Superman’s Best Cameo Confirms the Most Exciting Part of the DCU’s Future

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Superman was the first live-action film to launch James Gunn’s DC Universe, coming after the animated series Creature Commandos on HBO Max. The movie gave audiences a good look at Gunn’s vision for the DCU, establishing a world where heroes are celebrated, even when society doesn’t always understand them. Gunn also demonstrated his willingness to include popular comic book characters, from Maxwell Lord’s Justice Gang (which took some inspiration from the Justice League International) to the introduction of Krypto the Superdog. The film was packed with hidden references, like details about the staff at the Daily Planet, the Chocos cereal, and all the images displayed within the Hall of Justice.

But the most memorable cameo in the new Superman film actually hints at what’s coming next for the DCU’s upcoming movies. This cameo happened at the very end, when Superman’s cousin, Supergirl, appeared to retrieve her pet dog.

Superman’s Supergirl Cameo Sets up an Exciting DCU Future

A memorable cameo in Superman happened at the very end when Supergirl unexpectedly arrived at the Fortress of Solitude to retrieve her pet. It was revealed that Krypto actually belonged to Supergirl, not Superman, and she had left him in his care while she was away. This scene highlighted two key things. First, it clearly established that Supergirl has a personality that’s quite different from her cousin Superman. Second, it offered fans a preview of what they can anticipate from the Supergirl standalone film, scheduled for release on June 26, 2026.

To begin with, Milly Alcock did a fantastic job as Kara Zor-El when she appeared at the end of Superman. This immediately established that her version of the character was quite distinct from those seen in The CW television series (with Melissa Benoist) or the 1984 film (starring Helen Slater). This was a clever choice, as this Supergirl is markedly different from those earlier interpretations.

The depiction was spot-on, clearly establishing that Kara Zor-El is very different from her cousin. Superman grew up in a wholesome, traditional environment with Jonathan and Martha Kent in a small town, while Supergirl has a much more heartbreaking history, as reflected in the source material for her film. This shows that Gunn is crafting a uniquely separate movie for Supergirl compared to his Superman film. The movie, directed by Craig Gillespie (Cruella) and written by Ana Nogueira, is based on the story first told in the comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a Great Story to Adapt

Seeing Supergirl arrive at the Fortress of Solitude seemingly intoxicated might seem odd, but it makes sense when you know the story the movie draws from. Although James Gunn and the DCU have renamed the film Supergirl, it’s still adapted from the comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This series was created by Tom King and Bilquis Evely and came out in 2021. Over eight issues, the comic really established Supergirl’s backstory within this particular universe.

Unlike Kal-El, who arrived on Earth before Krypton was destroyed, Supergirl came from a city that actually survived the explosion and drifted in space. Eventually, a dangerous radiation leak threatened everyone on board. Similar to Superman, Supergirl’s parents sent her to Earth, hoping she could find her cousin and survive. However, Kara witnessed the deaths of everyone she knew and loved before leaving, a trauma her cousin never faced. This comic series highlights just how different Supergirl is from Superman, and explores those differences.

I recently read Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and it really dives into how she copes with the pain of her beginnings. It’s interesting to see her dealing with things by, well, having a lot to drink on planets where she doesn’t have her full powers. But the real heart of the story, for me, is when she decides to help a young girl get justice for her father’s murder. It wasn’t just about saving this girl from making a terrible mistake; it also gave Kara a chance to finally start dealing with her own past trauma. It was a really powerful story.

Those familiar with the comic will agree that Milly Alcock is the strongest casting decision the DCU has made to date – and that’s high praise considering the excellent work from actors like Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Alcock is a perfect fit for the troubled Supergirl character, and her significant appearance in Superman suggests a very promising future for the DCU.

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2025-10-02 16:41