'Supergirl' trailer proves she's nothing like Superman as Krypton burns and her darker side takes over
Big games bring big ads. And sometimes, they bring capes and a burning planet. DC Studios chose 'Super Bowl' Sunday to flash a fresh look at 'Supergirl', its upcoming big-screen project spinning out of last summer's 'Superman'. And the brief but loaded preview made one thing very clear: this is not your sunshine-and-smiles Kryptonian story. Not even close. Milly Alcock steps fully into the spotlight as Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin. Her character already caught the audience's attention with a quick but unforgettable appearance in 'Superman'.
That moment revealed a few things fans weren't expecting, including the revelation that the beloved super-dog Krypto actually belongs to her, not Clark Kent, and that Kara's idea of downtime includes off-world partying. The new footage goes back further, showing moments from Kara's past when Krypton was still standing, and life hadn't yet turned into survival mode. Over visuals of a planet in chaos, Kara delivers a line that lands with weight and warning, "Krypton didn't die in a day. The gods are not that kind." Unlike Superman, who is often written as a believer in humanity no matter how bleak things get, this version of Supergirl doesn't appear interested in idealism.
The teaser makes that difference loud without spelling it out, setting Kara up as someone shaped by loss, disappointment, and maybe a bit of anger. When she draws a comparison between her outlook and her cousin's, it's blunt, almost cold. She said in the trailer, "He sees the good in everyone. And I see the truth." That difference is the engine of the movie, at least according to the people making it. Director Craig Gillespie has previously described the film as closer to an "anti-hero" tale, saying, "She's got a lot of demons, a lot of baggage coming into this, which is very different from where Superman is in his life," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
James Gunn, who co-runs DC Studios, has also been open about wanting Kara to feel messier and more complicated than the female heroes audiences often see on screen. He commented in an earlier promotional event, "So many times female superheroes are so perfect. She's not that at all…like male superheroes have been allowed to be for a while." The goal, it seems, is balance. Strength, yes. But also disorder. The cast around Alcock adds to that energy. Jason Momoa appears as Lobo, a fan favorite known for his brutal humor and total disregard for rules. The character feels like a wild card who could either help Kara or make everything worse, possibly while laughing about it.
Also, Matthias Schoenaerts plays the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills. Behind the scenes, the screenplay comes from Ana Nogueira. Meanwhile, 'Supergirl' is one of two films the studio plans to release this year. The other theatrical release, 'Clayface', leans into horror and is being produced on a smaller scale than most comic-book movies, arriving later in October. On the television side, 'Lanterns' is also on the way, an HBO Max series set to land toward the end of summer. For now, though, 'Supergirl' is the attention grabber, and according to Deadline, it's scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 26.
