James Gunn Teases Milly Alcock’s Edgy SUPERGIRL Calling It "a Way More Rock & Roll Film"
James Gunn is leaning into craziness when it comes to reimagining Supergirl for the DCU. With Milly Alcock set to debut as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, fans should expect a version of the character that’s far from the bright, optimistic hero we’ve seen before.
If you caught the end of Superman, you saw Alcock’s Kara make a surprise appearance, stumbling into the Fortress of Solitude to retrieve Krypto from her cousin. That scene hinted at what Gunn has now confirmed… this Supergirl is a little rough around the edges.
Gunn told Rolling Stone:
“When I took this job, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was, like, number one for me of the things I knew I wanted to do. Ana Nogueira just killed the script right away, and saw what I saw in how the comic could be adapted to film, where [Supergirl is] even rougher in the film than she is in the comic, I think.”
Unlike her cousin Clark Kent, who was raised in the warmth of Smallville, Kara grew up in chaos. Gunn has been vocal about wanting to highlight that contrast. As he previously said:
“In our series we see the difference between Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl who was raised on a rock, a chip off Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl. She’s much more hardcore, she’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”
This Kara isn’t about truth, justice, and the American way, at least not in the traditional sense. She’s a survivor, and that edge will be central to the tone of the film.
“Remember, this is a different movie than Supergirl. Supergirl is a way more rock & roll film. It’s a little bit rougher, in certain ways. She’s a tougher character. She’s not Superman at all. And so it’s not the same.
“This movie really is for everybody. And so is Supergirl, but it’s a little bit edgier in some ways than this film. Mind you, I’ve seen all the dailies, but I haven’t seen the cut. I see it next week, I think. So I’m very excited about that.”
Fans who read Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow know Krypto doesn’t exactly have an easy ride. When asked if that arc will remain the same, Gunn kept things vague. However, considering how much he loves DC’s iconic pup, we’re betting the superdog will come out of this alive, even if the journey is brutal.
The movie will send Kara on a wild spacefaring adventure as she sets out to celebrate her 21st birthday with Krypto. Along the way, she crosses paths with Eve Ridley as Ruthye Mary Knolle and joins her on a bloody quest for vengeance.
Matthias Schoenaerts will play the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills, while Jason Momoa makes his long-awaited debut as Lobo. Rounding out the cast are David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham as Kara’s parents, Zor-El and Alura.
This film promises to deliver something entirely different from previous screen versions of Supergirl, particularly the long-running CW series fronted by Melissa Benoist. Gunn’s Kara is “less earnest and more edgy,” a “rock & roll” antiheroine for a new era of DC storytelling.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow opens in theaters on June 26, 2026. Buckle up, because this is going to be one hell of a ride across the cosmos.