Milly Alcock Stays Really True to ‘Woman of Tomorrow’ Comic for ‘Supergirl’
Milly Alcock has been candid during the ‘Supergirl‘ press tour about the immense pressure of donning the iconic cape. A recent clip shared by Variety captures her summarizing that experience in a single, heartfelt statement.
The actress mentioned that she remained “really true” to Tom King’s comic book series while crafting her portrayal of Kara Zor-El, then “crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.”
This approach was anything but passive. Alcock described being instantly captivated by the source material upon her first reading, sharing with Den of Geek that she was “so seduced by the colors and the imagery of the world Tom King and Bilquis Evely presented.” She was pleasantly surprised to discover such a “messy, resilient, and incredibly kind person within the book.”
Her connection to Kara extended beyond the pages of the comic. In her detailed Variety cover story, Alcock reflected on how her personal journey during production mirrored Kara’s own arc. She experienced a path of self-doubt that eventually led to confidence, paralleling the character’s development. Alcock described the film as the closest she has ever come to portraying her true self.
James Gunn, who cast Alcock after being impressed by her performance in ‘House of the Dragon,’ later expressed from the set of the ‘Superman’ sequel that he always believed she would bring “an innate edge I thought Supergirl needed.” Producer Peter Safran recalled the audition as a moment of unanimous agreement, stating that “everybody had tears in their eyes” and that the creative team collectively recognized she was “absolutely perfect.”
The comic that influenced her preparation, Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,’ has been widely acknowledged for reimagining Kara Zor-El as an emotionally nuanced, world-weary hero rather than merely a counterpart to her cousin. King, who is consulting on numerous DC Studios projects, mentioned that adapting the series for the screen required “letting it go” and trusting the filmmakers to create something meaningful with his interpretation of the character.
Initial reactions from early screenings have drawn notable comparisons to ‘Mad Max,’ with critics highlighting the film’s deliberately gritty, otherworldly aesthetic, which starkly contrasts with the polished superhero look typical of most DCU entries. This tonal risk has elicited mixed reviews; however, Alcock has consistently received praise in nearly every critique of the film.
At the film’s world premiere in Brooklyn, Alcock also discussed the queer interpretations that fans have applied to Kara. She expressed to Variety that she feels “really honored” that the LGBTQ+ community has connected with a character she describes as someone who “doesn’t live inside the binary of what we think a woman should be.” Regardless of the film’s ultimate box office performance, her portrayal clearly demonstrates a deep respect for the source material.
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