To celebrate the release of the first Supergirl trailer, DC and Warner Bros. hosted a trailer premiere event for the upcoming film, with a Q&A featuring director Craig Gillespie and star Milly Alcock, hosted by none other than DC Studios co-chair James Gunn.
The film is set to be the second instalment in the new DC Universe, hot on the heels of Gunn’s Superman, in which star Milly Alcock made a surprise cameo in the closing moments.
Following the release of the the trailer, the House of Dragon star opened up about her journey to taking on the mantle, the key differences between Supergirl and her cousin and the mindset of the “flawed” hero, as she tackles the loss of her family and her planet.
On preparing for the role
I leaned heavily on Tom King’s book. I read it a lot and did a lot of physical training.
On how her Supergirl is different to Superman
Supergirl has had a completely different upbringing to Superman. She was brought up on a planet that was dying — everyone she’s ever known and loved is dead. That creates a very cynical, tough character. She doesn’t trust a lot of people. She’s got a big wall up.
Clark is kind of the opposite. He’s overtly trusting and expects the good in people. Kara never pretends – if she’s not feeling good, you’ll know. There’s no façade, which is really refreshing to play.
On the hero’s flaws, vulnerability, and representation
Kara doesn’t want to be a hero. I resonated with having to step up into a role where there are external expectations and feeling like you don’t deserve it. She has to become the hero of her own story, and I think a lot of us struggle with that.
She’s so flawed, and I think we really need a flawed hero. What Supergirl represents for young women, especially, is that you can be flawed and you don’t have to be perfect in order to come to some internal self-resolution. We’re kind of thrusted upon this narrative, especially women, that you have to be perfect in every aspect of your life. Kara is someone who so beautifully leans into her flaws. I think that’s really special.
On putting the suit on for the first time
When I first put the suit on, our producer Chantal came in, looked at me, and just started crying. It was really sweet, and it made me realise I had to show up — not just for myself, but for everyone who worked so hard on this film and for what it will mean to young girls and women.
My first day on set was with Superman. I wasn’t in the suit and I was speaking a different language — Kryptonian. It was freezing, and it was really hard.
While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El travels across the galaxy with her dog Krypto, during which she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll and goes on a murderous quest for revenge.
The film stars Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, David Corenswet, Jason Momoa, Matthias Schoenaerts and Emily Beecham.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, Supergirl lands in cinemas on June 26, 2026.
