Summary
- Supergirl's new movie opportunity offers a chance for the character to finally shine in a big-screen production and further expand the DC Universe.
- Milly Alcock's casting as Supergirl has been met with approval, and her previous acting experience suggests she will bring a vibrant and engaging version of Kara Zor-El to life.
- The story of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is expected to explore a more intense side of the character's journey, showcasing her unique upbringing.
After James Gunn became co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, he made huge moves signaling a more exciting future for DC, which included the announcement of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow for the DC Universe. Ever since 2013's Man of Steel, the DCEU has faced tonal and behind the scenes issues. The DC Universe provides a new way forward for the superhero franchise, especially since Gunn seemingly has a clear overarching vision for the franchise, which includes a long-awaited Supergirl film installment among other upcoming DC movies.
Supergirl might not be the most famous DC superhero, but the character has never gotten the justice she deserves, as the 1984 movie was a critical disaster and a box office bomb (via Box Office Mojo). And while she has had a small-screen hit, as the CW series Supergirl lasted for six seasons, that was very much a made-for-TV production. As such, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a great chance for the hero and her story to come to life, capitalizing on the character's history to further flesh out the DC Universe's Chapter 1.
Superman: Release Date, Plot Details & Everything We Know
Superman is the first entry in James Gunn's much anticipated new DCU, and here is everything we know from cast to story and release date.Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow Latest News
On January 29, 2024, James Gunn confirmed that Milly Alcock was the official DCU casting for Supergirl, with the actor then releasing her own statement about her excitement to take on the role. This came shortly after reports that Milly Alcock and Meg Donnelly were the frontrunners for the DC hero, and were screentesting for it in the final leg of the journey to join the official DCU cast roster. Milly Alcock was a popular casting choice for the role, and her acting history strongly suggests she can bring a vibrant and engaging version of Kara Zor-El to life on the big screen.
Before this, November 2023 brought the latest news for Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow, with James Gunn revealing that Ana Nogueira is the screenwriter for the movie, stating that, "Ana is an amazing writer whose screenplay adaptation of Woman of Tomorrow is above and beyond anything I hoped it would be. We’re excited to be moving forward on this unique take on Supergirl in this beautiful, star-spanning tale."
Nogueira originally was set to write a script for a Supergirl movie after the events of The Flash, which introduced Sasha Calle's iteration of the DC hero. However, this was eventually canceled with the reconfiguration of the DCEU into the DC Universe - which makes Nogueira being hired as the writer for Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow all the more notable, as it certainly supports the idea that the writer's take on Supergirl is especially promising.
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow Confirmed
In January 2023, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was confirmed by James Gunn along with many other DCU movies and shows. The slate will also include Superman: Legacy, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and many others, which will be part of DCU Chapter 1: God and Monsters. Gunn's list might not be in the order of when they enter production, but Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow sits between Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Swamp Thing.
The release date for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is currently unknown. While nothing official has been confirmed by Warner Bros., estimates for the movie see it expected to come out sometime in 2027 (via Collider), as there are some indicators that point to that year.
Not only has he mapped out a 10-year plan, but Gunn will also write and direct Superman: Legacy, which will reboot the superhero. The filmmaker explained that the studio tasked him with an ambitious 2025 release in mind. As there are several DCU movies between Superman: Legacy and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, a two-year gap is a favorable forecast that could hold true should the franchise's early installments have relatively smooth sailing.
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow Cast
After some confusion as to whether Sasha Calle would continue in the role of Supergirl after playing an alternate universe version of the hero in the DCEU movie The Flash, it has since been confirmed that Milly Alcock will be taking on the role of DCU's Kara Zor-El, following the official 29 January 2024 announcement.
James Gunn also revealed that Milly Alcock was his first choice for the role, having seen her performance in House Of The Dragon a year prior, which convinced him she'd be a good fit for the character. Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow comic creator Tom King added his approval as well on social media, describing the decision to go with Alcock as "perfect casting".
Indeed, Alcock's performance as a younger Rhaenyra proves she's able to deal with a range of tones and adapt original source material well, as she did a stellar job taking on a complex job in an extensive franchise. This should all hopefully put her in good stead for her role as Supergirl within the DC Universe - something that's already supported by the fact she appears to have won out against other talented actors, as Meg Donnelly and Emilia Jones were reportedly also candidates who made it to the final stages of the casting process.
Milly Alcock's Supergirl is rumored to appear before her own solo movie in Superman: Legacy, though nothing official has yet been announced by James Gunn or DC Studios.
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow Story Details
While Supergirl sounds like a more light-hearted movie compared to Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Swamp Thing, it could be exactly the opposite. Based on James Gunn's comments about Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow when he confirmed its development, the movie's story has a real chance of being some of the DCU's more intense viewing. Gunn explained that audiences will see "Supergirl, raised on a rock, a chip off of Krypton, and who watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life and then come to Earth." Gunn added that she's "not the Supergirl we’re used to." This raises a lot of potential for the movie, as it suggests the plot could go in directions viewers may not be expecting beforehand.
Gunn also overtly referenced comic book writer Tom King who created the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book, meaning that the movie will likely be heavily based on the story. The comic book, which was published as recently as 2022, is considered some of the best material about the superhero. It follows Supergirl, who is contacted by an alien girl who had her entire planet destroyed and wants revenge on the people that destroyed it. And as has become typical of Gunn's movies, the comic book features a cute, supernatural animal, meaning Krypto the dog has a very real chance of featuring in the DCU film.
Though it is unlikely that Supergirl will be in James Gunn's Superman: Legacy, there's a small chance that Superman could have some kind of involvement in the events of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. In the same blurb given by Gunn about this movie, the writer/director also mentioned the Man of Steel, noting, “We will see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl." It isn't clear whether Gunn is simply referring to how the character will be different from Superman or if they'll actually share the screen, though either avenue holds real potential for both characters and the new world they will inhabit.
