Milly Alcock just went from dragonrider to DC icon — and the first look at her Supergirl is a lot darker, weirder, and more personal than many fans were expecting.
A Darker Supergirl Takes Flight
Warner Bros. and DC have finally dropped the *
first teaser trailer for Supergirl
, led by Milly Alcock as Kara Zor‑El, and early reactions are already calling it a bold departure from this year’s Superman
.
Coverage of the teaser describes:
- A “darker and more intimate” tone than the upbeat Clark Kent film released earlier in 2025
- A story built around trauma, vengeance, and reluctant heroism, rather than classic sunny optimism
- Kara embarking on an “epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice” after a ruthless attack hits close to home
The film is set to hit theaters on June 26, 2026.
Inside Alcock’s Supergirl: Flawed, Angry, and Reluctant
At a trailer preview event, Milly Alcock made it clear this is not the polished, perfect superhero archetype.
She described Kara as:
- A “flawed” hero who leans into her imperfections
rather than hiding them
- Someone who doesn’t want the role, effectively an “antihero” dragged into being a superhero against her will, as director Craig Gillespie put it
- A character whose journey is as much internal self‑resolution as it is cosmic adventure
Alcock also stressed what Kara means for young women:
> Supergirl shows “you can be flawed” and “you don’t have to be perfect in order to come to some sort of internal self‑resolution.”
DC Studios co‑chief James Gunn echoed that, saying male leads like Tony Stark and Star‑Lord are allowed to be “such messes,” while female superheroes have often been written as unrealistically perfect — something Supergirl
is explicitly pushing against.
Ties to the Comics:
Woman of Tomorrow
Goes Live‑ActionThe new film is a live‑action adaptation of the acclaimed comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
.
According to breakdowns of the trailer and official info:
- Kara Zor‑El travels across the cosmos on a journey of self‑discovery
- She’s joined by Ruthye, a noble warrior (played by Eve Ridley), and her beloved dog Krypto
- The film leans hard into the cosmic Western / revenge quest vibe that made the comic stand out
Visually, the trailer is said to faithfully mirror the comic’s aesthetics, which has hardcore DC fans buzzing.
The Cameo Everyone Wanted: Superman Is In
Alcock has now confirmed that Superman will appear in the Supergirl
movie — a major question fans have been asking since her casting was announced.
She revealed that:
- Her first day on the Supergirl
set was acting opposite Superman
- The scene was filmed in Kryptonian, in freezing conditions, and with Superman not in costume
- She previously put on the suit for a cameo in this year’s Superman**
, where executive producer Chantal Nong Vo was moved to tears seeing her in full Supergirl gear
That cameo in Superman
effectively served as Alcock’s on‑screen introduction to the new DC Universe, with Supergirl
now positioned as her full breakout within the franchise.
A Crucial Test for the New DC Universe
While James Gunn cast Alcock as Supergirl, Supergirl
will be the first DCU film not directed by Gunn — making it a major test of whether the new shared universe can thrive beyond his direct involvement.
Key dynamics to watch:
- Peter Safran and James Gunn are still guiding the franchise as producers, but Craig Gillespie (known for I, Tonya
and Cruella
) is steering this one creatively.
- Fans and industry watchers see Supergirl
as a proof‑of‑concept for the DCU’s ability to tell more niche, character‑driven stories beyond flagship heroes like Superman.
- Heroic Hollywood notes that early footage suggests the Woman of Tomorrow
could give the DC Universe “a better tomorrow” — a pointed line for a franchise coming off years of reboots and resets.
What the Trailer Reveals About Tone and Story
From the early descriptions, expect:
- Gritty emotional stakes: Kara’s journey starts with a “ruthless adversary” hitting close to home, pushing her into a revenge‑tinted quest.
- Space opera scale: Interstellar travel, strange worlds, and a mix of friends and enemies across the DC cosmos.
- Mischievous heart: Krypto is being framed as both adorable and chaotic, likely balancing the darker themes with levity.
- Fan‑bait cameos and antagonists: Coverage highlights a “taste of Jason Momoa’s Lobo” in the trailer, suggesting he’s part of Kara’s cosmic gauntlet.
This blend of cosmic scope and intimate character drama is exactly what set Woman of Tomorrow
apart in the comics — and it appears the film is leaning straight into that formula.
From Westeros to Krypton: Why Milly Alcock Matters Here
Milly Alcock turned heads as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon
, but Supergirl
is her first time carrying a massive studio tentpole on her own.
Her casting — and the early reaction to the trailer — signal a few big shifts:
- DC is betting on younger, less over‑exposed talent to redefine its core heroes.
- Alcock’s raw, emotionally exposed style fits a Supergirl who’s angry, damaged, and reluctant, instead of polished and virtuous.
- If Supergirl
lands, Alcock could quickly become one of the defining faces of the new DC era, much like Robert Downey Jr. was for Marvel.
She has also talked about the pressure and responsibility she feels, especially when she saw producers moved to tears seeing her in costume — and about showing up not only for the team who spent years getting the movie made, but for “other young girls and other young women coming to see this movie.”
Why This Version of Supergirl Could Change the Superhero Playbook
If you zoom out, Supergirl* is doing a few quietly radical things for the genre:
-
Centering a deeply flawed woman in a space usually reserved for idealized female heroes.
- Using
cosmic revenge and trauma as the vehicle for a story about identity, anger, and self‑acceptance.
- Testing whether audiences are ready for a
female‑led superhero film that’s closer to a character study than a standard “save the city” romp.
For a DC Universe that’s trying to rebuild its identity from the ground up, Alcock’s
antihero Kara Zor‑El might be exactly the kind of risky swing it needs.
Sources
1. Milly Alcock confirms major cameo for Supergirl as she ...
2. Milly Alcock Proves She's The Woman Of Tomorrow In First ...
3. Milly Alcock takes flight in this gritty first look at Supergirl
