DC Studios Confirms 1 DCU Hero Will Lose Their Superpowers In 2026

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This year marks the debut of a major DC superhero, and Supergirl will be portrayed as both incredibly strong and surprisingly vulnerable. Milly Alcock first appeared as Supergirl in the 2025 film Superman, setting the stage for her own movie in 2026. That film will be inspired by the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book storyline. While the first trailer for Supergirl showcased her impressive powers, the 2026 movie will explore times when she isn’t fully in control of them.

At Supergirl’s first public appearance in December 2025, director Craig Gillespie revealed that the movie will show moments where Supergirl loses her powers. This happens because she’s on a “red planet,” which completely removes her abilities. Gillespie explained this was important when planning the fight scenes, as the environment – a red planet versus a yellow one – would change how the battles unfold.

Craig Gillespie explained that they dedicated six to seven weeks solely to filming stunts. It was a busy time, but exciting because each stunt sequence was unique. Factors like Supergirl’s power level – whether she had full power, none at all, or was on a red planet – and her emotional state at that point in the story heavily influenced how each fight played out.

In the world of DC Comics, Kryptonians lose their powers when they’re on planets that orbit red suns. This is because their abilities come from the yellow sun, which is what gives Superman and Supergirl their strength on Earth. After Supergirl appeared briefly in a Superman story, Superman joked that his cousin enjoys visiting other planets—specifically those with red suns. He then added that their unique biology prevents them from getting intoxicated on planets lit by yellow suns.

Although Superman’s vulnerability to Kryptonite was featured in the movie Superman, the effect of red sun radiation hasn’t been explored yet in the new DC Universe. However, it will be a central element in the Supergirl story. According to Gillespie, Supergirl actively seeks out red suns because they diminish her powers, making her feel more like an ordinary person.

Craig Gillespie: “She’s very, very much trying to find every red planet she can.”

James Gunn said it’s enjoyable to watch the movie because Supergirl travels to different planets – some red and some yellow. Interestingly, Superman and Supergirl’s superpowers don’t function on the red planets, making them just like regular people.

Craig Gillespie: “And that’s where she’s comfortable.”

Based on early reactions, it seems Supergirl will repeatedly lose her superpowers in the movie. She’ll be traveling across the galaxy, looking for planets that let her live as a regular person. The trailer hints she’s struggling with trauma from the loss of Krypton, and is leaning on alcohol to cope – a behavior similar to her cousin’s. This suggests a focus on her personal struggles rather than traditional superheroics.

Viewers will probably realize Kara is powerless very quickly. The Woman of Tomorrow comic starts on Ruthye’s home planet, which orbits a red star, and that’s where the hero goes to celebrate her birthday and have a drink. There, she meets Ruthye, who asks for help finding Krem of the Yellow Hills. The first trailer for Supergirl shows a similar setup: the hero is celebrating her birthday and drinking at a bar in space, but the red sun is weakening her powers.

However, Supergirl won’t be powerless for long. Once she leaves the red planet, she’ll regain all of her Kryptonian superpowers and use them throughout the movie.

The next big live-action movie from DC Studios’ new DC Universe will focus on Supergirl. It will continue the story of Supergirl, played by Melissa Benoist, and also feature Eve Ridley as Ruthye and Jason Momoa returning as Lobo. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on June 26, 2026.

Supergirl’s Power Loss Is A Part of Her Journey

Usually, a hero losing their powers happens at a crucial moment to create conflict. But with Supergirl, she intentionally gives up her powers, and it’s connected to her personal journey and emotional growth.

Unlike Superman, Supergirl doesn’t want to be a hero. She actively tries to distance herself from her Kryptonian background and live a normal life, even to the point of seeking out situations where she has no powers – which often leads her to planets with red suns.

Okay, so Supergirl losing her powers? That’s easily fixed – she just needs to go somewhere with a yellow sun! But honestly, it’s not just about getting her powers back. She really needs to come to terms with who she is, being Kryptonian and all. That’s what I’m excited to see her explore in the Supergirl story, especially as she helps Ruthye with her quest for revenge. It’s about her internal journey as much as the powers themselves.

The trailer for Supergirl shows that Kara will eventually become the famous DC hero, donning the red and blue “S” shield. However, her journey won’t be easy. A key part of her growth will involve dealing with the loss of her powers on red planets.

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2026-02-15 09:35