The new Supergirl movie is not your typical superhero story. Director Craig Gillespie (known for I, Tonya and Cruella) is bringing a darker, more damaged version of Kara Zor-El to the big screen. Based on the hit comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film starring Milly Alcock just wrapped filming at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in London. A recent set visit gave reporters a close look at everything from Krypton’s final days to Jason Momoa‘s very involved take on the bounty hunter Lobo.
Milly Alcock’s Supergirl Is Cynical, Messy, and Nothing Like Her Cousin
Unlike David Corenswet‘s hopeful Superman, this Kara is rough around the edges. She watched her home planet die as a teenager. The set visit showed flashback scenes of Argo City slowly decaying. One scene featured a 14-year-old Kara walking past a once-beautiful lake now filled with green Kryptonite sludge.
“Kara, as many of you know, unlike Superman, grows up on what’s left of Krypton,” explained unit publicist Sophie Scott. “Krypton is dying as a planet.”
This trauma stays with her. Ten years later, Kara drinks to forget and keeps a messy apartment. Her only real connection to her past is her dog Krypto, who gets poisoned early in the film. That sends her on a mission across the galaxy to save him.
The trailer shown during the visit used a cover of Radiohead’s Creep to highlight her pain. Chantal Nong Vo, Executive Vice President of DC Studios, confirmed that Kara will use rougher language than her cousin.
“Obviously, this is a PG-13 movie, so it’s limited when it comes to ratings, but we have been being like, ‘Is this her fk? Is this her fk?’” Nong Vo said. “We have different options. We’re definitely pushing the envelope.”
The Film Changes the Comic’s Structure to Focus on Kara
The original Woman of Tomorrow comic is told from the point of view of a young alien girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll (played by Eve Ridley). She hires Supergirl to hunt down Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), the man who killed her father. The comic is a space western version of True Grit.
The movie changes that focus. This is Kara’s story first.
“This is Supergirl’s movie,” Scott said. “It’s Supergirl’s movie, but they are travel buddies. The Tom King comic was inspired by True Grit, the Western. I think that model is very evident in our film. The two of them together are really the bulk of the film.”
Krem and his crew are described as “space Vikings” who live on a giant battleship. They carry assault vehicles that drop from the ship to raid planets.
Jason Momoa Brought His Own Ideas to Lobo’s Look
Jason Momoa has wanted to play Lobo for years. When he finally got the role, he came with specific requests. Costume designer Michael Mooney shared how hands-on Momoa was.
“He at the last minute said, ‘I think I should have claws.’ So we made those at the last minute,” Mooney said. The claws are not in the original comics. Momoa also wanted a bigger chain around Lobo’s neck.
“He said, ‘I’ve got bigger chains on my wallet.’ So we went a lot bigger with that. Then we added the grenade on it.”
Momoa also requested a working vape cigar that would light up his face during scenes. Action prop supervisor Charlie Horwood built it in just six hours.
“It came from him just because he wanted it to really light up his face,” Horwood said. “He was very looking forward to playing Lobo, so when we finally got him to show him his stuff, he was very, very involved.”
Lobo does not appear in the original Woman of Tomorrow comic. The filmmakers added him to shake up the story. Nong Vo explained that Lobo is “in the dark gray area” morally, while Kara and Ruthye exist in lighter gray zones.
“You generally want somebody to twist it up, change the game unexpectedly,” she said. “It’s really interesting to have somebody who plays with the gray area.”
Practical Sets, Hand-Painted Backdrops, and Edible Alien Popcorn
The production built over 20 different sets for the film. One of the largest is Evely Town Square on the planet Bilquis. It fills an entire soundstage with rubble, neon signs, and a burnt-out alien tank.
“The whole world of this film is very, very practical,” Scott said. “We’ve got hand-painted backdrops. It’s very old-fashioned, traditional filmmaking.”
One alien creature on set is a large space slug inside a terrarium. It excretes colorful popcorn that is apparently safe to eat.
The different planets each have unique looks inspired by real cultures. Ruthye’s home planet has a Western frontier vibe mixed with Japanese architecture. Krem’s brigands use Viking and Celtic designs for their weapons and armor. Ruthye’s sword features Afghan golden filigree details.
Supergirl’s Costume Stays True to the Comics
Kara does not wear her Supergirl suit for most of the movie. She wears a Blondie t-shirt instead. The costume department made about 30 versions of the shirt to get the color right under different lights.
When she finally puts on the suit, it looks very close to the comic version. Mooney said the team never considered giving her pants, unlike Sasha Calle‘s version in The Flash.
“Wearing the skirt adds to her power,” Mooney said. “She wears it, and it just feels like she’s Supergirl.”
The suit has very little padding and is designed for maximum movement during fights.
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Why the Crew Got Emotional on Set
Nong Vo admitted she cried twice while making the film. The first time was seeing Milly Alcock in the Supergirl costume for the first time.
“You sit in development, and you’re pushing paper around for years and years, and it finally becomes a reality,” she said. “I totally had an ugly cry meltdown.”
The second time was watching screenwriter Ana Noguiera see the massive Evely town square set for the first time.
“This is her first movie that’s getting made,” Nong Vo said. “She walked onto the set, and her jaw was on the ground. I was watching her and totally started crying.”
Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26, 2026.
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