How James Gunn’s MCU Blockbusters Influenced DCU’s Supergirl

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The highly anticipated first trailer for the next big DC Universe movie is now available! Hitting theaters in June, the film stars Milly Alcock as Supergirl, making her the third actress to portray the character on the big screen. Based on the DC Comics storyline Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the trailer hints at a thrilling, galaxy-spanning sci-fi adventure that’s sure to excite DCU fans.

With Supergirl, the DC Universe moves beyond the creative control of James Gunn, handing the directorial reins to Craig Gillespie, known for I, Tonya and Cruella. However, Gunn’s influence is still strongly felt throughout the film. In fact, more than in Superman, it appears Gunn’s experience with the Marvel Cinematic Universe – particularly his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy – heavily shaped the movie, as evidenced by the first trailer.

Supergirl Is a Galaxy-Hopping Sci-Fi Adventure Like Guardians of the Galaxy

The trailer for Supergirl has a strong science fiction feel that is reminiscent of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. The original Guardians film established a large sci-fi universe that, despite featuring many strange aliens and creatures, felt gritty and perilous. This same sense of danger is clearly present in Supergirl, showing Kara and her allies struggling to survive against hostile creatures in a dangerous part of the galaxy.

Visually, the show is really striking, especially when Kara faces off against these space pirates – they instantly reminded me of the Ravagers from the Marvel movies! The planet where she first meets Ruthye Marye Knoll looked a lot like Knowhere, the Guardians of the Galaxy’s base, too. But what’s really exciting is how much new stuff they’re showing us – locations and characters we haven’t seen done live-action before. That quick shot of Jason Momoa as Lobo was a definite highlight – can’t wait to see more of him!

While Supergirl‘s story explores the darker side of the galaxy, the trailer also gives us a glimpse of Krypton, which looks and feels very different from the other planets we’ve seen. Its beautiful, majestic design is reminiscent of the Sovereign from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This could hint that the DCU’s Kryptonians, similar to the Sovereign, see themselves as a dominant race destined to rule over planets like Earth.

As a huge sci-fi fan, when I watched the Supergirl trailer, I definitely saw echoes of Guardians of the Galaxy, but it wasn’t a simple copy. The ships and the look of those alien planets reminded me of a lot of different space adventures, actually. Some critics are saying it’s just ripping off James Gunn’s work, but I think it’s clear the filmmakers were inspired by a whole range of popular sci-fi – Guardians is just one piece of the puzzle.

Supergirl’s Storyline Is Based on Star-Lord’s Guardians of the Galaxy Arc

The new Supergirl series isn’t just taking cues from classic science fiction and alien worlds. The first trailer suggests Milly Alcock’s portrayal of Supergirl will also be inspired by Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy. Chris Pratt played Star-Lord with a mix of sadness and comedy throughout the films and holiday special, and it looks like Alcock will bring a similar emotional range to her role as Kara Zor-El.

The new Supergirl poster immediately draws a connection between Kara Zor-El and Peter Quill (Star-Lord). Kara is shown wearing headphones plugged into a retro Walkman – the very same Walkman Star-Lord is known for using. This hints that, like Star-Lord, Kara will also enjoy classic rock music, though her taste might lean towards artists like Blondie instead of Redbone.

The trailer for Supergirl shows that the superhero, played by Milly Alcock, has a sad past that makes her feel like an outsider. Interestingly, her story is almost the reverse of Peter Quill’s. Quill was taken from Earth as a child and grew up among aliens, while Kara lost her home planet and arrived on Earth as one of the last survivors of her people. Both characters struggle with feeling lost, but ultimately find acceptance and a sense of belonging with surprising friends.

It’s interesting to note that Peter Quill (Star-Lord) and Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) have similar flaws. Both initially cope with inner pain by indulging in things like drinking, casual relationships, and even stealing. Supergirl, like Star-Lord, sometimes prioritizes partying over heroism. However, early hints suggest that Kara, similar to Star-Lord, will eventually reconnect with her heroic nature.

Supergirl Is the Most Important Upcoming DCU Movie

Look, Supergirl feels like a really big deal for the new DCU, and honestly, it reminds me a lot of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Think about it – Guardians was a huge gamble for Marvel. They took relatively unknown characters and launched them into a completely separate corner of the universe, separate from everything else they were building. And that’s what Supergirl feels like – a fresh start, a big swing, and a chance to build something new.

Despite being a surprising hit, Guardians of the Galaxy became a hugely important movie for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It wasn’t just that it introduced key characters who would be central to the overarching Infinity Saga; it also laid the groundwork for Thanos and the Infinity Stones, which were crucial to later films like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Perhaps even more significantly, Guardians of the Galaxy demonstrated that the MCU could successfully expand to cosmic settings and explore different genres. James Gunn’s films paved the way for future Marvel projects, including Thor: Ragnarok and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Just like Superman, Supergirl is intended to launch the DC Universe into a larger, more expansive world, and its importance is immediately apparent. The movie, set for release in 2026, will be the first to venture beyond Earth, showcasing a vast galaxy filled with diverse alien planets and creatures. A successful Supergirl film will pave the way for more stories set in the cosmic side of the DCU. Fortunately, James Gunn has a proven track record of creating captivating sci-fi universes, as demonstrated by the success of Guardians of the Galaxy, which suggests Supergirl is in capable hands.

Beyond being a new film, Supergirl needs to demonstrate that the DCU can thrive with filmmakers beyond James Gunn. While Gunn’s initial three projects have been hugely popular, it’s time for another director to bring their own vision to the universe. Large franchises like the DCU require a variety of creative talents to stay fresh and maintain momentum. If the DCU wants to evolve beyond telling just James Gunn’s stories, Supergirl is where it needs to prove it can.

The upcoming Supergirl movie has a similar vibe to James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy series, which is a good thing! The first trailer hints at a spectacular sci-fi adventure, unlike anything DC has done before. If the film lives up to the trailer’s hype, Supergirl could be a major success for the DC Universe in 2026.

Supergirl hits theaters on June 26, 2026.

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2025-12-13 00:10