There’s little chance that anyone is going to confuse James Gunn’s Superman with Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl. Sure, they are both based on iconic DC Comics characters and Kryptonian cousins. But where the Man of Steel is pure and good and always tries to do the right thing, Kara Zor-El is a hard-partying, hot-tempered mess. And it’s that difference which should help this film stand on its own, and not in the shadow of its predecessor.
Supergirl has a lot on her emotional plate. She is 23-years-old, and is still dealing with the trauma of losing her entire planet, her family, everything. The film is based on the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic by Tom King, and finds her joining with Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young girl on a quest for revenge after witnessing a tragedy.
Matthias Schoenaerts plays the villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills, with Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll, David Krumholtz as Kara’s father Zor-El, Emily Beecham as her mother, Alura In-Ze, and Jason Momoa as Lobo. You’re going to hate Krem, trust me, because he puts Krypto through Hell. We see a lot more of Momoa’s Lobo this time, too.
The film is directed by Craig Gillespie (Cruella) from a script by Ana Nogueira, who is also writing DC’s Wonder Woman movie. Gillespie is a solid choice. While he’s not the most exciting filmmaker, his best work has been the films I, Tonya and Cruella, both of which explore the moral grey areas of women who most would see as villains.
Supergirl looks like a blast. I love the attitude, the punk rock vibe, and Alcock more than looks the part. This is an important film for the future of the DCU,
Supergirl hits theaters on June 26th 2026.
