Look! Up in the sky, itâs a bird, itâs a plane... well, no, itâs definitely not Superman. Itâs his rebellious, slightly sardonic party-girl cousin, Supergirl, and sheâs swooping in to jolt the DCEU awake and give it a much-needed attitude adjustment, âcuz this is not the typical Kryptonian hero story youâre used to.
Well, if youâve 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, hereâs your answer. Today, weâve gotten our first look at next summerâs DC superhero spectacle, Supergirl. After being teased at the end of Gunnâs 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 donât 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 heâs 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 oneâs shoulder, big enough to drive one to some pretty dark places if youâre 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 â whoâs also been tapped to write both a new Wonder Woman movie and a live-action Teen Titans adaptation â 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 cousinâs shadow and finally ready to define a destiny of her own, even as she remains deeply scarred by the loss and devastation sheâs endured. With Krypto the dog at her side, sheâs pulled into a vicious quest, teaming up with Ruthye Marye Knoll, an equally enraged alien teen seeking vengeance for her fatherâs murder at the hands of the ruthless space-pirate assassin Krem of the Yellow Hills. In the comics, the narrative is told through Ruthyeâs perspective, charting her search for Kara and the brutal, unforgiving journey of revenge that follows.
Now, we donât 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 HBOâs House of the Dragon breakout Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl â who already shows the appearance of a cynical superhero with no patience to spare â weâve also got newcomer Eve Ridley (from Netflixâs 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, HBOâs 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 Supergirlâs parents, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze â likely appearing in flashback scenes depicting the moment Kara was sent away from Kryptonâs destruction, only to land on Earth and discover her cousin is already grown and doesnât need her help at all.
And it wouldnât 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 heâs 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 Gunnâs DCU, Supergirl is expected to swoop into theaters next summer, beginning June 26th.
Official Synopsis:
Truth. Justice. WhateverâŠ
âSupergirl,â DC Studiosâ 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.âSupergirlâ lands in theaters June 26.
Now for a little bit of fun, letâs take a look at previous âSupergirlsâ and the actresses who played them, and what each brought to the character through each incarnation.
Supergirl
(1984)
Iconic â80s 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 â80s oddity and a guilty pleasure (one could easily categorize it as âso bad itâs goodâ), the film has found a second life among fans who appreciate its campy charm and nostalgic weirdness, but also Slaterâs sweet, earnest innocence, as her take on the character leaned firmly into that âclassic heroineâ mold.
Additionally, to see Oscar-winner Faye Dunaway as the movieâs 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.
CWâs Supergirl
(2015â2021)
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 whatâs right.
The series itself became a showcase for Benoistâs 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, Calleâs 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.