When Ana Nogueira signed on to write Supergirl for James Gunn’s DCU, DC Studios executives handed her a stack of Tom King’s comics. That included Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, a series that leaned into Kara Zor-El’s trauma instead of the “sunny” optimism fans usually associate with Superman’s cousin.
Nogueira Found Her Supergirl in Tom King’s Comics
Nogueira admitted she never connected with earlier portrayals of Supergirl as she told Variety: “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.’”
Tom King’s take, she explained, finally clicked. His version was “rougher, grittier, edgier, and funnier.” That approach leaned into Kara’s past and helped her define a darker cinematic version for the DCU.
The film, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock as Kara, is scheduled for release in June 2026. It will also be Nogueira’s first produced screenplay, with DC already giving her additional projects like Wonder Woman and Teen Titans.
What to Expect from Gunn’s Supergirl
Given Gunn’s track record with Superman and Peacemaker, fans should expect Supergirl’s story to go beyond a character study.
A darker, more cynical Kara: Based on King’s comics and Nogueira’s comments, this Supergirl won’t be the bright counterpart to Superman.
Edgy themes baked into the script: If Gunn sticks to the source material, Kara may struggle with vengeance, trauma, and rage rather than hope and inspiration.
A political undertone: Gunn has already turned Peacemaker into a platform for political commentary. With Supergirl, his DCU could continue weaving in those messages.
Release info
Supergirl gets released on June 26, 2026.
Milly Alcock stars as the titular character, with Jason Momoa as Lobo. Also starring includes Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll, with Matthias Schoenaerts as the villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills. We’ve actually been told they added more Jason Momoa as Lobo.
