DCU Supergirl Not ‘Sunny’ – ‘Rougher, Grittier, Edgier, and Funnier’ Says Writer

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When Ana Nogueira began writing Supergirl for James Gunn’s DCU, DC Studios gave her several comics by Tom King. These included Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, a series that focused on Kara Zor-El’s difficult past rather than the cheerful attitude typically expected from Superman’s cousin.

Nogueira Found Her Supergirl in Tom King’s Comics

Nogueira explained to Variety that she didn’t relate to previous depictions of Supergirl. She said, “She watched Krypton completely be destroyed. I was always like, ‘I can’t get my head around the version of the character that is so sunny.’”

You know, someone finally helped me *get* Tom King’s vision. They described his take as being rougher, grittier, edgier, and funnier – which, honestly, is exactly what I wanted! It really dug into Kara’s backstory and allowed for a much darker cinematic version of the character within the DCU. It just… made sense, you know? I’m really excited to see where this new direction takes us.

Directed by Craig Gillespie and featuring Milly Alcock as Kara, the movie is set to come out in June 2026. This will also mark Nogueira’s debut as a produced screenwriter, and DC has already entrusted her with further projects, including Wonder Woman and Teen Titans.

What to Expect from Gunn’s Supergirl

Knowing what James Gunn did with Superman and Peacemaker, I’m really expecting Supergirl’s story to be more than just a deep dive into her character. I think it’s going to be something much bigger and more expansive!

A more brooding and skeptical Kara: Considering the source material from King’s comics and statements by Nogueira, this version of Supergirl won’t be the optimistic foil to Superman.

The storyline could explore darker aspects: If James Gunn remains true to the original comics, the character Kara might grapple with feelings of revenge, past trauma, and intense rage, instead of primarily focusing on optimism and motivation.

I’ve noticed James Gunn isn’t afraid to inject his views into his work – he really used Peacemaker as a way to offer political commentary. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he continues that trend with his new DCU, especially with a character like Supergirl. It feels like he’s building a universe where those kinds of messages can really be woven into the stories.

Release info

Supergirl gets released on June 26, 2026.

Milly Alcock plays the main character, and Jason Momoa appears as Lobo. The cast also features Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll, and Matthias Schoenaerts as the antagonist, Krem of the Yellow Hills. We’ve heard that they’ve included even more scenes with Jason Momoa as Lobo.

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2025-10-02 01:31