James Gunn and Peter Safran explain how Supergirl expands the DCU beyond Superman.
James Gunn and Peter Safran are not just building around Superman. They are building outward.
In a new interview, the DC Studios heads opened up about Supergirl, Millie Alcock’s take on Kara Zor-El, Jason Momoa’s long-awaited move into the role of Lobo, the return of Krypto, and the larger plan for a DCU that reaches far beyond Earth.
For fans trying to understand how Supergirl fits into the new DC Studios era, Gunn and Safran offered one of the clearest explanations yet. Their approach is not about making every project feel like one long episode of the same story. Instead, the goal is to create films that feel connected through character, tone, and world-building while still standing on their own.
As Safran put it, DC Studios likes the idea that its films are “consistent, but not necessarily connected.”
That may be the most important idea behind Supergirl. The character was introduced through the larger DCU, but her solo story is being positioned as its own adventure. According to Safran, audiences can watch Supergirl without needing to have seen everything else in the DCU, while dedicated fans will still find extra nuance and Easter eggs.
Why James Gunn Wanted To Tell A Supergirl Story
For Gunn, the road to Supergirl started with Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow.
Gunn said he read Woman of Tomorrow while he and Safran were in discussions to take over DC. He called Safran and told him he needed to check it out. Safran read it and loved it as well.
Even during that early phone call, Gunn already had an actor in mind.
“You know who I think would be a good Supergirl? Millie Alcock,” Gunn recalled saying.
That early instinct has now shaped one of the DCU’s biggest upcoming stories. Gunn explained that Supergirl immediately stood out because she is not simply a female version of Superman. Her history gives her a completely different emotional starting point.
“Superman came to Earth when he was an infant,” Gunn said. “And he never really experienced the trauma of his planet dying, whereas Supergirl always has experienced that trauma.”
That difference is key to the character. Superman was raised on Earth and grew up with humanity. Supergirl remembers what was lost. She carries the pain of Krypton in a way Superman does not, and that gives her story a rougher edge.
Gunn said that starting from that place made the character exciting because Supergirl is “not your usual hero.” He also liked the idea of a female-centered superhero film where the main character is not perfect.
That detail matters. The DCU is not introducing Kara as a polished symbol of hope who has everything figured out. Instead, Supergirl appears to be leaning into her trauma, flaws, attitude, and emotional messiness.
Millie Alcock Brings A Rock And Roll Edge To Supergirl
Gunn and Safran both praised Millie Alcock’s work as Kara, pointing to the attitude and vulnerability she brings to the role.
Gunn said Alcock brings a “rock and roll vibe” and a “troubled feeling” to the character, something he feels she expresses naturally.
Safran described it in a similar way, saying Alcock brought a “punk rock attitude” to Supergirl. But what really stood out was not just the edge. It was the emotion.
Safran revealed that Alcock made them cry during her screen test with one particular scene. He said she has the authenticity and real feeling Gunn always wanted for Supergirl, along with acting ability that he believes will surprise audiences.
That combination may be the key to this version of Kara. DC Studios is not just selling her as powerful. They are selling her as wounded, rebellious, and emotionally real.
For audiences who may only know Supergirl from past TV or animated versions, this movie appears to be taking a different route. Gunn and Safran are positioning Alcock’s Kara as someone who can be funny, angry, broken, heroic, and unpredictable.
That makes Supergirl feel less like a standard superhero origin and more like a character-driven journey across the DCU.
How Supergirl Connects To Superman Without Depending On It
One of the biggest questions around the DCU is how connected each project will be.
Safran made it clear that Supergirl will not require homework.
He said Millie Alcock’s Supergirl is the same character audiences were introduced to in Superman, but the film can take her on an adventure that has “no real connection” to the story told in Superman.
That is a smart move for DC Studios. It gives fans a shared universe without making every movie feel locked into one ongoing plot. Viewers who saw Superman will understand the larger context, but new audiences can still walk into Supergirl and follow the story.
Safran said fans can join Supergirl without ever having seen anything else DC Studios has done in the DCU. However, more committed fans will get added layers, nuance, and Easter eggs.
That approach could help the DCU avoid one of the biggest problems that often comes with shared-universe storytelling. Instead of making every film feel dependent on the last one, Gunn and Safran are trying to make each project feel like its own movie first.
The connective tissue is still there, but the story comes first.
Krypto Raises The Stakes In Supergirl
Krypto is also playing a major role in the emotional stakes of Supergirl.
Gunn said Krypto’s life is at stake throughout the movie, creating tension across the story. He pointed out that audiences who have already seen Superman have fallen in love with the character, while new viewers should also connect with him quickly.
According to Gunn, Krypto has become many fans’ favorite character from Superman. Bringing him back and placing him in real danger gives Supergirl an emotional hook that goes beyond spectacle.
That detail also gives Kara a clear personal mission. Gunn explained that Supergirl is trying to save Krypto, while Ruthye has her own reason for joining the journey.
Supergirl And Ruthye Bring Buddy Comedy Energy
Gunn also described the dynamic between Supergirl and young Ruthye, who are forced to come together while tracking down Krem of the Yellow Hills.
Their goals are different. Ruthye wants revenge, while Supergirl wants to save Krypto.
