Milly Alcock revolutionizes DC with her rebellious Supergirl: Superman's cousin no one expected

Milly Alcock has just become the star of the new DC cinematic universe, and the impact is undeniable. After years of radical changes in the structure of DC Studios and Warner Bros., the Australian actress arrives strongly as Kara Zor-El, portraying a Superman’s cousin completely different from anything we’ve seen on screen before. This is not the 1984 character, nor the perfect heroine from previous series.

The cinematic trailer revealed by James Gunn shows a torn, complicated, and visceral Supergirl. Kara drinks too much, jumps into fights without thinking, carries traumas that distance her from the impeccable image of her legendary cousin. The actress, known worldwide for her role in House of the Dragon, brings an emotional rawness that perfectly aligns with the chaotic and colorful universe characteristic of Guardians of the Galaxy’s director.

A character based on Tom King’s comic

The story comes from the acclaimed Tom King comic series launched in 2022, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, illustrated by Bilquis Evely. Ana Nogueira adapted the original material while maintaining its sharp and deeply emotional tone. In the narrative, Kara travels with Ruthye, a young alien girl, to avenge her friend’s father’s murder, committed by the ruthless villain Krem of Yellow Hill.

Fans have compared this journey to the classic western True Grit, for its combination of epic travel, personal revenge, and emotional growth of the character. This is a Supergirl who grows through pain and action, not through preached moral lessons.

Craig Gillespie directs an authentic antiheroine

Craig Gillespie, responsible for the acclaimed I, Tonya, takes the helm and describes this incarnation of Kara as an authentic antiheroine. The film does not aim for her to be perfect, nor to live under her cousin’s shadow. This Supergirl has a sharp, vulnerable, and contradictory personality that fully defines her.

In the trailer, Kara faces interplanetary criminals in scenes that look like they are from Mad Max, demonstrating that her strength goes beyond the physical. Also appearing is Krypto, the iconic Superman’s dog, who accompanies the protagonist on her adventures across the cosmos.

A journey full of obstacles before hitting the screen

The development of this film has been chaotic. It started in 2018, was paused by the pandemic, discarded under David Zaslav’s management in 2022, and finally rescued for the new DCU in 2023. Sasha Calle was initially considered for the role and even appeared in The Flash (2023), but the universe reboot changed the plans.

Now, with Milly Alcock leading the project and Craig Gillespie directing, Superman’s cousin is ready to conquer the big screen like never before.

A party-loving twenty-something loaded with humanity

The script explores a turbulent Kara dealing with emotional chaos as she traverses universes. A melancholic birthday celebration drags her into intergalactic battles and a revenge mission that will push her limits. The character even carries a problematic relationship with alcohol, a trait that surprised some fans but remains faithful to the original comic material.

What emerges from the trailer is a wild, imperfect, vulnerable, and deeply human Supergirl. Milly Alcock has trended on social media with her performance filled with strength, pain, and authenticity. This is the heroine DC needed: different, rebellious, and ready to redefine what it means to be a heroine in the modern cinematic universe.