Why Milly Alcock Spoiling a Major Supergirl Cameo Was a Genius Move

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The initial trailer for the new DC Universe film has been released, starting the promotion for the second major movie in the series. As expected for a first look, the trailer focused more on the visual style and atmosphere of the space adventure than on the story itself. It offered glimpses of Jason Momoa as Lobo and Eve Ridley as Ruthye, but one familiar DC character was notably absent. Shortly after, Milly Alcock, who plays Supergirl, revealed a cameo appearance by David Corenswet as Superman, and that was a good move.

When James Gunn first announced this movie, he said it would be based on a well-known story. This means fans will already be familiar with the main plot. The film centers around Supergirl meeting Ruthye during a drunken birthday celebration on a planet with a red sun, as Ruthye seeks a hero to avenge her father’s death. It will also delve into Kara Zor-El’s ongoing emotional struggles from witnessing Krypton’s destruction, something hinted at in the released teaser. However, the movie isn’t a direct copy of the comic book. For instance, the character Lobo wasn’t part of the original story, so his role is currently unknown. The surprise cameo of Superman in Supergirl was likely intended to be a similar reveal, and while Milly Alcock accidentally spoiled it, that might actually help build excitement for the movie.

The First Supergirl Film Suffered Because Superman Wasn’t a Part of Its Story

The first Supergirl movie came out in 1984, with Helen Slater playing the role of Supergirl. It was made by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the father-son team who also produced Richard Donner’s Superman and its two follow-up films.

The movie Supergirl took place after the events of Superman III, which had come out the year before. Superman III hadn’t done well, earning only $80.2 million at the box office despite costing $39 million to make, and critics had panned it. Supergirl fared even worse. There were plans for Christopher Reeve to appear and share the screen with Supergirl, which would have been the first time the two Kryptonian cousins appeared together in a live-action movie.

There were reports that Christopher Reeve decided not to work with the producers of Superman III again because they disagreed creatively, and he announced his departure with a playful story about going on a mission to a distant galaxy. Although Reeve didn’t reprise his role in the film, a poster of his Superman character did appear briefly in one scene.

The movie Supergirl wasn’t a financial success, earning just $14 million despite costing $35 million to make. Director Jeannot Szwarc later admitted he wished Christopher Reeve (Superman) had been in the film, believing his presence would have elevated it, as he shared in the documentary You Will Believe. Helen Slater, who played Supergirl, also felt the story didn’t accurately reflect a young woman’s perspective and was difficult to follow.

Slater later appeared in the DC universe twice. She portrayed Clark Kent’s Kryptonian mother on Smallville and Kara’s adoptive mother on The CW’s Supergirl.

Milly Alcock Spoiling the Superman Cameo Avoids This Without Ruining the Surprise

Before the first look at the Supergirl trailer was released, Milly Alcock revealed her most difficult scenes involved Superman. She explained it was challenging because she wasn’t wearing the Supergirl costume and had to perform lines in a language other than English. James Gunn, who has been open about DCU plans, probably would have preferred this detail stayed private.

The 1984 Supergirl movie benefited from the popularity of the Superman films, creating an anticipation among audiences that Superman would appear. This expectation grew because Supergirl first appeared in the DC Universe with a brief cameo in Superman. Now that it’s confirmed he’ll be in the new film, more fans are likely to see it, and David Corenswet, who plays Superman, can even be used in the movie’s promotion.

Supergirl deserves to succeed on her own merits, and ideally, she wouldn’t need a boost from her well-known cousin. However, a cameo by a popular Superman, following his recent successful film, will likely help Supergirl avoid the disappointing results of another recent DC film. This appearance also establishes the connections between characters that are key to building a cohesive DC Universe.

Both The Flash Movie and the CW’s Supergirl Series Show Superman’s Importance

In the first season of Supergirl on CBS, the show’s creators weren’t permitted to feature Superman directly. He initially appeared as a shadowy figure and later communicated with Supergirl through text messages.

I was really worried when it looked like the show might get canceled before it moved to The CW, thankfully it didn’t! That move felt so important, because it really solidified Supergirl as a hero in her own right. It wasn’t about making a statement about gender, but about the story itself. If she was the only superhero around, that’d be one thing, but existing in a world with Superman? That creates a whole different set of challenges and makes her journey so much more interesting.

It’s strange that the last two Kryptonians are avoiding each other, even if they weren’t related. Milly Alcock hinting at a Superman appearance actually suggests that Supergirl will have a strong and believable story. The fact that Superman’s connection to Krypton is more conceptual highlights the very real sense of loss that Kara experiences in Supergirl, creating an interesting contrast.

Although The Flash movie was eventually released, its portrayal of Supergirl, played by Sasha Calle, didn’t quite succeed. The story explains that Superman never arrived on Earth, but Supergirl did. When Barry Allen tells her about Superman, she doesn’t recognize him at all. This meant her final fight with Zod felt disconnected and lacked personal meaning, making her seem like an unlikely hero for the situation.

Supergirl is getting her own major movie in 2026, giving her the spotlight she’s earned. The story will stand on its own, without needing complicated explanations about why Superman isn’t involved.

Supergirl will debut exclusively in theaters on July 26, 2026.

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2025-12-19 20:37