SUPERGIRL Writer Misinterpreted the Comic and It Changed the Ending of the Film
One of the biggest creative decisions in Supergirl apparently came from an unexpected place. Screenwriter Ana Nogueira has revealed that she misunderstood how Tom King and Bilquis Evely's acclaimed comic actually ended, and that interpretation ended up reshaping one of the movie's most important moments.
Fans of the comic know that Kara Zor-El's journey is ultimately about breaking the cycle of revenge. Throughout the story, she teaches Ruthye that vengeance isn't the answer, even after Krem of the Yellow Hills commits horrific acts, including killing Kara's beloved horse, Comet.
By the end of the comic, Krem is sentenced to 300 years in the Phantom Zone. Long afterward, an older Kara reunites with an elderly Ruthye, where they encounter a remorseful Krem pleading for forgiveness. Ruthye refuses to give him the closure he's seeking, striking him with her cane before walking away.
Some readers initially saw that ending as open to interpretation, but artist Bilquis Evely's artwork shows that Krem survives. Tom King later confirmed there was never supposed to be any mystery surrounding his fate.
Speaking in March 2024, King explained: "This is not supposed to be ambiguous; he's supposed to be alive at the end. That's why he grabs his head. Ruthye does not forgive him, still f***ing hates him, bops him on the head, and walks away."
Nogueira, however, believed something very different happened. While speaking with Variety, the writer explained that she had interpreted the comic's ending as Ruthye eventually killing Krem.
That understanding became the foundation for one of the film's biggest departures from the source material. Instead of Ruthye delivering justice years later, the movie has Kara kill Krem herself by stabbing him in the chest and neck.
Nogueira said: "The ending between Kara and Krem was always in it, from the pitch — truly from the very beginning. Because the comic ends with Ruthye killing him, but in the far, far future. We knew we weren’t gonna be able to do that kind of time jump, and I find it’s quite a dark ending of the comic."
She continued by explaining the reasoning behind the change, despite the fact that the comic's ending wasn't actually what she believed it to be.
"He essentially has changed, and she kills him anyway, because she still just has this anger, and you understand there’s this element of deserve, right?
“So, we wanted to craft a villain who would deserve this, but we also wanted Kara to really care about preserving Ruthye’s innocence, and to feel like she could take on [killing him], that she could be the one to bring justice to this man, and do it without burdening this child."
Those comments quickly sparked debate among DC fans online. Some readers questioned how such a significant misunderstanding of the source material happened, especially since Tom King has been closely involved with DC Studios during the development of its new slate of projects.
Nogueira also suggested that Kara's decision to kill Krem could have major implications for her future in the DC Universe, setting her apart from her famous cousin.
She explained: "I also find it really interesting because it means she has her own moral compass going forward. One that is separate from what Superman’s famous moral compass is: that he never takes a life. It’s really exciting to see."
As for how that philosophical difference could affect Kara and Superman's relationship moving forward, she admitted she doesn't know where James Gunn intends to take things.
"I have no idea what happens between the two of them in 'Man of Tomorrow,' that’s above my pay grade. But it’s really exciting to think about them going forward and having these different viewpoints on how you deal with villains."
Whether fans agree with Nogueira's interpretation or not, it's hard to ignore how much that misunderstanding appears to have influenced the finished film. Had she interpreted King's ending the way it was intended, there's a good chance Supergirl would've ended very differently.
It's also worth remembering that director Craig Gillespie previously said James Gunn was "adamant" about Kara killing Krem in the movie, suggesting the decision ultimately had support at the highest level of DC Studios.
That does make one detail especially interesting. Tom King currently works at DC Studios, where he's writing the animated Mister Miracle series and HBO's Lanterns. Considering his involvement with the studio, it's surprising that this apparent misunderstanding of his own comic was never addressed during development.
Now that Supergirl is playing in theaters, fans can decide for themselves whether this dramatic change strengthens Kara's story or misses the point of what made Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow such a great comic in the first place.