It wasn’t long ago that Supergirl’s cinematic future felt uncertain. After Sasha Calle’s appearance in The Flash (2023), there were questions about whether DC Studios would keep her version of the character around or move in a new direction. That question was answered in early 2024, when producers James Gunn and Peter Safran announced that Milly Alcock—best known for her breakout role as young Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon—would take on the cape as Kara Zor-El in a new standalone film simply titled Supergirl. And viewers were pretty blown away by her brief appearance in a sequence with David Corenswet as the Man of Steel in Gunn’s new Superman movie.

Not only is this a fresh start for the character, but it also marks her first solo theatrical film since 1984 and she’s bringing Krypto the Superdog along for the ride. It’s happening within the continuity of the new DC Universe as Supergirl is officially part of Gunn and Safran’s “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” slate of films and TV shows. But while Clark Kent’s return featured a hopeful, grounded tone, Kara Zor-El’s (she’s Superman’s cousin) story is set to be very different—darker, more intense and shaped by trauma. As Gunn himself put it, “She watched everyone she loved die… she’s much more of a mess.”

The film is directed by Craig Gillespie, whose past work includes I, Tonya, Cruella and Dumb Money, and written by Ana Nogueira, who was originally attached to a different Supergirl project before being brought into the DCU fold. Their pairing suggests a sharp, character-driven tone that aligns with the source material—the acclaimed 2021 comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely.

The first poster for 2026’s Supergirl
©WBDiscovery

While the film has dropped that subtitle, many of its narrative beats remain in place. Kara will team up with a young alien girl named Ruthye (played by Eve Ridley) and travel across the cosmos on a revenge mission, putting her in conflict with a brutal killer named Krem (played by Matthias Schoenaerts). Also appearing in the film are David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham as Supergirl’s Kryptonian parents, and Jason Momoa (the former Aquaman) in what’s expected to be his DCU debut as the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo.

Filming began in 2025 for a confirmed release date of June 26, 2026, Supergirl is positioned as a bold second chapter in the new DCU—and a major step forward for one of DC’s most enduring and underused characters.

What follows is a look at everything we know about the film at this point.

Who is playing Supergirl in the DCU?

Milly Alcock is an Australian actress best known for her breakout role as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon, a performance that earned her widespread acclaim and international attention. Born in Sydney in 2000, Alcock began acting in Australian television during her teens, appearing in shows like Upright, Janet King and Reckoning. Her turn in Upright, opposite musician-turned-actor Tim Minchin, won her the Casting Guild of Australia’s Rising Star Award in 2018, but it was her conflicted, ambitious and tragic portrayal of Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon that made her a star.

Milly Alcock in House of the Dragon
©HBO/courtesy MovieStillsDB.com

In January 2024, Alcock was officially announced as the new Supergirl for the DC Universe, stepping into the role of Kara Zor-El in a film that promises to explore a darker, more emotionally layered version of the character. DC Studios co-head James Gunn praised her audition for its “edge, grace and authenticity,” suggesting that she captured the heart of a Supergirl shaped, unlike Superman, by trauma rather than optimism. In interviews, Alcock admitted the casting came as a shock. “I was kind of in disbelief,” she said in Elle UK. “I thought, ‘What have I done?’” She later revealed that she celebrated the news quietly with a glass of champagne.

As Supergirl, Alcock will headline her first major studio film, but she’s no stranger to complex characters. Her previous work has consistently demonstrated a gift for balancing vulnerability with fierce determination—qualities that align closely with the version of Kara being introduced in the new DCU. With Supergirl already wrapped and set for release in June 2026, Alcock is poised to become one of the next major faces of superhero cinema.

Who’s directing ‘Supergirl’?

Director Craig Gillespie
©Columbia Pictures/courtesy MovieStillsDB.com

Craig Gillespie is an Australian-born director known for his sharp visual style, character-driven storytelling, and ability to blend dark humor with emotional depth. He first gained recognition in 2007 with the offbeat indie film Lars and the Real Girl, which earned critical acclaim and a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for its writer. Gillespie went on to direct the 2011 remake of Fright Night and the Disney sports drama Million Dollar Arm.

