Milly Alcock stars as a jaded alien Kara in Supergirl, James Gunn’s second DCU film that trades sunshine for space rage.
Supergirl film takes the DC Universe in a direction that will surprise anyone expecting a sunny Superman clone. James Gunn and Peter Safran’s second DCU installment, directed by Craig Gillespie, stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El—a character Gunn specifically envisioned as “pixie-ish, but very attitudinal.” This is not your cousin’s Superman. This Supergirl drinks on red sun planets, parties across the galaxy, and embarks on what the official premise calls a “murderous quest for revenge.”
The story follows Kara celebrating her 23rd birthday by traveling the galaxy with her super-powered dog Krypto. She meets Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young girl played by Eve Ridley, whose father’s murder by space pirate Krem—Matthias Schoenaerts in full villain mode—sets Kara on a path of vengeance and justice. Think Mad Max in space, but with a Kryptonian who can actually punch through planets when she’s angry enough.
Gillespie, coming off Cruella and I, Tonya, pitched Gunn and Safran with 120 images establishing the film’s visual tone. He described the aesthetic as much more “Mad Max” than traditional superhero fare, and early test screenings reportedly praised Alcock’s performance while generating mixed responses to the action sequences. The film carries a net budget around $170 million, though Gunn disputed initial reports of $200 million.
Supergirl Film Cast Brings Serious Firepower
Supergirl film cast includes Jason Momoa as Lobo, the alien mercenary and bounty hunter from Czarnia. Momoa previously played Aquaman in the DCEU from 2016 to 2023, making this his official transition into Gunn’s rebooted universe. David Corenswet returns as Superman, establishing the cousin dynamic that Gillespie describes as “almost older-sibling” and sometimes “adversarial.” Where Clark is gentle and patient, Kara is uncertain and raw.
David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham play Kara’s parents Zor-El and Alura In-Ze, appearing in flashbacks to Krypton’s destruction. The film shot from January to May 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and locations across England and Scotland, with Gillespie adding more Krypto scenes during the opening credits to establish the dog as “the only physical, tangible thing she has” from her destroyed home world.
The composer situation became its own drama. Ramin Djawadi was initially attached, replaced by Tom Holkenborg, then replaced by Claudia Sarne. For a film about emotional instability, the musical chairs behind the score feel weirdly appropriate.
Supergirl premiered in Brooklyn on June 22, 2026, and hits theaters June 26. It’s the second chapter of DCU’s “Gods and Monsters” phase, following Corenswet’s Superman. If audiences respond to this darker, more jaded take on Kryptonian power, Gunn’s universe might finally find the distinct identity it needs.
See Supergirl film in theaters June 26 and watch Milly Alcock redefine what a Kryptonian hero looks like.
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