"Supergirl" Official Teaser Trailer: Milly Alcock Takes Flight as Gunn's New Girl of Steel in This Highly Anticipated DC Superhero Movie
🎥 A jaded Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) takes center stage in a darker, quirkier cosmic quest, teaming with new allies and facing brutal foes in her own DCU movie.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane... well, no, it’s definitely not Superman. It’s his rebellious, slightly sardonic party-girl cousin, Supergirl, and she’s swooping in to jolt the DCEU awake and give it a much-needed attitude adjustment, ‘cuz this is not the typical Kryptonian hero story you’re used to.
Well, if you’ve been wondering what DC Studios co-head James Gunn will be tackling on the big screen after his version of Superman came out last summer to relatively strong reviews and substantial box office numbers... okay, here’s your answer. Today, we’ve gotten our first look at next summer’s DC superhero spectacle, Supergirl. After being teased at the end of Gunn’s Superman with a quick cameo of Milly Alcock as a hungover Kara Zor-El looking for her easily excitable superpowered dog, Krypto, the Girl of Steel is finally stepping into the spotlight in her very own feature film.
But don’t expect that same old bright-eyed Kryptonian optimism fans have grown accustomed to. This story will likely be a bit sharper... a bit quirkier... and perhaps a little bit meaner, as Kara is nothing like her Boy-Scout-like cousin, nor does she share that same idealistic worldview he’s clung to since arriving on Earth. This version of Supergirl is a little more jaded than previous iterations. And unlike her ole cuz Kal-El, Kara has seen some terrible things and endured the kind of trauma that can harden even the strongest heart. After all, she was there to witness firsthand the total destruction of her home planet of Krypton, left to watch helplessly as everything and everyone she knew went up in flames and vanished into oblivion. So... yeah, that kind of thing can leave a permanent chip on one’s shoulder, big enough to drive one to some pretty dark places if you’re not careful.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, the filmmaker behind the stylish crowd-pleasers Cruella and I, Tonya, and working from a script penned by actress-turned-screenwriter Ana Nogueira — who’s also been tapped to write both a new Wonder Woman movie and a live-action Teen Titans adaptation — this upcoming Supergirl movie is poised to bring a fresh and darkly comedic edge to the DC cinematic universe.
Drawing its inspiration from the acclaimed eight-issue comic book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by writer Tom King and artist Bilquis Evely, the story in the books presents Kara Zor-El as someone fed up with living in her cousin’s shadow and finally ready to define a destiny of her own, even as she remains deeply scarred by the loss and devastation she’s endured. With Krypto the dog at her side, she’s pulled into a vicious quest, teaming up with Ruthye Marye Knoll, an equally enraged alien teen seeking vengeance for her father’s murder at the hands of the ruthless space-pirate assassin Krem of the Yellow Hills. In the comics, the narrative is told through Ruthye’s perspective, charting her search for Kara and the brutal, unforgiving journey of revenge that follows.
Now, we don’t yet know how closely this new movie will stick to the story structure laid out in the books. What we do know is that several of the key characters from the comics are already confirmed to appear.
Aside from the casting of HBO’s House of the Dragon breakout Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl — who already shows the appearance of a cynical superhero with no patience to spare — we’ve also got newcomer Eve Ridley (from Netflix’s 3 Body Problem) stepping in as Ruthye Marye Knoll, the young alien girl who seeks out Kara for help. Meanwhile, Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead, Rust and Bone, HBO’s The Regime) is set to portray the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills.
And in supporting turns, veteran character actor David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere) and English actress Emily Beecham (Cruella, Hail, Caesar!) are set to play Supergirl’s parents, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze — likely appearing in flashback scenes depicting the moment Kara was sent away from Krypton’s destruction, only to land on Earth and discover her cousin is already grown and doesn’t need her help at all.
And it wouldn’t be a comic book movie without a few surprises. While we assume the film will feature characters and possibly subplot lines that connect to other corners of the DCEU, one big surprise fans are expecting is the much-anticipated introduction of Lobo, the fan-favorite alien bounty hunter who is as brash and boorish as he is unstoppable. Jason Momoa (yes, Aquaman himself) is set to play the interstellar mercenary, which could mean the film will be hopping around the galaxy as Kara crosses paths with the Main Man. Momoa had previously stated that playing Lobo would be a dream come true, as he’s always loved the comic book character. And to be perfectly honest, it might be the most natural casting choice Gunn has landed on yet.
Serving as the second film in Gunn’s DCU, Supergirl is expected to swoop into theaters next summer, beginning June 26th.
Official Synopsis:
Truth. Justice. Whatever…
“Supergirl,” DC Studios’ newest feature film to hit the big screen, will be in theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Craig Gillespie directs the film from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira.
When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
Alcock stars alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.“Supergirl” lands in theaters June 26.
Now for a little bit of fun, let’s take a look at previous “Supergirls” and the actresses who played them, and what each brought to the character through each incarnation.
Supergirl
(1984)
Iconic ‘80s starlet Helen Slater had both the privilege and misfortune of taking on the superhero role, as this 1984 film was the very first live-action Supergirl big-screen adaptation. It was, however, widely panned by critics and fans alike as it dreadfully missed the mark in tone, story, and overall execution, despite being a direct spin-off of the Christopher Reeve Superman films.
Now considered a cult classic mainly as an ‘80s oddity and a guilty pleasure (one could easily categorize it as “so bad it’s good”), the film has found a second life among fans who appreciate its campy charm and nostalgic weirdness, but also Slater’s sweet, earnest innocence, as her take on the character leaned firmly into that “classic heroine” mold.
Additionally, to see Oscar-winner Faye Dunaway as the movie’s main villain should be noted as a source of a great deal of unintentional comedy. Dunaway chews through scenery with such gleeful abandon that she might have single-handedly pushed the film into its campiest, most over-the-top territory.
CW’s Supergirl
(2015–2021)
Actress Melissa Benoist is arguably the best-known Supergirl, as her tenure lasted for six seasons of this CW Arrowverse series. Benoist brought a certain hopefulness and warmth to the role as she took on a version of Kara defined by resilience, optimism, and a deep belief in doing what’s right.
The series itself became a showcase for Benoist’s ability to explore deeper layers of the character, helping to reframe Supergirl for a new generation and smoothing over some of the lingering scars left by the 1984 film.
The Flash
(2023)
Colombian-American actress Sasha Calle had the bad luck of holding the shortest theatrical tenure, even as she made history as the first Latina Supergirl. Calle was met with mixed reactions from fans, as her Kara Zor-El came from an alternate universe and carried a fierce, indignant edge shaped by years of brutal captivity. The film, one of the final remnants of the Snyderverse, was a box office disaster, pretty much killing any chance for Calle to return.
Though to be fair, Calle’s take on turning Supergirl into a dark, powerful avenger did offer a bold reinterpretation of the character, paving the way for different approaches beyond the classic hopeful archetype. Perhaps even lending a hand in what this new Supergirl might be allowed to explore in terms of attitude, edge, and emotional complexity.