Supergirl (2026)

The film adapts the acclaimed 2021–2022 comic-book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely.

Supergirl (2026) is the second feature film in the new DC Universe (DCU) launched by DC Studios and serves as a fresh cinematic interpretation of Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin, following her brief introduction in Superman (2025). Directed by Craig Gillespie, whose previous films include I, Tonya and Cruella, the movie was written by Ana Nogueira and produced by DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Rather than retelling Supergirl’s familiar origin story,

the film adapts the acclaimed 2021–2022 comic-book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, using its darker, more character-driven approach as the foundation for the screenplay. Milly Alcock stars as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, with Matthias Schoenaerts portraying the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills,

Eve Ridley as the young alien Ruthye Marye Knoll, David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham as Kara’s parents Zor-El and Alura, David Corenswet reprising his role as Superman, and Jason Momoa making his long-awaited DC debut as the bounty hunter Lobo. Unlike many previous Superman-family films,

Supergirl presents Kara as a far more emotionally scarred heroine. Having witnessed Krypton’s destruction and endured years of trauma before reaching Earth, she is portrayed as someone who has never enjoyed the relatively peaceful

upbringing experienced by her cousin Clark Kent. The story begins with Kara traveling through space and encountering Ruthye, a young girl whose father has been murdered by the ruthless Krem. Determined to avenge her family, Ruthye persuades Kara to accompany her across dangerous alien worlds in pursuit of the killer. Their journey evolves into a cosmic revenge tale that blends science-fiction adventure,

western influences, and moral dilemmas as Kara struggles with questions of justice, vengeance, and the responsibilities that accompany her extraordinary powers. While inspired closely by the comic, the screenplay makes several significant changes, including expanding Krem into the leader of a brutal criminal organization and altering the climax to emphasize Kara’s personal moral choices rather than simply recreating the graphic novel’s ending.

Cast

  • Alcock, Milly (April 11, 2000) – Kara Zor-El / Supergirl, Superman’s cousin and the last daughter of Krypton, whose difficult past and emotionally scarred upbringing shape the events of the film as she reluctantly accompanies Ruthye on a dangerous quest for vengeance across the galaxy. Alcock previously starred as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, Meg in Upright, and appeared in The School and Reckoning.
  • Schoenaerts, Matthias (December 8, 1977) – Krem of the Yellow Hills, a ruthless warlord and murderer whose killing of Ruthye’s father sets the story in motion and makes him the principal antagonist pursued across space by Supergirl and Ruthye. Schoenaerts previously appeared in Bullhead, Rust and Bone, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Danish Girl, Red Sparrow, The Old Guard, and The Regime.
  • Ridley, Eve (December 23, 2001) – Ruthye Marye Knoll, a determined young alien girl whose quest to avenge her father’s murder forms the emotional heart of the story as she develops an unlikely friendship with Supergirl. Ridley previously appeared in 3 Body Problem, The Crow Girl, and Casualty.
  • Krumholtz, David (May 15, 1978) – Zor-El, Kara’s father and one of Krypton’s leading scientists, seen in flashbacks depicting Krypton’s tragic destruction and Kara’s early life. Krumholtz previously appeared in The Santa Clause trilogy, 10 Things I Hate About You, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Oppenheimer, Numb3rs, and The Deuce.
  • Beecham, Emily (May 12, 1984) – Alura In-Ze, Kara’s loving mother, whose memories continue to influence her daughter’s moral compass long after Krypton’s destruction. Beecham previously appeared in Little Joe, 1899, Into the Badlands, Hail, Caesar!, Outside the Wire, and The Pursuit of Love.
  • Corenswet, David (July 8, 1993) – Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman, Kara’s famous cousin, who makes a brief appearance connecting the film to the larger DC Universe while allowing Kara to remain the central hero. Corenswet previously appeared in Hollywood, The Politician, Pearl, Twisters, and Superman (2025).
  • Momoa, Jason (August 1, 1979) – Lobo, the foul-mouthed, cigar-smoking intergalactic bounty hunter whose arrival introduces one of DC Comics’ most popular antiheroes into the new DC Universe. Momoa previously starred in Aquaman, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Game of Thrones, See, Dune, Fast X, and A Minecraft Movie.
  • Kingsley, Ferdinand (February 13, 1988) – Elias Knoll, Ruthye’s devoted father whose murder by Krem becomes the catalyst for the film’s revenge-driven narrative. Kingsley previously appeared in Victoria, Mank, The Sandman, Doctor Who, and The Crown.
  • Murtagh, Diarmaid (1982) – Drom Baxton, one of Krem’s dangerous associates who helps pursue and battle Supergirl during the heroes’ journey across the galaxy. Murtagh previously appeared in Vikings, Young Wallander, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Tourist.
  • Rosager, Clara (November 11, 1996) – Sklarian Raider, one of the fearsome Sklarian Raiders encountered by Supergirl and Ruthye during their travels through space. Rosager previously appeared in The Rain, Morbius, 1899, and Miss Osaka.
  • Agyepong, Heather (December 17, 1987) – Sklarian Raider, a member of the dangerous band of raiders encountered during Supergirl’s interstellar adventure. Agyepong previously appeared in The Power, Doctors, The Capture, and numerous stage productions.
  • Hewkin, Alice – Sklarian Raider, another member of the notorious Sklarian Raiders who confront Supergirl during her quest. Hewkin previously appeared in Sex Education, The Brothers Sun, and several British television productions.
  • Rogen, Seth (April 15, 1982) – Uncredited voice cameo, providing the voice of an alien passenger encountered during Kara and Ruthye’s journey through space. Rogen is known for Superbad, Pineapple Express, Knocked Up, This Is the End, The Fabelmans, The Studio, and as the voice of Pumbaa in The Lion King (2019).

