This text incorporates spoilers for “Superman.”
“Superman” has now efficiently launched James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe to the big-screen. Perhaps extra importantly, although, the film has additionally crafted a sense amongst audiences that they need to count on various things from every DCU venture. Certainly, Gunn has repeatedly stated every entry on this cinematic universe will really feel totally different and there is no actual “home fashion” to talk of. Now, the filmmaker has unveiled the primary “Supergirl” poster on social media, and it appears to again up his declare in an enormous means.
Within the first poster for “Supergirl,” Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El is proven defiantly leaning on a wall consuming a frozen comfort retailer beverage — one which’s clearly not your common Slurpee — in entrance of a mural of the image adorned by her cousin Superman (David Corenswet). In fact, the “Superman” tagline of “Look Up” is scrawled over to say “Look Out” as an alternative, which hints the place “Supergirl” goes fairly succinctly. Alcock’s casting has been touted by Gunn for the reason that second the trades reported that she was within the operating for the position of Supergirl, and audiences have now gotten a small style of what she’s bringing to the desk as Kara by way of her cameo in “Superman.” The very fact this poster leans even heavier into the entire rebellious angle makes all of the sense of the world. It is a means of telling moviegoers we’re not doing the entire awe-inspiring, “golly, gosh” factor this time round.
Look Out. 2026. pic.twitter.com/IdAvUNfcXx
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 16, 2025
It is important, then, that Alcock’s interpretation of the character stands aside from David Corenswet’s salt of the Earth interpretation of Kal-El — and thus far, it appears like it can! That is additionally the primary occasion of Gunn actually backing up what he is been posting about on Threads relating to this explicit DCU venture (which, as a reminder, he is not truly writing or directing). He is already generated a ton of goodwill for the DCU with “Superman,” a film that might’ve simply confirmed to be a deal-breaker, had it did not take the titular hero in a campy or earnest course that resonated with individuals. As a substitute, people preferred it, making them that rather more open to the promise of one thing totally different with “Supergirl.”
Supergirl’s first poster builds on Milly Alcock’s introduction in Superman
For a refresher, the viewers does not meet Supergirl till the final quarter-hour of “Superman, when Alcock’s Lady of Metal actually crashes into Supe’s Fortress of Solitude whereas her cousin is rehabbing from a frenetic ultimate battle together with his clone Ultraman (additionally Corenswet, naturally). Kara asks Kal-El why he moved the door, itself a reference to the large siege on the hideout earlier within the movie, and Corenswet glides right into a form of loving irritated pose on the medical desk the place he is surrounded by the Superman Robots. Supergirl additionally remembers that she left her canine with the hero, which explains why Superman’s been saddled with Krypto this whole time whereas additionally hinting our favourite four-legged menace is perhaps part of Kara’s solo film too. The pup clearly loves his proprietor, and Kara is tickled, sort of actually, by Krypto affectionately roughhousing her earlier than she storms out of there, calling Superman by his title.
The viewers I noticed “Superman” with in theaters had an enormous response to this scene regardless of the shortage of promotional materials for “Supergirl” on the time. It is the form of response that Gunn should’ve absolutely been hoping for, seeing as many individuals are most likely solely acquainted with the Kara character because of The CW’s “Supergirl” TV present (which starred Melissa Benoist as its namesake). Alcock’s heroine is not the milk-drinker that Corenswet’s Superman is on this film, both, and her solo DCU automobile is poised to hammer house simply how totally different these Kryptonian cousins are from each other. With the comedian e book “Supergirl: Lady of Tomorrow” serving because the movie’s supply materials, it additionally stands to purpose the DCU’s “Supergirl” will concentrate on Kara dealing with Krypton’s destruction and the dying of her household in a roundabout way. If nothing else, its poster does little or no to dispel that notion.
Superman would possibly’ve had a more healthy response to the entire Krypton exploding factor, however that is solely to be anticipated. In any case, in DC comedian books, he is often extra of a “Sentinel of Justice” than a superhero who’s going to lash out due to his private struggling. Supergirl, as compared, has a much more convoluted backstory and a complete lot extra in the best way of household trauma to kind via (to say nothing of the stress on her to stay as much as her cousin’s legacy). That is quite a bit to deal with, and “Supergirl” director Craig Gillespie can be sensible to zero-in on a few of these themes when Kara crosses paths with Jason Momoa’s Lobo within the movie (amongst different space-based characters).
If Supergirl can succeed whereas being totally different from Superman, then the sky is the restrict for DC
Whereas Gunn could not have requested for a greater consequence relating to the reception to “Superman,” there are some lingering proper now as to what comes subsequent for DC Studios outdoors of “Supergirl.” Happily, between the response to Alock’s Lady of Metal and different “Superman” fan-favorites like Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), issues are trying up on that entrance. For this author, the “Supergirl” poster and the best way it immediately challenges “Superman” helps throw one other shovel of filth on these fears, because it confirms the DCU will not merely be making DC’s total Tremendous-family “Inspiring *™*.’ As a substitute, it seems Gunn and Gillespie are working to create one thing really totally different and perhaps even shocking because the DCU prepares to take its subsequent step ahead.
That being stated, that is clearly only a single piece of selling. Certainly, the “Supergirl” trailer ought to give us a significantly better concept of what to anticipate from this movie when it will definitely drops. Nonetheless, there’s an actual sense of hope in the meanwhile relating to the course of the DCU. Alcock particularly has an opportunity to outline the Supergirl character for a few years to return (very similar to Corenswet is now poised to do following his debut as Superman), which might be fairly wonderful to see. Generally, all you want is a gust of wind in your sails to essentially get off on the suitable foot, and between “Superman” and the film’s poster, “Supergirl” is at present in a great place to totally take flight when it reaches theaters on June 26, 2026.
