An upcoming DC Universe movie has been hyped by Marvel actor Sebastian Stan, greatly raising my excitement for the project. As many others are, I am overly anticipating the true beginning of the DCU with James Gunn’s Superman movie. Creature Commandos was a great palate cleanser, but Superman is expected to take the franchise completely into the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Even beyond that, though, I cannot wait for what else James Gunn has planned for a shared DC universe across film, TV, and even video games.

As it turns out, Marvel actor Sebastian Stan is equally as excited as I am. Stan is set to appear in the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts*, and likely the two Avengers movies scheduled for 2026 and 2027. Despite his loyalty to the MCU, Stan has outlined exactly which upcoming DC movie he cannot wait for. Admittedly, I was already excited about the movie based on everything that James Gunn and his growing band of filmmakers have revealed about it thus far, but Stan’s somewhat insider knowledge has only served as a way to increase my anticipation.

Sebastian Stan’s Comments About Supergirl Underline Why It’s So Exciting

The 2026 Movie Is In Good Hands, As Stan Understands Better Than Anyone

The upcoming DC movie in question is the story of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The film is expected to be released in 2026 and will center on the тιтular superhero, the cousin of Clark Kent/Superman. Recently, Sebastian Stan was asked about Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (via DCU – The Direct), with the actor giving his thoughts on the project:

“I’m gonna raise the bar, that movie is gonna be f****** great! Because it’s got Craig Gillespie directing it, who is an unbelievable director, and I’m very excited.”

While Stan is still firmly in the Marvel wheelhouse and has not yet been confirmed for any role in the DCU, his excitement is certainly infectious.

The reason for Stan’s praise of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was alluded to by the actor, and stems from his connection to the director. Craig Gillespie is known for directing movies such as I, Tonya and Dumb Money, as well as the TV series Pam & Tommy, all of which featured Stan. Evidently, the actor saw enough of Gillespie’s directing talents to be convinced that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is going to be a home run for the DCU. Based on what else has been revealed about the project thus far, I am inclined to agree with him.

Everything We’ve Seen About Supergirl So Far Confirms Sebastian Stan Is Right About The Movie

The Film Does Not Show Any Signs Of Being Disappointing

Since Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was announced in January 2023, the many updates provided about the film have only increased my excitement and proved Stan more correct regarding his comments. The first hints at how strong Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is going to turn out came as a result of Gunn’s comments about the script and its writer, Ana Nogueira. Nogueira was initially planned to write a Supergirl spin-off of 2023’s The Flash, likely starring Sasha Calle in the role. Upon the formation of the DCU, Gunn and his partner Peter Safran kept Nogueira on board due to her ideas.

Despite the DCU going in a different direction, Nogueira pitched an idea based on Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Gunn and Safran loved the idea so much that the film was fast-tracked, with Gunn stating himself it was never planned to be the next theatrical movie after Superman, but that the script was too good to ignore for long. Gillespie was then hired, with his track record as a director speaking for itself as Stan pointed out, again proving the actor right. Moreover, the cast ᴀssembled for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is excellent.

Milly Alcock’s casting in the тιтular role is perfect, especially after her acclaimed performance in House of the Dragon. Jason Momoa’s DC return was also confirmed as part of the movie, this time as the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo, which has always been a dream role for the actor. Matthias Schoenaerts was then cast as the film’s villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills. All of this, combined with the first teasing look of Alcock on the set of the film provided by James Gunn himself, seemingly proves Stan right about how great Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is going to be.

2026 Is Set To Be A Huge Year For The DC Universe

With all of this hype circling around Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, one could be forgiven for forgetting about the other projects of 2026 that set up a pivotal year for the DC Universe. 2025 will undoubtedly be big due to the release of Superman and Peacemaker season 2, yet 2026 has three projects releasing that could make or break the franchise. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of them, and its importance in introducing a more cosmic, darker side to the franchise than Superman cannot be overstated.

Then there is the DCU’s Lanterns TV show. After the flop of 2011’s Green Lantern and the lack of proper representation for this side of DC Comics in live-action as a result, Lanterns is hugely important. Moreover, the show is reportedly set to tie directly to the overarching story of the DCU. Finally, 2026 will also see the release of Clayface, an interesting movie about one of Batman’s many villains that will showcase exactly how the DCU can provide different stories to the expected superhero norms. While Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is promising, the rest of 2026 also needs to stick the landing.