind the scenes of the commercial and what “Super” means to him.
Celebrity Pets: Darby, your new commercial is titled “Anyone Can Be Super.” For your young co-star, being “super” meant helping around the house. For you, it meant literally pulling her on a skateboard so she could fly. What does being “super” mean to a canine actor like yourself?
Darby: Being “SUPER” means so much more than powerful and cool. It means using your good for others and for upholding morals and values in your life to make the world a better place. If you wear the label, “SUPER,” then you need to live up to it in the best way possible. Otherwise, you may be a villain in disguise! This means you should help others, be considerate, kind, loyal, never a bully, and ready to bring joy to the world around you. Also, never leave a treat left behind!
CP: You’ve worked with pros like Walton Goggins and Sydney Sweeney, and now a young, aspiring superhero. How does the on-set energy change when your scene partner is a child instead of an adult? And how do you adapt your craft for a role that’s so physically collaborative?
Darby: Honestly, working with kids can be a challenge and very rewarding. First of all, if they love dogs, we have a GREAT time. There are lots of cuddles and cookies, and I get to give lots of kisses. Sometimes my mom and handler, Chrissy, takes extra time on set to get us comfortable working together. She helps the kid become a little trainer, too! That makes it much easier when we have scenes together. The goal is to keep the scene short, easy, and fun so that everyone has a good time. It is fun to show off tricks because the kids think that is just too cool!
CP: We saw the behind-the-scenes footage of your skateboard-pulling training, which reminded us of a training montage from a Rocky movie. Can you walk us through the process of mastering that stunt? Was it more about raw power or skill and dedication?
Darby: Yes! We were asked to “pull a skateboard,” but I wasn’t sure if I needed to pull with my body or by mouth and a rope… So naturally, we took the harder challenge! Pulling a skateboard by mouth is tricky for multiple factors: holding the rope, the size of the board, the speed, and the weight. At first, I was very nervous seeing a board careening towards me when I pulled it. We could crash! So my trainer and Mom, Chrissy, and I had to work together to find easier solutions. Some of these solutions meant adding weight and tightening the wheels to slow down the board as well as lengthening the rope. After lots of practice, we both became super confident and I could pull the skateboard clear across the room! On set, we were able to basically plug and play the same practice with the child actor. Of course, safety was of the utmost importance and the scene was a success!
CP: From a thespian’s perspective, what’s your motivation in the skateboard scene? Is it a deep-seated desire to help your young owner live out her superhero dreams? (Or were there some particularly high-value treats waiting just off-camera?)
Darby: Funny you should say that. Usually, we work for treats and toys. (Mom says she works for money – whatever that is.) However, I LOVE playing tug. It’s probably my most fun game ever! Have you tried it? So we made a game that if I brought the rope to Mom, we would do a game of tug! I thought that was the most fun game. I did have to be careful with the child actor, and I was very aware of him balancing carefully on the board. I didn’t want to pull too fast to make it scary. So we found a good balance on set, even though the space was tricky to get the board to go just right!
CP: You’ve been in the gritty, post-apocalyptic world of Fallout, and now you’re part of the iconic Superman universe. How does it feel to be associated with the ultimate symbol of hope, and what do you hope audiences take away from your powerful, skateboard-pulling performance?
Darby: At the end of the day, I just want a good scratch behind the ears, a belly rub, and to make my loved ones smile. These experiences are true blessings from above, and we are so grateful. We hope to share in the joy, laughter, smiles, and happiness that we feel in the work that we do. If we can inspire someone at home to look at their dog a little differently – with more hope, inspiration, or taking that longer walk, then we have achieved something more super and powerful than any trophy or award.
CP: It’s really cool to go behind the scenes to see all the hard work you and your crew do. And I heard your mom is offering online courses to help other pups and their parents get into canine acting?
Darby: They can go to my mom’s website at chrissyjoy.com to learn more about online training to get their dog on TV and film or just to teach them some really cool tricks and build an everlasting bond! And oh yeah, make sure to follow @thejoycrew on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
In case you missed it, check out our previous interview with Darby on working on the Fallout TV series.
