This past summer saw the return of the DC Universe to the big screen under James Gunn’s leadership with Superman. The next feature film in the DCU will spotlight his cousin—one of DC’s most iconic characters. Next year, Supergirl takes flight in her own film for the first time since 1984. The film stars Milly Alcock as the title character, is directed by Craig Gillespie, and written by Ana Nogueira. Recently, I attended an early preview of the teaser trailer released today, as well as a press conference featuring Gunn, Alcock, and Gillespie.
Supergirl is an adaptation of Tom King’s widely acclaimed Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic. Gunn revealed during the press conference that Nogueira’s screenplay was so strong that it was greenlit instantly. Gillespie noted that this was the first superhero script he had ever read, and described his initial excitement to work on the film for a variety of reasons, including the tone and Alcock’s fit for the story.
“I mean that combination [of] that script with Milly, with you guys overseeing it, because the script goes to some very dark and hard places for the character. And I felt like you guys would double down on that,” Gillespie said. “Milly tonally was perfect for it. She’s got this vulnerability and this humor and this accessibility, but the strength and this…nature that’s built into just her DNA that was perfect….So the whole combination, I just couldn’t wait to get in there and make my case.”
When asked about her first day on set, Alcock turned to Gillespie to recall the memory before the pair shared, “It was with Superman,” and added that her scene was performed entirely in Kryptonian.
It seems that the film will stay truthful to the comic’s very dark storyline—though James Gunn and DC Studios are clearly introducing new elements as well.
Gunn shared that when it was announced that he would spearhead the new DC Universe, one of the first messages he received was from Jason Momoa, who previously played Aquaman in the last iteration of the DC films. That message was simple: “LOBO BABY!!”
Lobo does not appear in the comic the film is based on, but he does appear in Supergirl, showing up briefly in the teaser. Momoa looks absolutely menacing in the new role.
Supergirl promises to be very different from Superman. Beyond the heart-wrenching story of Kara Zor-El, the tone appears gritty, yet still humorous. The visuals in the teaser highlight that grit, while also embracing the beauty of an interstellar setting. One shot in the teaser mirrors Superman’s iconic moment from the previous film, showing him floating in the clouds. However, the dialogue in Supergirl distinguishes it from the one in Superman by emphasizing how different Kara is from her cousin.
Alcock elaborated that the two characters are distinct because of the way they were raised and consequentially, their differing views on society and people.
“Compared to Superman, she’s had a completely different upbringing. She was brought up on a planet that was dying. Everyone that she’s ever known and loved is dead. So that creates a very cynical, tough…she doesn’t trust a lot of people. She’s got a very big wall up, and she’s very skeptical of people,” Alcock said. “And Clark is kind of the opposite of that. He’s very overtly trusting. He expects the good in people. He’s had a very sheltered life. And he’s also pretending. Kara never pretends….[I]f she’s not feeling well, you will know. She doesn’t have a facade, which is really refreshing actually, to play.”
Alcock also referenced how Kara travels to every red Sun she can find, seeking some joy, or at least relief. It’s not the same situation, but for many whose 20s were spent entirely in the COVID era, there is something relatable about a young woman trying to enjoy her birthday and will a better year into existence after surviving difficult times.
Gillespie added that unlike Superman, a character who seems to embrace the role of a superhero, Kara doesn’t want that kind of position.
“I think it’s the fact that she’s an anti-hero. What I loved in the story is that she doesn’t want the role she’s in. When we meet her, she’s in a very hard place, running away from it and in her own space, and she gets dragged very reluctantly into the world of having to be a superhero. The way she handles that, the way that she deals with it, and the way that she finds herself through that story is really fascinating, and it’s incomplete, which I love as well,” Gillespie said.
Throughout comic history, Supergirl has been a strong symbol for women. Alcock spoke about the character and importance of representation:
“I think that what Supergirl represents for young women especially is that you can be flawed…you don’t have to be perfect in order to come to some sort of internal self-resolution. I think that we’re kind of thrusted upon this narrative, especially women, that you have to be perfect in every aspect of your life. And I think that Kara is someone who so beautifully leans into her flaws. And I think that that’s really special.”
Both the trailer and the Q&A tease an angry version of Supergirl that we haven’t yet seen on film. It will be exciting to watch this “punch first, ask questions later” version of Kara develop. Gillespie also spoke about how Kara’s emotional state shapes the camera work—more erratic when she is enraged, calmer when she is composed. Supergirl has strong potential to build on what Superman established earlier this year. Rather than repeating a similar tone and scope, the film promises an interstellar story that explores grief and the impact of watching Krypton die. Gillespie explained that, similar to a graphic novel, they approached the DCU with a blank slate and embraced a distinctive tone and style.
As the second film in the DC Universe, Supergirl is not burdened with introducing the entire cinematic universe the way Superman was. It will be exciting to see how well the movie stands on its own, and it will serve as a testament to what is truly possible with the DC brand now that it has found its footing. Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26, 2026.
About Supergirl:
“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.
Alcock stars alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.
DC Studios heads Peter Safran and James Gunn are producing the film, which is based on characters from DC, Supergirl based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is executive produced by Nigel Gostelow, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars P. Winther. Behind the camera, Gillespie is joined by director of photography Rob Hardy, production designer Neil Lamont, editor Tatiana S. Riegel, costume designer Anna B. Sheppard, Visual Effects Supervisor Geoffrey Baumann, and composer Ramin Djawadi.
DC Studios Presents a Troll Court Entertainment Production, The Safran Company Production, A Film by Craig Gillespie, “Supergirl,” which will be in theaters and IMAX across North America on June 26, 2026, and internationally beginning 24 June 2026, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Jorgie is a Senior Writer at POC Culture and a passionate pop culture fan. Jorgie loves learning about visual effects, production, film, and art, and how they all come together to make epic films like Star Wars.
