Supergirl Will Have a Big Role in MAN OF TOMORROW and She Will Be "At Odds" with Superman
While fans are gearing up for Milly Alcock to make her solo debut in Supergirl, Kara Zor-El’s story is only just beginning. According to James Gunn, Supergirl will play a major role in the future of the DCU, and one of the most interesting dynamics moving forward will be the tension between Kara and her famous cousin.
Speaking at the premiere of Supergirl, Gunn opened up about what makes this version of Kara different from previous incarnations and why those differences will become a driving force in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow.
When asked how this take on Supergirl stands apart from what audiences have seen before, Gunn explained:
"I think it's very different. I think it's different in every way. It's based on a wonderful graphic novel by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. It's a Supergirl who's a hero like we've always known her, but she's haunted.
“She's had a very, very, very difficult life, bringing up, on a chunk of rock outside of Krypton, and she's damaged because of it, and she's not really ready to accept the suit in a way that Superman was."
Unlike Superman, who was raised on Earth by a loving family and given a strong moral foundation, Kara carries the trauma of witnessing Krypton's destruction and surviving in isolation.
It's that emotional baggage that appears to set her apart from Clark Kent in a major way. When the interviewer suggested that Alcock's version of Supergirl feels rougher around the edges than previous portrayals, Gunn agreed and expanded on how that personality difference will affect the larger DCU narrative.
"I've liked a lot of the iterations of Supergirl. I think Helen Slater was great. All of them, really, have been great versions, but I do think that this Supergirl is apart because she's not so much like Superman.
“She's very, very different from her cousin, which puts them at odds, which is a big part of this movie, and then an even bigger part of Man of Tomorrow, which we're filming now."
That comment offers a big hint about where the DCU is heading after Supergirl. While Clark and Kara have traditionally shared similar values, Gunn seems interested in exploring how two Kryptonians with drastically different life experiences might view the world in completely different ways.
The idea of Superman and Supergirl clashing isn't something fans have seen explored extensively on the big screen, and it could add an interesting layer to the growing DCU storyline.
Gunn also said that Alcock won't simply be popping in for a quick appearance in Man of Tomorrow, saying: "Milly's got a big role in that one."
In Supergirl, Kara finds herself on a revenge-fueled mission after Matthias Schoenaerts' villain Krem poisons her beloved dog, Krypto. Meanwhile, Man of Tomorrow will see Superman and Lex Luthor forced into an uneasy alliance to face the threat of Brainiac.
Of course, if early set footage is any indication, that partnership isn't exactly destined to be friendly. Videos from production have already shown Superman losing his temper with Lex, hinting that tensions will be high before Kara enters the picture.
Between a dangerous Brainiac, a reluctant alliance with Lex Luthor, and a growing conflict between Superman and Supergirl, Man of Tomorrow is shaping up to be an interesting movie and I’m curious to see how the story plays out.
Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26, while Man of Tomorrow is currently scheduled to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.