DC Confirms 3 Major Ways James Gunn’s Supergirl Differs From the DCEU Version

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DC has seen two different actresses play Supergirl in just three years, but viewers probably won’t mistake one for the other. While both Sasha Calle and Milly Alcock portray the same character from the comics, their interpretations of Supergirl are quite distinct.

Milena Calle played Supergirl in the 2023 film The Flash, which featured Ezra Miller as the Flash and Michael Keaton as Batman. Now, Milly Alcock is set to take on the role of Supergirl in the new DC Universe created by James Gunn. She’ll first appear in a cameo in the 2025 film Superman, before starring in her own Supergirl movie planned for release in late 2026.

As a huge film fan, it’s become pretty obvious that the new DC Universe James Gunn and Peter Safran are building with DC Studios is a real departure from what Zack Snyder had going on with his ‘SnyderVerse’ and the overall feel of the previous DCEU. Because of this, we should expect Milly Alcock’s take on Supergirl to be quite different from the version we briefly saw in the earlier films.

How the DCU’s Supergirl Differs From the DCEU‘s

Supergirl’s Personality

A key difference between how Calle and Alcock play Supergirl lies in their depiction of her personality.

In The Flash, Sasha Calle’s Supergirl is a strong and formidable fighter. She doesn’t say much, and when she does, she speaks calmly and with a serious attitude. Like Henry Cavill’s Superman, her character is deeply dedicated to doing what’s right, and she’s portrayed as unwavering and determined.

Milly Alcock’s portrayal of the character will bring a fresh, more playful and humorous energy. However, she’ll still be a complex character grappling with difficult past experiences. Alcock has described her Supergirl as deeply flawed and messy, even comparing her to Tony Stark from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, during interviews about the show.

Helen Alcock’s portrayal of the character has really come through in her appearances in the DC Universe so far. We first saw it in the brief scene in Superman where Supergirl shows up, a bit tipsy and messy, to collect Krypto from Clark. It was also evident in the trailers for Supergirl, where her fun-loving, outgoing personality is revealed as a way of dealing with difficult experiences from her past.

I was really intrigued by the Supergirl we briefly saw in the old DCEU – she felt so strong and serious. But what James Gunn is doing with her in the new DCU? It’s a game changer! He’s showing us a Supergirl with flaws, someone who’s funny and relatable, and honestly, it feels very much in line with the vibe he established in his Superman movie. It’s a much more human take on the character, and I’m here for it.

Backstories

Though Supergirl will always be known as Kal-El’s cousin, her origin story will be different in the new DC Universe comics than it has been in past versions.

In the DC Extended Universe, Supergirl (Kara) and Superman left Krypton around the same time. Her parents sent her to Earth with the mission of protecting her cousin, Superman. Because of this, Kara experienced the emotional pain of Krypton’s destruction, but didn’t actually see it happen.

The upcoming Supergirl movie, set to release in 2026, will explore a more emotionally impactful origin story for the hero. Alcock’s Supergirl will be haunted by the destruction of Krypton, and this trauma will be central to her character. As seen in the trailers, Kara remembers the planet’s demise vividly, stating, “Krypton didn’t die in a day. The gods are not that kind.”

The new DC Universe (DCU) seems likely to include Argo City, a significant city from the comics. Argo City was a major Kryptonian city that survived the planet’s destruction thanks to a protective shield. While the city and its inhabitants weren’t meant to last forever – they began to suffer from radiation poisoning – it allowed Zor-El and Allura to send their daughter, Kara, to Earth in a rocket, following her cousin’s journey years before.

In the Supergirl TV series, Kara’s experiences are more deeply shaped by the loss of her home planet, Krypton, than by any imprisonment she faced at the hands of humans. Although Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl experienced hardship during captivity, the destruction of Krypton is the main driving force behind her character.

Costumes

A noticeable difference between the two Supergirls lies in their costumes. The Supergirl in the DC Extended Universe, played by Milly Alcock, was designed to resemble Henry Cavill’s Superman, sporting a metallic blue and red suit. Like Cavill’s Superman, this version of Supergirl doesn’t wear the traditional red skirt seen in the comics.

James Gunn brought back classic comic book elements to his Superman film, including the iconic red underwear for David Corenswet’s Superman and a red skirt and boots for Milly Alcock’s Supergirl. Alcock’s portrayal of Supergirl closely resembles the traditional comic book version, with Kara’s signature blonde hair, while the version of Supergirl played by Isabela Merced had a more modern look with shorter, darker hair.

Just like the versions played by Calle and Cavill, Superman and Supergirl continue to be very similar characters in the DC Universe.

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2026-03-04 11:05