‘Supergirl’ Is “Very Different Tonally” From James Gunn’s ‘Superman’

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With Supergirl, DC finally fulfills the vision James Gunn laid out for the DC Universe when it was first announced in 2023. While Gunn personally created the first three DCU projects – Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker Season 2 – 2026 will be a crucial test. It will show if the shared universe can succeed with other creatives taking the lead, as projects like Lanterns, Clayface, and Supergirl move forward.

During a recent interview with MovieWeb, Supergirl director Craig Gillespie and star Milly Alcock discussed the movie after the trailer was released. Alcock explained that fans of Superman will likely be surprised by how different Supergirl is in terms of its overall feel. Gillespie added that James Gunn is encouraging directors working on DCU projects to bring their own unique style to the material, similar to how different graphic novels can exist within the same universe while still having distinct artistic approaches.

This film is really its own thing. When I first joined, I asked how closely I needed to follow the established Superman story, and I was told we were treating each character like a separate graphic novel. I had the freedom to really make the role my own and bring my own style to it, which was fantastic. I’m so thankful for that creative freedom, because it was essential for getting the right feel for the script. The tone is very different from other Superman stories, and we were encouraged to embrace that. Oh, and can I mention this? The entire movie is set in outer space!

The DCU Will Continue To Grow Beyond James Gunn


Warner Bros.

Early marketing for Supergirl suggests it will be a very different movie from Superman, with a noticeably new look and feel. Its setting in outer space gives it the freedom to develop its own unique style, much like James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy established a distinct tone separate from the more Earth-based Iron Man and Captain America—while still ultimately connecting within the larger Avengers: Infinity War storyline.

One of the biggest strengths of the DC Universe has been giving filmmakers the freedom to create their own distinct style while still contributing to a larger, connected story – something that helps it stand apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Marvel boasts a diverse range of characters and stories, from gritty street-level tales like Daredevil to fantastical adventures like Doctor Strange, it’s often criticized for feeling visually and tonally uniform. Directors such as Edgar Wright and Nia DaCosta have also shared their experiences with the challenges of working within the strict structure of Marvel Studios.

Shows like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Season 2 of Peacemaker have demonstrated the potential of the DC Universe, showcasing everything from adult animation to big-budget blockbusters and mature TV series. However, all of these projects have been overseen by James Gunn. For the DCU to truly succeed, it needs to allow other creators the freedom and opportunity to contribute their own visions, much like DC Comics itself, and not simply become defined by one person’s style.

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2025-12-11 23:09