James Gunn Reveals Supergirl’s Imperfect Edge in First Teaser Trailer

Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El emerges as a far cry from the polished icons of past portrayals, diving headfirst into a chaotic quest for vengeance across the stars. James Gunn’s vision for ‘Supergirl’ strips away the flawless veneer, embracing a heroine burdened by trauma and prone to reckless abandon. This anti-hero arc, drawn from Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s 2016 comic miniseries ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’, positions the Kryptonian as a reluctant warrior entangled in interstellar conflict.

Alcock, known for her breakout role as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’, steps into the cape as a 21-year-old survivor who witnessed Krypton’s annihilation firsthand. Unlike Superman, rescued as an infant and nurtured on Earth, Kara spent years adrift on a Kryptonian fragment, watching survivors perish. This backstory fuels her hardened demeanor, culminating in a solitary birthday escape that spirals into a galaxy-spanning brawl.

The teaser trailer, unveiled at a New York screening on December 7 and released online the following Thursday, opens with Alcock lounging in a rural field, clad in jeans, a bulky coat, and sunglasses. A massive spacecraft crashes violently in the distance, yet she remains unfazed, sipping from a flask. The footage escalates to glimpses of high-stakes action: Kara hurling foes through alien landscapes, clashing with bounty hunters, and unleashing superhuman fury amid cosmic debris.

Gunn, co-chair of DC Studios, addressed the character’s raw vulnerability during a post-screening panel. “So many times female superheroes are so perfect. She’s not that at all,” he stated. He elaborated on the deliberate shift: “Like male superheroes have been allowed to be for a while.” This approach mirrors the comic’s tone, where Kara aids alien teen Ruthye Knoll in avenging her father’s execution by Krem, a warlord from the Yellow Hills.

Directed by Craig Gillespie, whose credits include ‘I, Tonya’ and ‘Cruella’, the film adapts Ana Nogueira’s script, which retools Ozan Varol’s original draft. Production wrapped after principal photography began in mid-2024 at Warner Bros. Studios in England, with additional shoots in Iceland simulating extraterrestrial terrains. The narrative confines much of the action to off-world locales, emphasizing Kara’s outsider status in the DC Universe.

Matthias Schoenaerts embodies the villainous Krem, a ruthless leader whose forces decimated Ruthye’s family. Jason Momoa reprises his role as the czarnian bounty hunter Lobo, marking his DCU debut after originating the character in 2019’s ‘Aquaman’ sequel. Ruthye is portrayed by rising star Mia Tharia, while Matty Cardarople and Eve Ridley round out key supporting roles as secondary antagonists.

‘Supergirl’ slots into the rebooted DCU timeline, following James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ in July 2025 and preceding ‘Lanterns’ in summer 2026. The project traces its origins to 2018, when it was greenlit as a prestige HBO Max feature under WarnerMedia. Delays hit in 2020 amid the pandemic, and full cancellation loomed in 2022 under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s cost-cutting measures.

Revived in 2023 as Gunn assumed creative oversight, the film pivoted from a standalone HBO series to a theatrical release. Gunn’s mandate emphasized interconnected storytelling, with Kara’s arc intersecting Superman’s lore without direct crossover in this entry. Post-production focused on visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic, blending practical sets with CGI for Kryptonian flight sequences and planetary destruction.

Alcock’s casting, announced in 2023, beat out competitors like Meg Donnelly and Milly Zero after a rigorous search. Her screen test opposite David Corenswet’s Superman sealed the deal, highlighting her ability to convey quiet intensity. Co-star Momoa praised her during filming: “Milly brings this fire that’s been missing from the role.”

The trailer’s reception underscores DC’s pivot toward grounded, character-driven tales amid superhero fatigue. Early metrics from Fandango show pre-sale tickets surging 40 percent over comparable DC releases. Gunn teased further marketing pushes, including Comic-Con panels and global premieres, to build toward the June 26, 2026, debut.

This iteration redefines Supergirl’s legacy, first introduced in 1959’s Action Comics #252 as Kal-El’s cousin. Previous live-action takes include Helen Slater’s 1984 solo film and Sasha Calle’s brief appearance in 2023’s ‘The Flash’. Gunn’s version prioritizes emotional depth, positioning Kara as a foil to Superman’s optimism.

As DC Studios expands its slate with 10 projects slated through 2028, ‘Supergirl’ tests the viability of female-led blockbusters in a post-‘Wonder Woman’ landscape. Box office projections estimate an opening weekend north of $150 million domestically, buoyed by international appeal. The film’s score, composed by John Murphy, incorporates ethereal synths evoking Krypton’s lost grandeur.

Gunn concluded the panel by affirming the character’s enduring appeal: “Kara’s story is about finding light in the void. We’re excited for audiences to join her flight.” With reshoots complete and final cuts locked, anticipation builds for a heroine who soars not despite her scars, but because of them.