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His most celebrated work came with I, Tonya (2017), a bold, fourth-wall-breaking biopic about figure skater Tonya Harding that earned Margot Robbie an Oscar nomination and won Allison Janney the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. He followed that success with Disney’s Cruella (2021), reimagining the 101 Dalmatians villain as a punk-rock fashion icon and proving his skill at reinventing iconic characters for modern audiences. More recently, he directed Dumb Money (2023), a sharp ensemble drama about the GameStop stock saga.

Gillespie was officially announced as the director of Supergirl in May 2024. His hiring signaled a creative shift for the project, aiming for a balance between grounded emotional storytelling and expansive sci-fi world-building. James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, called Gillespie “a great partner” and praised his ability to bring both visual flair and strong character work to the DCU. With a resume that consistently highlights complicated protagonists and unconventional heroes, Gillespie is well positioned to guide a darker, more layered take on Supergirl as she enters the next phase of DC’s cinematic universe.

Who’s writing ‘Supergirl’?

Ana Nogueira attends the 66th Obie Awards Honoring Excellence In Off- And Off Off- Broadway at Terminal 5 on February 27, 2023 in New York City.
Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing
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Ana Nogueira is an accomplished actress and screenwriter whose work spans television, film and theater. As an actress, she’s appeared in a wide range of TV shows, including a recurring role on The Vampire Diaries as Penny Ares, as well as guest spots on Blue Bloods, Private Practice, The Michael J. Fox Show and Hightown. She was also part of the earliest developmental readings of Hamilton, where she originated the role of Eliza Hamilton before the role was recast for Broadway. On stage, she’s starred in Off-Broadway productions such as Engagements and Which Way to the Stage, the latter of which she also wrote.

As a playwright and screenwriter, Nogueira has gained increasing recognition for her emotionally grounded and dialogue-driven storytelling. Her play Empathitrax, a sci-fi relationship drama, premiered Off-Broadway to strong reviews and is now published by Dramatists Play Service. Her most recent stage work, Which Way to the Stage, premiered at MCC Theater in 2022 and was praised for its sharp humor and introspective look at identity, friendship and Broadway ambition.

Ana Nogueira, Michael J. Fox in the pilot episode of The Michael J. Fox Show (2013)
Eric Liebowitz/©NBC/courtesy Everett Collection

Nogueira’s screenwriting career took a major leap forward when she was first hired by Warner Bros. in 2022 to write a Supergirl script, a project that would later evolve under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios banner. In November 2023, she was officially announced as the writer of the DCU’s Supergirl film, now scheduled for release in 2026. Her approach to the character—more emotionally complex, darker and rooted in trauma—was reportedly instrumental in helping shape the tone of the project. With her combined background in performance and writing, Nogueira brings a uniquely layered perspective to one of DC’s most iconic but underexplored heroes.

What is ‘Supergirl’ based on?

Cover of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
©DC Comics

Supergirl is inspired by the 2021–2022 eight-issue DC Comics miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by writer Tom King and artist Bilquis Evely. The comic tells a cosmic revenge story, in which a grief-stricken young alien girl named Ruthye hires Supergirl to help her track down a war criminal who murdered her father. While reluctant at first, Kara ultimately joins Ruthye across the galaxy in a raw, emotional and morally complicated quest.

Unlike Superman, who was raised in the loving environment of Kansas by Jonathan and Martha Kent, this version of Supergirl survived on a broken piece of Krypton and witnessed the death of her people firsthand. The contrast between their upbringings is central to the story and Gunn has stated that Kara’s hardened worldview will be a defining element in the film. Her tone was teased in a cameo during Superman (2025), where she made a surprise appearance alongside Krypto in the Fortress of Solitude. Gunn said, “Clark grew up with loving parents… Supergirl, on the other hand, watched everyone she loved die. She’s much more of a mess.”

Who else is in the cast?

Eve Ridley

3 Body Problem:Eve Ridley, “Red Coast” (Season 1, Episode 2, aired March 21, 2024)
©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Eve Ridley is a rising British actress who has been cast as Ruthye Marye Knoll, the young alien girl at the heart of Supergirl (2026). Ridley may not yet be a household name, but she’s quickly gaining attention for her screen presence and emotional range. Audiences may recognize her from her role in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, where she played a pivotal supporting character. That performance, along with her stage work in the UK, positioned her as a young talent to watch.

