James Gunn Continues To Remove ‘America’ From Supergirl Movie Slogan

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James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, is updating a classic Superman phrase by removing references to “America.” For decades, Superman has been known for the motto “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” which first appeared on the 1940s radio program, The Adventures of Superman. In 2021, DC Comics began to move away from this wording, changing the slogan to “Truth, Justice, and a better tomorrow.” Now, Gunn is continuing this trend by replacing “America” with “the human way” to complete the iconic phrase. This change will be reflected in the new Supergirl movie poster, confirming the shift for this character as well.

DC Studios unveiled the first poster for the upcoming Supergirl movie, and also revealed the character’s new tagline: “Truth, Justice, Whatever.”

Just as he did with Superman, James Gunn has altered Supergirl’s core values by removing references to “America.” This suggests a shift away from the idea of American superiority and towards a more universal concept of heroism – similar to how the new Superman film focused on the hero’s humanity as his defining trait.

The phrase “The American Way” is strongly linked to Superman, but it’s often forgotten that it also applied to Supergirl. An episode of the 2016 CBS series Supergirl – Season 1, Episode 14 – was actually titled “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” confirming this connection within the Arrowverse.

During that episode, Kara Danvers, who plays Supergirl, wrestled with what she truly stands for. This led to a difficult moment where she told Maxwell Lord, the main villain of the first season, that she believed the world would be better off without him, forcing her to confront her own values.

Changing “America” to “Whatever” in Supergirl‘s movie tagline perfectly captured the character’s tougher, more direct attitude, which was foreshadowed by the end of Superman.

Craig Gillespie directs the upcoming movie Supergirl, which will be a space adventure in the style of Guardians of the Galaxy. The film follows Supergirl as she seeks revenge with the help of an unexpected companion. The cast includes Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Matthias Schoenarts, and Emily Beecham. Supergirl is scheduled to hit theaters on June 26, 2026.

Why Supergirl’s New Slogan Is Still Perfect Despite Gunn’s Change

James Gunn made a great choice updating Supergirl’s motto. Replacing “The American Way” with “Whatever” fits perfectly with the direction her story is taking.

After the changes made to Superman’s backstory – specifically, the true meaning of the message from his parents, Jor-El and Lara – Supergirl would have learned about the problems with Krypton’s history. She likely wouldn’t have supported the way her home planet ended, and that knowledge still affects her today. This could be why she avoids facing her past and instead copes with her issues by escaping to planets with red suns.

The word “Whatever” really embodies Kara’s character – she’s damaged by past trauma and resists becoming a traditional hero. This contrasts sharply with Superman’s always-positive attitude, making her journey in the movie more compelling and interesting to follow.

Ultimately, Supergirl’s updated motto highlights that DC Universe heroes aren’t meant to be perfect – and that’s perfectly fine. Despite her flaws, Supergirl’s dedication to helping others is what truly defines her as a hero.

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2025-12-10 22:04