DC Studios’ James Gunn explains what makes Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El so different in Supergirl, compared to past interpretations of the DC hero. Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl movie is set to establish the тιтular Kryptonian hero as one of the DCU’s main foundations. Instead of presenting Kara Zor-El as Superman’s upbeat cousin on Earth, Supergirl will follow Kara as she fights her own battles far off in space.

In an interview with ComicBook, DC Studios head and Superman director James Gunn acknowledges the DCU’s Supergirl has a much different origin to previous live-action iterations of the hero. Gunn explains that living on Krypton’s remains have made Milly Alcock’s Supergirl “kind of a mess” compared to Superman. Gunn says that flashbacks to Krypton in Supergirl are “always a possibility,” but suggests the heart of the story is in how Krypton’s destruction shaped Kara Zor-El. Check out Gunn’s full comments:

“[Flashbacks to Krypton are] always a possibility. But I think those things are really integral to the two characters and the differences between them, and that Clark really does have sort of this really happy childhood. I mean, he had parents who loved him in an easy-going upbringing, and it makes him the least dysfunctional of superheroes in so many ways.

And Supergirl, especially the DCU Supergirl, she’s kind of a mess. I mean, she’s, she’s had real issues growing up. And it is based on the comic where she watched person after person after person dying in front of her as her piece of the planet disintegrated.”

What James Gunn’s Supergirl Backstory Comments Mean

Supergirl’s Source Material Provides A Fresh Exploration Of Kara’s Origins

Tom King’s acclaimed Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic, on which the DCU’s Supergirl is based, follows a version of Kara Zor-El who has endured far darker experiences than her cousin. This Supergirl witnessed the destruction of Krypton firsthand and spent her early life in survival mode. As a result, Kara develops tough emotional armor, which sets her apart from Superman’s more hopeful and well-adjusted persona.

Instead of simply being known as Superman’s upbeat cousin, Milly Alcock’s Supergirl will develop her own personality, worldview, and supporting cast. Kara’s arc will be driven by different motivations than usual, and her response to adversity (which abounds in her Woman of Tomorrow origin) will reflect her unique upbringing. These changes make the DCU’s Supergirl capable of contributing a distinct voice to the franchise.

Our Take On James Gunn’s Supergirl Backstory Comments

The DCU’s Supergirl Will Be A Much Different Version Of The Hero

Unlike previous live-action Supergirl portrayals, Milly Alcock’s Kara Danvers won’t debut as a side character orbiting around Superman. From Helen Slater’s 1984 Supergirl film to Melissa Benoist’s Arrowverse show, most portrayals have emphasized Kara’s connection to Superman’s legacy. Even Sasha Calle’s DCU Supergirl remained tied to the Man of Steel in the DCEU’s The Flash, only in an alternate timeline. The DCU’s Supergirl is breaking that cycle.

Adapting Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is an inspired creative choice. The comic’s mix of space-western storytelling and introspective character work offers rich material for a unique cinematic experience, not to mention all the visual spectacle that the DCU movie can get out of the source material. The unique origin story Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl can give Kara will likely provide a strong starting point for Supergirl’s DCU journey.

Source: ComicBook