In Supergirl, Ridley plays Ruthye, a deeply determined alien child whose father is murdered in front of her—setting her on a path of vengeance. In the comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Ruthye is the narrator, telling the story of how she recruits Kara Zor-El to help track down the killer. Though the film has dropped the subtitle, Ridley’s role remains central to the story.

Matthias Schoenaerts

The Old Guard 2, star Matthias Schoenaerts, 2025.
© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Matthias Schoenaerts is a Belgian actor known for his intense, physically commanding performances and emotionally complex characters. In Supergirl (2026), he takes on the role of Krem of the Yellow Hills, the film’s primary antagonist. Krem is introduced in the comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow as a remorseless war criminal who murders a young girl’s father, setting off a galaxy-spanning pursuit led by Supergirl and her unlikely companion, Ruthye. While the film has dropped the comic’s subtitle, Krem remains a central villain whose actions catalyze the story’s emotional core.

Schoenaerts has built an impressive international career with standout performances in critically acclaimed films such as Bullhead (2011), Rust and Bone (2012), The Mustang (2019) and Disorder (2015). He’s often drawn praise for portraying men with brooding inner lives and moral ambiguity—qualities that make him particularly well suited for the role of Krem, who is both brutal and unnervingly self-righteous.

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa as Aquaman, 2023
© Warner Bros. Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Jason Momoa, best known for his role as Aquaman in the now-concluded DCEU (DC Extended Universe), joins Supergirl as the infamous intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo. A long-standing fan-favorite in the DC Comics universe, Lobo is a Czarnian antihero known for his crude humor, extreme violence, and complete disregard for authority. While he doesn’t appear in the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic series, his inclusion in the film signals a wider DCU strategy—and possibly a launching point for future solo appearances or crossovers.

For Momoa, Supergirl marks a bold pivot within the DC Universe. After portraying Aquaman in several films directed by Zack Snyder and James Wan, he now becomes one of the few actors to play multiple major roles within DC continuity. His casting as Lobo had been heavily rumored for months and was later confirmed during production, with many fans calling it dream casting due to Momoa’s natural alignment with the character’s wild, anarchic energy.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Lobo (voice: Ryan Hurst), 2020
© Warner Bros. Home Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

While the extent of Lobo’s role in Supergirl remains under wraps, early reports suggest he may appear as either a rival, an obstacle or a chaotic third party to Supergirl’s mission. His presence is expected to inject a more unpredictable, darkly comedic element into an otherwise emotionally heavy story.

How Does This Tie Into the Larger DCU?

Supergirl is the second theatrical film in DC Studios’ new cinematic continuity following Superman (2025), and is officially part of “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.” James Gunn has emphasized that Kara’s character will sharply contrast with Superman’s, reflecting the theme of “what happens when a Kryptonian grows up in darkness rather than light.”

Krypto and Supergirl in space
Krypto and Supergirl ©WBDiscovery/art generated by AI

This new Supergirl exists in the same continuity as David Corenswet’s Superman and shares connections with characters like Krypto and Lobo. Though plot specifics remain under wraps, the tonal distinction between Superman and Supergirl will likely mirror the aesthetic diversity of the DCU at large—blending science fiction, fantasy, and grounded emotion across genres and films. Supergirl will likely serve as the DCU’s cosmic counterpart to Superman’s earthbound ideals.

Is there a release date yet?

Milly Alcock attends the Netflix Premiere of Sirens at the Paris Theater on May 20, 2025 in New York City.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix
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Yes. Supergirl is scheduled to hit theaters on June 26, 2026, placing it almost exactly one year after the release of James Gunn’s Superman, which debuts on July 11, 2025. Unlike many projects still navigating development or scheduling shifts, Supergirl has already completed principal photography and is now deep into post-production. That means visual effects, editing, scoring and final polishing are currently underway. With its creative team firmly in place and production wrapped, the film is on track to meet its release window with plenty of time to spare. This early completion gives DC Studios a valuable buffer to market the film strategically as the DCU continues to take shape following Superman‘s debut.