From the moment she crashed into the Fortress of Solitude in Superman, I loved Milly Alcock’s characterization of Kara, so you can imagine how ecstatic I was when the Supergirl (2026) movie was announced. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a live-action Supergirl, with the most recent being Melissa Benoist from the Supergirl TV show and Sasha Calle from the Flash movie. However, I do think this is the first time we’ve seen a Supergirl like this: a party girl who spends her time getting drunk out in space and is a little too laid-back with her dog. Even so, I believe that this movie reveals a hidden depth to her character, but I’ll talk more about that later.
If you’re just as excited as me, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, you will find out what to expect and everything you need to know about Supergirl.
- Synopsis
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Letterboxd has Supergirl‘s official synopsis as: “LOOK OUT. While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El travels across the galaxy with her dog Krypto, during which she meets young Ruthye Marye Knoll and goes on a ‘murderous quest for revenge.’ ” This synopsis lets us know several things: Kara is roughly ten years younger than Superman, the movie will take place in space, and she doesn’t seem to have Superman’s moral compass. All in all, it’s a very interesting setup for the movie. I especially like the change from Superman’s “Look Up” to Supergirl’s “Look Out” – subtly showing off Supergirl’s more direct and powerful personality.
- Release + Cast
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Supergirl is set to release on June 26th, 2026, just a little less than a year after its predecessor, Superman -perfect for another superhero summer.
The main cast is relatively small, with Milly Alcock as Kara, as seen in Superman, and Eve Ridley as Ruthye, the young girl whom Kara joins on her quest. You might recognize Alcock from the TV series Sirens, while this is Ridley’s first major role. Otherwise, the cast includes Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills—the man whom Alcock and Ridley’s characters are seeking revenge against—David Krumholtz as Zor-El, Emily Beecham as Alura In-Ze (Kara’s parents), and Jason Momoa, once Aquaman, now returning to DC in a cameo as Lobo.
Furthermore, unlike Superman, which was directed by James Gunn, Supergirl will be directed by Craig Gillespie, who also directed movies such as Cruella and I, Tonya.
- Comicbook Inspiration
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As you might know, Supergirl was originally going to be titled Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This is because the movie is actually based on a comic book with that very title. Luckily, I happen to own that comic book, so I can tell you everything you need to know.
Without spoilers, I’ll say that the movie will likely take place entirely in space, but on various planets as Kara and Ruthye follow Krem’s trail. Also, while it’s highly unlikely that Superman will show up, even for a cameo, there is a chance that there will be references to him—even if just as casually as Kara saying something about “her cousin.” And if Craig Gillespie keeps the same ending, we just might see the debut of a new Supergirl look!
Personally, I really like this comic because it truly has some beautiful art, so I’m really hopeful that the movie will be able to accurately portray the more intricate scenes. Plus, this comic happens to be a mini-series, which means the whole story happens within a single book. This means the movie will likely not directly lead into another storyline. However, the character Lobo wasn’t in the comic, so it is also likely that Gillespie has his own twist on things.
All in all, even if you’re not the biggest Supergirl fan, as a comic book beginner myself, I highly recommend this comic book.
- Supergirl Origin
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In many iterations, Kara’s origin consists of her being sent alongside Superman to take care of him when they reach Earth, but then, one way or another, her ship gets lost, and she doesn’t make it to Earth until he has already grown up. This will likely not be the case in Supergirl.
Without giving too many spoilers, Kara will likely have a darker origin – both from the comic source material and comments by James Gunn. Instead of being sent off with Superman, Kara will have lived for about 14 years on a chip of Krypton after its destruction, struggling to survive alongside her fellow survivors as she reminisces about the home she used to know.
I think it will be amazing to see a live-action Krypton, both before and after the destruction, especially through Kara’s eyes. Plus, going back to Superman, I really hope we get answers about both Superman and Kara’s families, along with getting a better idea of what Krypton was all about. Overall, though, I’m most excited to get to know Supergirl not just as Superman’s counterpart but as Kara Zor-El – her own person.
Obviously, I’m really excited about Supergirl (2026), and I hope you are too. This movie will definitely have a very different tone than Superman (2025), but I think it will make for a very interesting characterization of Kara and a very fun galactic road trip. All in all, I can’t wait to see what happens!