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, DC Studios co-chair James Gunn and star Milly Alcock.
The film is the second instalment in the new DC Universe, hot on the heels of Gunn’s Superman, in which star Milly Alcock made a surprise – but hilarious – cameo in the closing moments.
Based on the 2021 eight-issue Tom King and Bilquis Evely limited series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the 2026 film features the latest iteration of the character since Melissa Benoist’s portrayal in the CW universe, with her last appearance over four years ago in the season 6 finale, titled “Kara”.
In the Q&A, James Gunn and Craig Gillespie discuss Ana Nogueira’s excellent script, Milly Alcock’s take of the “rebellious” character and the differences between this Kara Zor-El and her cousin Kal-El.
James Gunn on why he greenlit Supergirl
The reasons are various, but the main one is when Ana Nogueira wrote The Woman of Tomorrow script, it was fantastic. At DC Studios, we care most about the writing, and so we just instantly greenlit the movie. It was something I was very interested in making from before we even took over DC Studios.
I remember when the graphic novel first came out — before Peter and I were talking about taking over DC but hadn’t decided yet. I called Peter and said, ‘Have you seen this book by Tom King, Woman of Tomorrow?’ I told him how great it was and what an interesting take it was on Supergirl. And I said, ‘You know who would be great?’ — and I didn’t know your name — ‘that little blind girl from House of the Dragon. I think she would be great.’
Director Craig Gillespie on Milly Alcock’s Supergirl
Millie has this rebellious spirit. The character uses humour and cynicism as armour, and Millie embraces all of it effortlessly. You feel the vulnerability and fractures underneath the toughness. That tonal balance is very hard to find, and she does it beautifully.
She’s an anti-hero. She’s running away from the role when we meet her and is dragged reluctantly back into the world. Her journey is incomplete, and I love that. The whole movie takes place in outer space — it’s a space fantasy — and it’s completely different tonally from Superman.
Director Craig Gillespie on Milly Alcock’s Supergirl
Craig Gillespie explained that Supergirl was an intensely physical production, with a huge emphasis on practical action and wire work. “We had about six or seven weeks that was just all stunts,” he says. “At one point the stunt coordinator came over and said, ‘We have eight miles of cable right now on the stage.’ He added, ‘I’ve never had remotely that much cabling.’”
Gillespie comments that while the scale was intense, what excited him most was how closely the action reflected Kara’s emotional journey. “There was a lot going on, but it was really exciting, because in each case there was always something a little different,” he explains. “Where she is emotionally in the story dictated a lot of how these fight sequences go. If she’s in a very angry place, it’s much messier and more aggressive.
If she’s in the zone, the camera becomes more fluid.” He also notes that Kara’s shifting power levels — including sequences set on red planets where Kryptonian abilities don’t work — played a key role in shaping the film’s action throughout.
Director Craig Gillespie on the “cosmic” story
Craig Gillespie says he was immediately drawn to Supergirl by a script unafraid to explore darker, more emotionally complex territory on a cosmic scale. “The script goes to some very dark and hard places for the character,” he explains.
“It really went to some hard and difficult places for the character, for the audience, and it really has a lot of soul-searching involved, and surprises you with the dark places that it ends up landing in.” Gillespie adds that the film’s scope allowed those themes to play out across space. “The whole movie takes place in outer space,” he says. “It’s a space fantasy.”
He was particularly excited that the tone wouldn’t be softened. “I was very excited that we wouldn’t have to shy away from that,” he adds, noting the importance of embracing ambiguity. “The ambiguity of where your character is in her life — you guys have been incredibly supportive with that.”
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.
