Supergirl Takes Flight: Cast, Release Date, Budget, and Plot Revealed

DCU is moving fast, and Supergirl is the next big swing. We already got a quick tease at the end of Superman, and now there is enough on the board to see what kind of story Kara Zor-El is walking into: not sunny, not squeaky-clean, and definitely her own thing.

Release date (and that weird date confusion)

Here is the deal: one header floating around lists Supergirl as June 26, 2025. The actual timeline makes a lot more sense like this: Superman hit theaters July 11, 2025, and Supergirl is set for June 26, 2026 in the U.S. Nearly a year apart. That lines up with Kara briefly showing up at the end of Superman to reclaim Krypto and tee up where this universe is headed next.

The vibe: darker, messier, and not Superman in a wig

Director Craig Gillespie is framing this as a rougher, more complicated spin on a Kryptonian hero. He has called it an anti-hero story with baggage, which tracks with where Kara is mentally. James Gunn has said the character is not the overly perfect version female heroes often get stuck with; Kara is allowed to be flawed, like male leads have been for ages. And if the teaser is any indication, she is not pretending otherwise.

Creative team check: Gillespie behind the camera, Ana Nogueira on the script, and Ramin Djawadi handling the score. Produced by DC Studios.

Plot snapshot (spoiler-free but specific)

Kara is traveling the galaxy to mark her 23rd birthday, with her dog Krypto riding shotgun. She crosses paths with Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young warrior on a mission to avenge her father. Kara signs on. It is a volatile pairing, and by design: she is carrying trauma from Krypton and is not interested in pretending everything is fine.

The movie previously carried the title Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, nodding to the eight-issue comic that re-centered Kara in a big way. The film is not confirmed as a straight adaptation, but expect the arc to push her toward a new path by the end.

Budget chatter, straight from Gunn

A Forbes piece tossed out a $200 million production budget number. James Gunn, who runs DC Studios with Peter Safran, swatted that away on Threads:

"Not even a little bit true."

Translation: the real number is lower. Good call. Supergirl is a first-time solo on the big screen, and this is Milly Alcock's first time leading a giant movie. Keeping the budget sane gives the film more room to win.

The cast (stacked and specific)

• Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl. You probably met her in House of the Dragon. She also pops up at the end of Superman to grab Krypto.
• Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills, the main antagonist. You may know him from Loft and Bullhead.
• Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll, the fierce young warrior Kara teams with. Credits include Body Problem and The Witcher.
• David Krumholtz as Zor-El, Kara's father.
• Emily Beecham as Alura In-Ze, Kara's mother.
• Jason Momoa as Lobo, the intergalactic bounty hunter. Yes, Momoa is back at DC, but not as Aquaman this time.
• Likely: David Corenswet's Superman makes an appearance.

Alcock on landing the role

Milly Alcock has been candid about the whiplash of getting the cape, telling Forbes she felt a burst of imposter syndrome before deciding to trust herself and jump. In her words:

"I thought, 'What have I done?' I really struggled to believe I could do it. I even called the director, saying, 'I don't know how to be that person. I'm just me.' Eventually, I realised the only way through was to trust myself. I always believe life is right on time. Things happen when they're supposed to, whether you feel ready or not."

Yes, there is a teaser

The official teaser shows Kara partying, hungover, and letting Krypto relieve himself on press clippings. It also flashes back to the end of Krypton and hints that alcohol has become a coping mechanism. The key line that sells the difference between Kara and Clark:

"He sees the good in everyone, and I see the truth."

That distinction matters. The footage does not play like a cookie-cutter superhero romp; it looks emotional, grounded, and pointedly its own thing.

Bottom line

New DCU character, familiar S, very different energy. With Gillespie's edge, Nogueira's script, Djawadi's score, and a leaner budget than rumor-mills claim, Supergirl is set up to give Kara Zor-El a fresh, sharp spotlight.

Supergirl opens June 26, 2026 (USA).