- Primary Subject: James Gunn and Helen Slater on Milly Alcock's Supergirl
- Key Update: DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn and original star Helen Slater have praised Milly Alcock's unique "haunted" take on Kara Zor-El ahead of the film's premiere.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: June 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: James Gunn distinguishes Milly Alcock's Supergirl from previous versions, including Helen Slater's, by emphasizing her uniquely hardened, "haunted" upbringing outside of Krypton.
As the premiere of Supergirl approaches, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has shed light on what sets Milly Alcock's portrayal apart from those who came before her.
Why James Gunn Believes Milly Alcock's Supergirl is Unlike Any Previous Girls of Steel
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Speaking with ExtraTV at the world premiere of Supergirl, Gunn spoke about how Milly Alcock's take on the Girl of Steel is "different in every way" and how that difference will show in the upcoming follow-up to Superman, Man of Tomorrow.
"I've liked a lot of the iterations of Supergirl. I mean, I think Helen Slater was great. All of them really have been great versions," Gunn said, emphasizing that the next interesting thing is Supergirl's dynamics with her cousin, "But I do think that this Supergirl is apart because she's not so much like Superman. She's very different from her cousin, which puts them at odds, which is a big part of this movie and then an even bigger part of Man of Tomorrow, which we're filming now."
Gunn added that Alcock's Supergirl is, while still being the same hero we've known her to be, a stark contrast to the brighter, more hopeful versions of previous generations. Kara Zor-El was not always Supergirl. In fact, as seen in the trailer, she was "damaged" after her "very, very, very difficult" upbringing on a "chunk of rock outside of Krypton."
But most importantly, "She was not ready to accept the suit in a way that Superman was," which fans are sure to discover once Supergirl premieres and redefines her cinematic legacy.
Helen Slater Proudly Passes the Cape to Milly Alcock's Supergirl
Original Supergirl actress Helen Slater may have been the first to bring to life the Girl of Steel in live-action, but generations passed her and soon, Milly Alcock, continued to improve the hero on the big and small screens to further develop the character for who exactly they are.
Over 40 years of passing the cape later, Helen had nothing but pure encouragement and support for her fellow Supergirl actresses, congratulating each and every one, from Laura Vandervoort to Melissa Benoist, Sasha Calle, and Milly Alcock.
"Congratulations to the luminous Milly Alcock, the next Supergirl! DC Universe awaits you! You will be AMAZING!!" Her Instagram post read below, which featured a celebratory collage of all the live-action Supergirl actresses:
After Supergirl, Milly Alcock is immediately set to reprise the Girl of Steel in the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, which will eventually unfold a new set of heroes and villains to face and add to their growing roster as part of DC Studios' co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU rebuilding plan.
Gunn even teased that Alcock has a "big role" in the upcoming 2027 blockbuster, proving her character is a cornerstone of the franchise's future.
Fans won't have to wait long as Supergirl premieres in theaters on June 26, 2026. Stay tuned!
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