Principal photography began in early 2025 and took place primarily at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire, England, with additional filming in Scotland and Iceland to provide dramatic landscapes for the film’s numerous alien worlds. Director of photography Rob Hardy created a visual style that mixes practical locations with extensive digital effects, while production designer Neil Lamont developed an array of extraterrestrial environments intended to feel less like

traditional superhero settings and more like a sprawling space western. Costume designers Anna B. Sheppard and Michael Mooney crafted distinctive looks that balanced recognizable comic-book elements with a more grounded aesthetic, and visual effects supervisor Geoffrey Baumann oversaw the extensive CGI required for the film’s alien creatures, spacecraft, and large-scale action sequences. The musical score was composed by Claudia Sarne,

who emphasized emotional themes over bombastic superhero fanfares. The film contains numerous bits of trivia that delighted longtime DC fans. Jason Momoa’s casting as Lobo was especially notable because he had previously portrayed Aquaman in the earlier DC Extended Universe, making him one of the few actors to assume a completely different major DC Comics role in a new continuity. The production deliberately shifted from the comic’s title

Woman of Tomorrow to the simpler Supergirl, although the source material remained its principal inspiration. Krypto the Superdog returns following Superman (2025), helping to establish continuity within the new DC Universe, while Superman himself appears only briefly so the story can remain centered on Kara. Screenwriter Ana Nogueira has explained that the adaptation drew inspiration not only from Tom King’s comic but also from classic westerns such as True Grit and Unforgiven, with the relationship between Kara and Ruthye forming the emotional heart of the film.

One notable omission from the comic is Comet the Super-Horse, whose absence was intended to avoid overcrowding the story after Krypto had already been established as a major companion. The film also features an uncredited vocal cameo by Seth Rogen as an alien passenger encountered during the heroes’ travels.

Upon its June 2026 release, Supergirl received mixed reviews from critics. Many praised Milly Alcock’s committed performance and the film’s willingness to present a more vulnerable and complex version of Kara Zor-El, while reactions to the pacing,

darker tone, and deviations from the comic proved more divided. Reviewers generally agreed that the film further established the direction of James Gunn’s interconnected DC Universe while

demonstrating that future installments would embrace a broader range of storytelling styles than traditional superhero blockbusters. Regardless of its mixed critical reception, Supergirl marked an important milestone in DC Studios’ long-term plans, firmly establishing Kara Zor-El as one of the central heroes of the franchise and laying the groundwork for her future appearances in the expanding cinematic universe.

Spoilers

  • The 2026 film presents a radically different Kara Zor-El compared to previous iterations, drawing directly from Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic run. Unlike the wholesome, optimistic portrayals by Helen Slater (1984) and Melissa Benoist (2015–2021 TV series), Milly Alcock’s version is depicted as a “jaded antihero” shaped by severe trauma. This Supergirl is messy, frequently intoxicated, and emotionally volatile, having witnessed the slow extinction of Krypton on the floating Argo City rather than a sudden explosion. This “grungy punk rock” persona contrasts sharply with Benoist’s “girl-next-door” archetype and Slater’s innocent earnestness, offering a grittier, more cynical take on the Maid of Might.
  • While the 1984 film and the CW series featured standalone Earth-based adventures often mirroring Superman’s origin, the 2026 movie is a cosmic road trip focused on revenge. A significant departure from the source comic is the inclusion of Lobo (played by Jason Momoa) and Superman (David Corenswet), neither of whom appeared in the original Woman of Tomorrow miniseries. The film also alters the climax: in the comic, Kara imprisons the villain Krem in the Phantom Zone for centuries, emphasizing mercy and the long-term weight of justice; in the movie, she kills him directly, a change critics noted as making the ending feel “bland” compared to the comic’s nuanced resolution. Additionally, the movie shifts the narrative perspective from Ruthye’s mythic narration to a more personal, immediate focus on Kara.
  • Visually, the 2026 suit distinguishes itself from previous live-action versions by incorporating a more armored, metallic texture, particularly in the skirt, contrasting with the cloth designs worn by Benoist and Slater. This aesthetic aligns with the film’s sci-fi heavy, interstellar setting. The movie also employs a distinct visual tone described as “cinematic” and darker than the bright, hopeful style of James Gunn’s Superman (2025), leaning into a “Guardians of the Galaxy” meets “Mad Max” vibe. However, some critics found the action sequences murky and the CGI inconsistent, a sharp critique compared to the generally praised visuals of the preceding DCU entry.
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Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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