Milly Alcock Explains How DCU’s Supergirl Differs From Superman With New Insights

A fresh look at ‘Supergirl’ reveals how distinct she is from Superman, as shared by actress Milly Alcock.

The upcoming ‘Supergirl’ film is a part of the new DC Universe, directed by Craig Gillespie, with James Gunn serving as a producer. Milly Alcock portrays Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin. Despite their shared origins, the film emphasizes their contrasting lives and personalities.

This difference is hinted at in the closing moments of James Gunn’s Superman film, where Supergirl makes a brief appearance. In that scene, she radiates strong energy, collects her dog Krypto, and swiftly departs from her cousin. This moment provides an early glimpse into her character before her own story unfolds.

Alcock noted that her character was influenced by the comic ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’, which helped shape the film’s tone. She stated, “I understood at that point that James is trying to do something very different and unexpected with her. She’s such a good contrast to Superman, because she’s a survivor of trauma in the purest sense. I was excited to play someone so beautifully flawed and resilient.”

This iteration of Supergirl is not depicted as a calm or fully composed hero. Instead, she is portrayed as someone who has endured significant loss, which permeates every aspect of her life. The narrative does not shy away from this pain; rather, it serves as the foundation of her character.

Director Craig Gillespie also shared his motivations for creating the film. His previous works often center on complex characters, and he believes this approach suits Supergirl perfectly. He explained, “I have a very specific tone I’m attracted to. I always loved the first Iron Man: flawed, complex and conflicted. They sent me the Ana Nogueira script [for Supergirl], and two scenes in, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ It was exactly what I hoped for; it’s all character. She went from an incredibly, incredibly dark scene to this irreverent character scene, all in the first 15 pages.”

He also described the character as having a rough edge, unafraid to show her pain. “[Supergirl] has got a lot of trauma, a lot of demons; she’s unapologetic,” he said. “You get to have a character that can be punky and edgy and not take off those rough edges.”

The film follows Kara Zor-El as she journeys through space, embarking on a violent and emotional adventure. She grapples not only with action and excitement but also with the grief and anger stemming from her past.

‘Supergirl’ is directed by Craig Gillespie and penned by Ana Nogueira. It features Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, and Jason Momoa. James Gunn and Peter Safran are producing the film under DC Studios.

The movie is based on the comic ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ and follows Kara on a journey across the galaxy, driven by a personal tragedy that propels her into a quest for vengeance. According to the report from Empire, the film aims to portray a more emotional and damaged version of the character compared to Superman.

‘Supergirl’ is set to hit theaters on June 26, as part of the new DC Universe.

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