Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for James Gunn’s Superman

The ending of James Gunn’s Superman features an appearance by none other than Kara Zor-El’s Supergirl. However, the cousin of the Man of Steel surprisingly makes her debut in the DCU while extremely drunk. Interestingly enough, this is actually far more important than some may realize, going far beyond a simple joke about Superman’s cousin who apparently parties all the time.

Played by Milly Alcock, Kara Zor-El is set to star in her own Supergirl movie releasing next year in 2026. However, there was wide speculation that she might first make an appearance in James Gunn’s Superman. While this is indeed the case, the fact that Supergirl debuts so drunk is a surprise, communicating volumes about where her character is headed next in the DCU.

Supergirl Makes A Brief Appearance In James Gunn’s Superman

Picking Up Krypto From The Fortress of Solitude

In the middle of James Gunn’s Superman, Lois Lane asks Superman about his dog Krypto, the unruly alien canine who shares many of the same abilities as the Man of Steel himself, as he also hails from Krypton. Interestingly enough, Clark confirms that looking after Krypto is actually “more of a foster situation.” For comics book fans familiar with Superman lore, this was a telling allusion to Superman’s cousin.

Sure enough, Superman’s ending sees Milly Alcock’s Supergirl arriving to pick up her dog at the Fortress of Solitude, albeit stumbling and quite drunk. Apparently, Superman had agreed to watch over Krypto while Kara spent time partying on other planets. Leaving with Krypto after giving her cousin a “Thanks, b****!“, the implication is that the superdog will be joining Kara in 2026’s Supergirl.

Why Supergirl Was So Drunk In Superman

Some Key Setup For Her Movie Next Year

Superman himself provides the “how” behind Supergirl being drunk, explaining to one of his robots that Kryptonians can only get drunk on planets with red suns (like Krypton). A yellow sun like Earth’s is what gives Kryptonians their extraordinary powers. Conversely, a red sun negates those powers, giving them the strength and consтιтution similar to an average human (allowing Kara to get absolutely wasted).

That being said, the reason “why” Supergirl is so drunk at the end of Superman is far more interesting. Firstly, it’s worth noting that the script for 2026’s Supergirl was written by Tom King, the same DC Comics writer who wrote the original limited comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (the movie’s original тιтle before it was changed). Keeping that in mind, it stands to reason that the movie will serve as a pretty close adaptation to the 8-issue series.

The beginning of the comics’ Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow just so happens to open with a drunk Supergirl at a bar, located on a planet orbiting a red sun. At the start of this iconic Supergirl series, Kara’s effectively at the lowest point she’s ever been. Celebrating her 21st birthday while feeling incredibly purposeless and full of pain, Kara is joined by Krypto who’s doing his best to keep her company while she drinks non-stop.

Kara’s entire mission was to protect her cousin and keep him safe after Krypton’s destruction. However, all of that was thrown to the wayside after she landed on Earth years later than intended, her baby cousin having already grown up to adulthood as the world’s greatest hero by the time she arrived. As such, Woman of Tomorrow begins with Kara feeling more aimless than ever before, struggling with how she’s viewed in comparison to Superman.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Will Be Very Different From Superman

Exploring The True Loss of Krypton And New Purpose

Combined with her own past grief and trauma, it’s more than likely that we’ll be seeing the DCU’s Supergirl in a very similar position. This is especially true after she’s just shown up drunk at the Fortress of Solitude at the ending of James Gunn’s Superman. The stage has very much been set for Supergirl to embark on a unique journey all her own in the DCU, one that sees her rising from a true low.

In James Gunn’s Superman, Kal-El’s struggle was with his idenтιтy. Kal-El is shown grappling with who he thought he was in terms of his biological parents, whom he never knew, and their intentions he didn’t fully learn until later in life. This was then contrasted with who Clark Kent chooses to be in light of his own actions, influenced by those who raised him on Earth as a human.

Conversely, Kara Zor-El’s Supergirl actually had a life and family on Krypton before it was destroyed. She had an idenтιтy that was taken from her along with everything else. Even the purpose she was given following Krypton’s demise was taken away. With that in mind, Supergirl debuting in James Gunn’s Superman incredibly drunk proves we’re likely about to get a very unique superhero arc, one that fully belongs to Kara as she travels the stars in search of new meaning.

James Gunn’s Superman is now playing in theaters from DC Studios. Supergirl releases next year in 2026.