Supergirl trailer reveal
First Supergirl trailer drops, revealing a complex Kara Zor-El
DC Studios has unveiled the first full trailer for Supergirl, and Popcorn Podcast was invited to sneak an early look at the reimagined Kara Zor-El, one far removed from the polished, hopeful Kryptonian archetype typically associated with her cousin, Superman (David Corenswet).
Australia’s Milly Alcock as Supergirl
In a global Q&A session accompanying the long-awaited reveal to select film insiders and media, Australian director Craig Gillespie (Cruella, I, Tonya), star Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon), and DC Studios co-chief James Gunn outlined why this version of Supergirl is unlike any seen on screen.
The trailer revealed a gritty space western aesthetic to the film, as Kara hops a rocket-ship taxi of sorts to a distant planet with the plan to drink away her troubles and celebrate her 23rd birthday with no-one but trusty sidekick Krypto for company. Visually, the production design brings to mind echoes of the rusty, industrial drinking holes of Knowhere from Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
However, like any good superhero flick, it isn’t long before trouble – and a noble cause in the form of wandering warrior Ruthye Mary Knolle (Eve Ridley) – finds her, pulling Kara into a fight that is bigger than her own inner turmoil.
Gunn shared the decision to make Supergirl the DCU’s second film after Superman stemmed from the strength of Ana Nogueira’s script and the freshness of Tom King’s acclaimed graphic novel Woman of Tomorrow – which was originally going to be the full title of the film.
“The script by Ana was the best script I’d read… Supergirl is not someone who we've seen on the big screen for a long, long time,” Gunn said.
Gillespie embraced the mandate to build a distinct visual and emotional identity for Kara. “Every DC project they're going to do is its own graphic novel,” he said of the revamped slate. The director also shared he was drawn to the character’s depth and darkness: “She's got a lot of demons. She's not dealing with it well at the beginning of the film. And it's a wonderful place for an actor to start.”
Alcock, whose brief drunk appearance at the end of Superman teased Supergirl’s arrival and the tone of the character, described the feeling of first putting on the suit and stepping into the massive Fortress of Solitude set as eye-opening.
“I walked in… and I was like, this is ridiculous,” the Aussie star said, adding that a producer was moved to literal tears from seeing Supergirl realised after years spent in development. Supergirl’s last feature film was in 1984, starring Helen Slater. The moment underscored the weight of the role for Alcock: “It made me really want to do her justice,” she said.
James Gunn, Milly Alcock and Craig Gillespie discuss Supergirl
This Supergirl, Alcock stressed, is not defined by perfection, like her cousin. “She’s incredibly flawed. The superhero part is so secondary,” she said. Her portrayal leans into a jaded, emotionally raw Kara shaped by trauma. “She doesn't want to be a hero. The movie is about the opposite,” Gunn emphasised.
Both director and star believe audiences will walk away surprised by the film’s boldness. “It's very different from other superhero films… the ending is surprising and incredibly empowering,” Gillespie said. Alcock agreed, teasing a version of Kara who “owns who she is in an unapologetic way”.
With its blend of grit, emotional complexity and operatic stakes, Supergirl signals a tonal range that’s in keeping with the emerging DCU, one where its newest heroine may also be its most unpredictable.
