The DCU’s Next Movie Can Finally Break a 42-Year Streak for One of DC’s Best Characters

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Following the mixed success of the previous DC movie universe, DC is starting over with a completely new approach to bring its characters to the screen. The new universe began promisingly with the release of Superman last year, and more heroes are on the way. This summer will bring the TV series Lanterns – the first live-action Green Lantern show since the 2011 movie – and plans are underway for new films starring Batman and Wonder Woman. However, before any of those arrive, one beloved DC character might finally get the reboot she’s been waiting for.

The upcoming DCU movie focuses on Supergirl, played by Milly Alcock, who made a brief but impactful appearance in Superman. The film promises a fun, action-packed space adventure similar to Guardians of the Galaxy. If it delivers on its promise, Supergirl could break a 42-year pattern of disappointing movies starring the character in a leading role.

Supergirl‘s Unfortunate Movie History Explained

Supergirl has been a part of DC Comics since the 1950s, but Hollywood hasn’t had much success adapting her story for film. While Superman and Batman have thrived on the big screen, Supergirl’s attempts have fallen flat. An early idea for Superman III even tried to turn her into Superman’s love interest instead of his cousin, but that plan was scrapped. She finally got her own movie in 1984, but it was a critical and commercial failure, earning just a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and only $14.3 million at the box office. As a result, Supergirl never appeared in another film alongside Christopher Reeve’s Superman.

It had been many years since Supergirl appeared in a live-action movie when Sasha Calle was chosen to play Kara Zor-El in the DC film The Flash, with a contract for multiple future appearances. Unfortunately, The Flash didn’t perform as well as expected. While critics praised Calle’s performance, the film faced numerous problems during production, including issues with visual effects and the uncertain future of the DC Extended Universe. By the time the movie came out in 2023, James Gunn and Peter Safran were already leading DC Studios and building a new DC Universe, which meant Calle’s version of Supergirl likely wouldn’t continue, despite hopes for her character’s development.

Fans didn’t have to wait long to get a glimpse of Supergirl, thanks to Alcock’s brief appearance in Superman. She immediately stood out, showcasing a fun contrast between her character and Superman – Kara is portrayed as a bit of a free spirit, even a “hot mess,” compared to him. Despite limited screen time, Alcock establishes Kara as sarcastic, carefree, and a little reckless, hinting at a character with a lot of potential, and hopefully, a great story to come this summer.

Why Supergirl Can End the Supergirl Movie Curse

There’s good reason to be hopeful about the upcoming Supergirl movie, and it starts with the source material. While not a direct copy, the film is heavily inspired by Tom King’s critically acclaimed Woman of Tomorrow comic series. In fact, screenwriter Ana Nogueira has said King’s work was key to figuring out the movie’s story. She initially struggled with how Supergirl could maintain a positive outlook after witnessing the destruction of her planet. However, the more complex and realistic portrayal of the character in Woman of Tomorrow gave Nogueira the insight she needed, ultimately becoming the foundation for the film’s narrative.

The new take on Supergirl promises a different kind of superhero story. Instead of a traditional hero, this version focuses on Kara’s pain and struggles after losing Krypton. The show sets up a fascinating journey for her – she doesn’t want to be a classic “goody-two-shoes” like Superman, but finds herself teaming up with Ruthye Marye Knoll on a mission for revenge. Because of her difficult past, Kara is likely to be a more complicated character than Superman. As she explains in the show’s trailer, Superman always looks for the best in people, while she sees things as they really are. However, her beliefs may be tested during this new adventure.

While the upcoming Supergirl film appears to have similarities to James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies, director Craig Gillespie seems like a perfect fit. He’s proven he can handle complex, flawed characters – think Cruella and I, Tonya – making him well-suited to tell the story of a cynical and rebellious Kara. Gillespie doesn’t just make entertaining films; he also knows how to deliver genuinely touching moments while keeping a quirky style. His indie film Lars and the Real Girl is a great example – he took a strange idea (a man falling for a sex doll) and created something both funny and surprisingly heartfelt. That ability to balance humor and emotion is exactly what Supergirl needs in a director.

Beyond a compelling story for Kara Zor-El, there’s a lot to look forward to in the Supergirl movie. Krypto the Superdog is expected to be a standout character, and his relationship with Kara will likely be a central emotional element. The Puppy Bowl teaser showed a sweet first meeting between baby Krypto and Kara, hinting at fun adventures to come. The film also marks the debut of Jason Momoa as Lobo, a role fans have long hoped to see him play, and early glimpses suggest he’ll deliver. If everything comes together as planned, Supergirl should continue the strong start for the new DC Universe.

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2026-03-22 23:40