James Gunn Reveals ‘Supergirl’ Is Not a Direct Comic Adaptation

James Gunn has shared new details about the upcoming Supergirl movie and made it clear that fans should not expect a scene-by-scene version of the comic it is based on. Gunn, who runs DC Studios with Peter Safran, talked about the project while praising its lead star and overall tone.

According to Gunn, the film takes inspiration from Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, but it does not stick closely to every detail.

He said the heart of the story is still there, even if the movie goes in its own direction. “I love Milly Alcock in the movie. It’s a space fantasy which is, like Guardians in a way, but based on the Tom King book. It doesn’t follow it religiously, but it has a lot of the core of that there.”

The movie stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl. She is joined by Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa. The story follows Supergirl as she travels across space and gets pulled into a violent mission driven by revenge. James Gunn and Peter Safran are producing the film under DC Studios.

This version of Supergirl is part of the new DC Universe. The project changed direction after Gunn and Safran took control of DC Studios in late 2022. Before that, Supergirl had appeared briefly in The Flash in 2023, played by Sasha Calle. The new film was officially announced in early 2023 as a fresh take tied to the new DCU.

The movie is directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira. Filming began in early 2025 and wrapped later that spring. Production took place in England and Scotland, using studio locations and real-world settings.

Supergirl is set to hit theaters in the United States on June 26. It will be part of the first chapter of the DCU, titled Gods and Monsters. The film centers on Kara celebrating her 23rd birthday while traveling through space with her dog Krypto. Her journey changes after a tragedy pushes her toward a dark and dangerous path.

By choosing not to follow the comic exactly, Gunn seems focused on making the story work best as a movie rather than a strict adaptation. This approach gives the filmmakers more room to shape the character for a new audience while keeping the spirit of the original story alive.

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