Fans have been getting strong Guardians of the Galaxy vibes from the first looks at the upcoming Supergirl movie, and DC Studios head James Gunn says that is not a mistake. He directly compared the two, calling the new film a “space fantasy” while revealing key details about its tone, director, and source material.
James Gunn made these comments on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast, where he addressed the immediate fan comparisons head-on. He confirmed the movie’s cosmic, adventurous spirit is very intentional. Gunn explained, “I think it’s a space fantasy, which is like ‘Guardians’ in a way.”. He was quick to note, however, that the film is firmly the vision of its director, Craig Gillespie.
The Director Behind the Vision
While Gunn oversees the larger DC Universe, he emphasized that Supergirl is a filmmaker-driven project centered on Craig Gillespie’s creative direction. Gunn expressed strong confidence in Gillespie, praising his skill with tone, character, and emotion. He specifically pointed to Gillespie’s 2017 film “I, Tonya” as a masterpiece, saying it “should have won [Best Picture]. And that’s what made me so interested in Craig when he came in.”.
The movie is based on the celebrated Tom King and Bilquis Evely comic book “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.”. Gunn clarified that while the film draws heavily from the core of that story, it “doesn’t follow it religiously.”. The comic is known for its cosmic Western tale, following a more hardened, grief-stricken Kara Zor-El who agrees to help a young girl seek revenge across the galaxy.
Meet the New Supergirl: Millie Alcock Takes Flight
The star at the center of this space fantasy is Australian actress Millie Alcock, who takes on the iconic role of Kara Zor-El. Gunn has been vocal about his excitement for her performance, simply stating, “I love Millie Alcock in the movie… It’s going to be awesome.”.
Alcock’s version of Supergirl appears to be a departure from past brighter portrayals. Promotional images have shown her wearing orange headphones and a long trench coat, leading many fans to draw visual and tonal comparisons to Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy. This look suggests a more rugged, space-faring hero, fitting for a story that deals heavily with the trauma of losing her home planet, Krypton.
A Darker, Grittier Cosmic Adventure
Early indications are that this Supergirl film will explore much darker themes than Gunn’s Guardians work. Reports describe a story that dives deep into Kara’s trauma and grief, exploring loss, rage, and revenge as she copes with the destruction of her entire world. The narrative is expected to focus on moral ambiguity, questioning what it truly means to be a hero. This aligns with the source material, which presents a Supergirl who is emotionally scarred and spends time in alien bars.
The film is part of the new interconnected DC Universe being built by Gunn and his co-chief, Peter Safran. Gunn spoke about their partnership, noting their shared lifelong love for these characters. “The love of working with Peter Safran at DC: the thing that we both share is we’ve loved these characters since we were children,” Gunn said. He described their role as a privilege, helping to usher these icons into their next era.
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Release Date and the Road Ahead
Supergirl is officially scheduled to hit theaters on June 26, 2026. The character is expected to make her first appearance in the new DC Universe a year earlier, with a cameo in the Superman movie starring David Corenswet, which is set for release in 2025.
The development of the film comes during a major corporate shift for Warner Bros., its parent studio. Gunn was asked about the potential sale of Warner Bros. to Netflix and offered a cautiously optimistic view. “Do I have hopes? No, I really don’t because everything’s unknown,” he said. “I think it’s all really exciting, frankly… I hope it goes well, and I think it’s exciting, you know, every direction has really exciting things for DC.”.
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