Milly Alcock has officially landed in the DC Universe, and she didn’t come quietly.
The first Supergirl teaser introduces her as Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin and a key new figure in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC world. But instead of a bright, hopeful heroine swooping in to save the day, the trailer gives us something darker, grittier, and much more complicated — and fans are already debating if this is the Supergirl they signed up for.
A Supergirl Who’s Tired, Bruised… and Very Human
The teaser wastes no time showing how different Kara is from Clark.
We see her alone in a dark room, staring at a single birthday candle before blowing it out and telling Krypto, “Twenty-three will be the best year yet… it’s not a very high bar to clear.” It’s a small line loaded with pain. This Kara feels world-weary, bruised, and clearly carrying emotional baggage from a brutal past.
Director Craig Gillespie has called the film an anti-hero story and said Kara has “a lot of baggage and a lot of demons.” James Gunn goes even further, describing this as a “punk” take on Supergirl — imperfect, messy, and a far cry from the polished, perfect image female superheroes are often forced into. This version drinks, snaps, struggles, and still somehow gets back up.
Some fans love seeing that vulnerability. Others miss the brighter, sunnier Supergirl they grew up with. And that tension is already fueling arguments across social media.
From the Fortress of Solitude to Grimy Space Colonies
The story picks up after Alcock’s brief appearance in Gunn’s Superman, where Kara arrived at the Fortress of Solitude to collect Krypto the Superdog. In Supergirl, that thread becomes a full-blown cosmic road trip.
Set to Blondie’s “Call Me,” the teaser slings Kara through chaotic, grungy intergalactic colonies packed with shady humanoid aliens, crumbling outposts, and neon-lit bars. The whole thing has a lived-in, space-western vibe that feels closer to Guardians of the Galaxy than classic Metropolis.
For some viewers, that’s exactly the fresh energy they want from DC right now. Others feel like the tone leans too far into Gunn’s signature style and fear Supergirl might lose her own identity in the process.
Jason Momoa’s Lobo Crashes the Party
As if Kara’s inner chaos wasn’t enough, Supergirl also marks Jason Momoa’s big DC comeback — this time as Lobo, the cigar-chomping, motorcycle-riding alien mercenary fans have been dream-casting him as for years.
Lobo storms through the footage like a heavy-metal wrecking ball, and he’s expected to play a major role in the film. That has fans thrilled and nervous at the same time. Many people are excited to see Momoa go full space-bounty-hunter, while others quietly worry he could steal the spotlight from Kara in her own movie.
A Cosmic Western with a Sharp Emotional Core
This isn’t just a splashy action story. Supergirl is based on Tom King’s acclaimed comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which leans into a more character-driven, cosmic Western tone.
We meet Ruthye Marye Knoll, played by Eve Ridley, a young girl who seeks out Kara to help avenge her father’s death. Matthias Schoenaerts stars as the main villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills, while David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham appear as Kara’s parents, anchoring her story with family, grief, and tough moral choices.
That emotional layer is winning praise from fans who want more depth in superhero films, even as others feel uneasy about how dark Kara’s journey appears from the start.
More Than “Superman’s Cousin” — and Definitely Not Going Straight to Streaming
One thing James Gunn has been firm about: this is not just a gender-flipped Superman.
He’s stressed that Supergirl is its own theatrical event, made for the big screen — not a “small” spin-off destined to be buried on streaming. Alcock’s Kara has a different history, different scars, and a different outlook on the universe. She may share Kryptonian DNA with Clark, but her story stands on its own terms.
That boldness is exactly what some fans are celebrating… and exactly what others are anxious about.
Love it or hate it, the teaser has done its job: everyone is talking. Alcock’s punk, imperfect Supergirl, Jason Momoa’s wild-eyed Lobo, Krypto back in action, and a gritty cosmic Western tone have turned this film into one of the most debated projects in the new DC era.
Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26 — and by then, fans will have picked their side in the argument.
