Details from James Gunn’s Supergirl press event have become known now that the official trailer has been released.
The reactions have been divisive to say the least.
At the event, producer Peter Safran confirmed that Supergirl currently clocks in at under two hours. He stressed that the story dictated the runtime, describing the cut as intentional and focused rather than extended for scale.
Superman Appears in the Film
GamesRadar confirmed that David Corenswet’s Superman appears in Supergirl.
Milly Alcock said her hardest day on set involved a full Kryptonian-language scene with Superman in freezing temperatures, adding that the entire sequence is performed in Kryptonian.
Craig Gillespie’s Approach to Supergirl
Director Craig Gillespie said James Gunn and Peter Safran encouraged him to create something distinct within the DCU.
He described Supergirl as an anti-hero story centered on a character carrying deep trauma, shaped by a childhood wildly different from Superman’s.
Gillespie highlighted Kara’s emotional complexity and the darker tone driving her arc.
James Gunn on Milly Alcock and the Character
James Gunn revealed he had Milly Alcock in mind for the role years ago after watching House of the Dragon.
He described Alcock’s audition as so strong it brought the team to tears.
Gunn emphasized that this version of Supergirl is flawed, messy, and far from the “perfect” portrayals often given to female heroes—rooted heavily in Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow.
A Standalone Vision Within the DCU
Gillespie said Gunn encouraged him to treat Supergirl like its own graphic novel, with its own tone and artistic identity rather than something tightly bound to Superman.
This approach gave Gillespie full creative freedom to shape the film’s style and emotional direction.
Jason Momoa’s Lobo and Expanded Role
Safran said Jason Momoa is “basically Lobo in real life,” noting that the actor pushed for the role.
Via our own sources, behind-the-scenes reactions to his performance were reportedly strong enough that his role expanded during production.
DCU Merch Strategy and Brand Cohesion
Safran confirmed a surge of upcoming Supergirl merchandise as part of DC Studios’ push for unified branding across films, games, and collectibles.
He spoke about creating a connected ecosystem, noting increased DC presence in areas like Fortnite and high-end collectibles.
Tone and Influences
James Gunn said Supergirl might be heavier and darker than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, calling it a cosmic coming-of-age story rooted in humor, pain, and personal growth.
Early footage reportedly mirrors Woman of Tomorrow very closely, with Ruthye and key comic elements faithfully adapted.
Other DCU Updates
Safran confirmed that the first cut of Clayface arrives in January. He also teased an unannounced DCU show coming next year that was not part of the original slate, strongly hinting it may be a Jimmy Olsen series.
Release info
Supergirl gets released in theaters on June 26, 2026.
Source: Brandon Davis YouTube
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