‘Supergirl’ Writer Confirms Ending Was Always Planned From First Pitch

‘Supergirl’ writer Ana Nogueira has explained why the film’s conclusion diverges from Tom King’s ‘Woman of Tomorrow’ comic. In an interview with Variety, Nogueira revealed that the climactic battle between Kara Zor-El and Krem was envisioned from the outset, even before she completed the script.

Nogueira clarified that this was not a last-minute alteration. She stated that the ending was integral to her initial pitch for the film. “The ending between Kara and Krem was always in it, from the pitch — truly from the very beginning.”

The primary reason for the difference lies in how the comic and the movie narrate their stories. In the ‘Woman of Tomorrow’ comic, it is Ruthye who ultimately kills Krem, but this occurs far into the future after a significant time jump. Nogueira noted that such an ending would not translate well to a film format.

“Because the comic ends with Ruthye killing him, but in the far, far future. We knew we weren’t gonna be able to do that kind of time jump.”

She also mentioned that she perceived the comic’s conclusion as considerably darker than what they aimed for in the film. By the time Ruthye confronts Krem in the comic, he has undergone significant personal change. Nevertheless, Ruthye’s lingering anger drives her to kill him.

“I find it’s quite a dark ending of the comic. He essentially has changed, and she kills him anyway, because she still just has this anger.”

Instead of following that darker path, Nogueira wanted to present Kara in a different light. Rather than allowing Ruthye to bear the burden of taking a life, Kara assumes that responsibility. Nogueira emphasized that preserving Ruthye’s innocence became a crucial theme in the film’s ending.

“We wanted to craft a villain who would deserve this, but we also wanted Kara to really care about preserving Ruthye’s innocence, and to feel like she could take on [killing him], that she could be the one to bring justice to this man, and do it without burdening this child.”

Editor’s Note: Nogueira’s interpretation of the comic’s ending is inaccurate. In the comic, the narrative jumps far into the future, where an elderly Ruthye reunites with Supergirl and Krypto. Kara reveals that Krem has spent many years in the Phantom Zone and has come to regret his past crimes. She releases him, and Krem apologizes to Ruthye and seeks forgiveness. Instead of killing him, Ruthye merely strikes him with her walking stick before departing with Kara and Krypto, leaving Krem alive.

Tom King also confirmed that Krem ultimately lives during an episode of Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast from 2024.

For Nogueira, this creative choice reflects Kara’s identity as a hero. It’s not solely about vanquishing the villain; it’s also about ensuring Ruthye does not have to bear the emotional weight of taking a life. This decision became a pivotal aspect of Kara’s character development in the film.

The ending also distinguishes ‘Supergirl’ from ‘Superman’. Nogueira believes Kara possesses a unique perspective on justice, setting her apart from her renowned cousin. While Superman is characterized by his refusal to take a life, Kara’s actions illustrate that her moral framework differs.

“It’s different for Supergirl, and I think it will feel different for audiences.” Nogueira expressed excitement about this direction, as it allows Kara to carve out her own identity in the evolving DC Universe. “It means she has her own moral compass going forward. One that is separate from what Superman’s famous moral compass is: that he never takes a life.”

Although Nogueira is uncertain about how this decision will influence future narratives, she appreciates the potential for Superman and Supergirl to have differing approaches to confronting dangerous villains. She believes these distinctions could enrich upcoming stories.

Her comments indicate that the film’s ending was not crafted merely to differ from the comic. Nogueira emphasized that this choice was made from the very beginning to better suit the movie, safeguard Ruthye’s character, and provide Kara with a distinct moral trajectory in the new DC Universe.

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