That tension gives the film a buddy-comedy element. Gunn said the two characters “bond and don’t bond along the way,” which suggests Supergirl will mix action, emotion, and humor as Kara and Ruthye clash through their mission.
That is an important clue about the tone of the movie. While the story is rooted in trauma, revenge, and danger, it does not sound like DC Studios is making a one-note dark superhero film. Instead, Supergirl seems to be using contrast: pain and humor, danger and friendship, cosmic adventure and character drama.
That kind of balance is very much in line with Gunn’s larger storytelling style.
Jason Momoa Finally Gets To Play Lobo
The interview also touched on Jason Momoa joining the DCU as Lobo, a role fans have connected to him for years.
Gunn said one of the first texts he received was from Momoa, who wrote something about Lobo “in big letters.” According to Gunn, Momoa had always wanted to play the character.
Gunn has known Momoa for a long time, and Supergirl became the chance to finally put him in a movie as Lobo.
Safran added that “everybody knows he’s perfect as Lobo.” He said Momoa was incredibly enthusiastic about playing the role and bringing the character to life.
“He’s fantastic in the film,” Safran said.
For DC fans, this is one of the biggest draws of Supergirl. Momoa previously played Aquaman in the former DC film universe, but Lobo feels like a very different kind of role. The character’s loud, violent, chaotic, and larger-than-life energy lines up with what many fans have wanted to see from Momoa for years.
His appearance also helps show how wide the DCU is becoming. Supergirl is not just about Kara. It is also bringing in cosmic characters and expanding the world around her.
The Superfamily Is Becoming A Major DCU Pillar
Safran also talked about the growing cadence of DC films built around the Superfamily.
He pointed to Superman delivering commercially, critically, and with audiences and fans in 2025. Then, a year later, audiences get Supergirl. After that, Man of Tomorrow continues the larger story in 2027.
For Safran, that rhythm is exciting because the films are all built around the Superfamily, but they do not all feel the same. He said each one feels different while still being special and unique.
Gunn agreed, saying the projects allow DC Studios to show different kinds of storytelling and different facets of the DCU. Even Superman and Man of Tomorrow, according to Gunn, are different from each other.
That is another major takeaway from Gunn and Safran’s comments. DC Studios is not treating the Superfamily as one tone or one formula. Superman, Supergirl, and Man of Tomorrow may share DNA, but they are being shaped as distinct stories.
For fans, that means the DCU’s Superfamily era may be less about repeating the same heroic template and more about exploring how different Kryptonian characters respond to the universe around them.
James Gunn Says DC Studios Is Building The DC Universe, Not The DC Planet
Gunn’s strongest quote may also be the clearest mission statement for the DCU.
“We are building the DC Universe, not the DC planet,” Gunn said.
That line explains why Supergirl matters beyond just being another superhero movie. Gunn pointed out that Superman is Earth-based, Creature Commandos is Earth-based and Peacemaker is almost totally Earth-based. Supergirl, however, opens up another piece of the galaxy.
That is the larger promise of this movie. It expands the DCU’s scale.
The DC Universe is not just Metropolis. It is not just Earth. It is not just one hero or one team. With Supergirl, DC Studios is moving into the cosmic side of its storytelling and making room for new worlds, new threats, and new kinds of characters.
That direction is important because DC has always had a massive universe in the comics. The challenge has been translating that scale to film in a way that feels clear, exciting and accessible.
Based on Gunn and Safran’s comments, Supergirl may be one of the first major steps toward that larger canvas.
James Gunn And Peter Safran give fans several major reasons to pay attention to Supergirl.
First, Gunn explains why Kara is not just another version of Superman. Her trauma, attitude and flaws are central to this movie.
Second, Safran makes it clear that Millie Alcock’s performance is not just about punk-rock energy. Her screen test brought real emotion, and DC Studios believes audiences will be surprised by her acting.
Third, the movie is being designed to stand on its own. Fans do not need to watch every DCU projThe challenge has been translating that scale to film in a way that feels clear, exciting, and accessible. the emotional stakes. The character is not just returning for fan service. His life is in danger, and that danger drives Supergirl’s mission.
Fifth, Jason Momoa’s Lobo is finally happening. Gunn and Safran both described Momoa as deeply connected to the role, with Safran calling him perfect for it.
Most importantly, the inteHer trauma, attitude, and flaws are central to this movie. plan. Gunn and Safran are using the film to push the DCU beyond Earth and into the galaxy.
For fans wondering what the new DCU actually is, Supergirl may be one of the most important answers yet.
What Supergirl Reveals About The Future Of The DCU
The biggest takeaway from Gunn and Safran’s comments is that the DCU is being built with flexibility.
The projects are connected, but they are not trapped by each other. Characters can cross over, worlds can expand and fans can find deeper connections, but each film still needs to work as its own story.
That could be the key to making this new era of DC feel fresh. Supergirl is part of the same universe as Superman, but it is not trying to be Superman. It is cosmic, emotional, rougher and more rebellious.
With Millie Alcock leading the film, Krypto in danger, Ruthye seeking revenge and Jason Momoa stepping into the role of Lobo, Supergirl looks like a major test of how far DC Studios can stretch its new universe.
Gunn and Safran are not just building around one hero. They are building worlds.
And if Gunn’s own words are any indication, Supergirl is where the DCU truly starts looking beyond the planet when it hits theaters on June 26, 2026.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
