Supergirl is similar to Guardians of the Galaxy because it does not “religiously” follow its source material, DC head James Gunn has said.
The upcoming DC Universe (DCU) blockbuster will be loosely based on author Tom King’s 2022 comic run Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Gunn has now explained the movie will be like his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, as Supergirl will retain the “core” of King's original story, while also venturing into new territory.
Speaking on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, the 59-year-old filmmaker said: “I think it’s a space fantasy, which is like Guardians in a way, but it’s based on the Tom King book, but it doesn’t follow it religiously, but it has a lot of the core of that there.”
He added: “We’re not adapting Woman of Tomorrow religiously. We’re taking elements of it […] The tone and the general approach and the structure are inspired by it, but we are not telling that story.”
The Superman director noted he was “really excited” for people to see Supergirl and Milly Alcock as the titular Kryptonian heroine.
He added: “It’s going to be awesome”.
The first trailer for Supergirl introduced a bruised, world-weary Kara Zor-El (Alcock) as she drifts through space, haunted by Krypton’s fall and numbing her pain on her 23rd birthday.
When she crosses paths with the vengeful Ruthye (Eve Ridley), flashes of lost worlds, brutal fights, and a tease of Lobo (Jason Momoa) set up a cosmic revenge story that promises a harder, sharper edge to the DCU.
The upcoming movie - which lands in cinemas in June 2026 - also stars Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills, Emily Beecham as Alura and David Krumholtz as Zor-El.
The official synopsis for Supergirl reads: “When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.”
Supergirl director Craig Gillespie previously teased the film was “really an anti-hero story”.
Speaking with media after debuting the first trailer for Supergirl, Gillespie said: “This is really an anti-hero story.
“She’s got a lot of demons, a lot of baggage coming into this, which is very different from where Superman is in his life.”
Gunn added Supergirl was not perfect “at all”.
The Peacemaker creator said: “So many times female superheroes are so perfect. She’s not that at all … Like male superheroes have been allowed to be for a while.”
As well as Supergirl, DC is set to release Clayface in September 2026.
The film - which was written by Doctor Sleep’s Mike Flanagan and is directed by James Watkins - follows B-movie actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) as his life is changed forever when his face gets disfigured by a gangster.
The young actor desperately seeks out a scientist for help, and while the experiment is initially a success, things take a sinister turn when he begins to morph into a hulking monster.
Clayface will also star Naomi Ackie as scientist Elizabeth Holmes and Max Minghella as John.
