The upcoming "Supergirl" film is poised to redefine the iconic heroine for a new generation, centering her story not on hope, but on the profound trauma of survival. Star Milly Alcock and screenwriter Ana Nogueira have revealed that the key to understanding this version of Kara Zor-El lies in a fundamental difference between her and her famous cousin, Superman .

Unlike Clark Kent, who was sent to Earth as an infant with no memory of his home planet, Kara lived on Krypton. She experienced its culture, knew its people, and witnessed its catastrophic destruction firsthand . This distinction is the bedrock of her character, informing her cynical worldview and deeply flawed personality .

"For me, the way that I approached Kara was just so independently of Clark, and that’s what made those scenes when I did get the opportunity to work with David so exciting," Alcock explained in a recent interview, referring to her Superman co-star David Corenswet . She describes the character as a "survivor of trauma in the purest sense" and was drawn to playing someone "so beautifully flawed and resilient" . "It’s the core of her trauma," Alcock said of Kara's Kryptonian past. "Much of the way that we behave in the world is tied to the things that have happened to us. And it just made sense to me as the bedrock upon which to build her" .

This interpretation is a direct adaptation of Tom King and Bilquis Evely's acclaimed "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" comic series . Nogueira confirmed that the source material's characterization of Kara was what excited her most. "She watched Krypton completely destroyed. I was always like, 'I can't get my head around the version of the character that is so sunny,'" Nogueira said, explaining her previous disconnect with the character . The comic's "rougher and grittier and edgier and funnier" take finally provided the version she wanted to bring to the screen .

The film's writer also noted that while the comic's lore was a guiding light, some elements were adapted for the big screen. When crafting the Kryptonian backstory, Nogueira worked with DC Studios presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran. She shared that one aspect of the lore in her first draft was considered too complicated by Gunn and had to be simplified . Ultimately, Nogueira focused on the "human relationship between her and her parents," which she found to be the most compelling and moving part of the story . Director Craig Gillespie has echoed this sentiment, stating that the film thoroughly investigates Kara's upbringing on Argo City to explain her "self-destructive nature" .

The pressure of stepping into such a beloved role in the interconnected DC Universe is not lost on the young actress. Alcock admitted to feeling intimidated by joining the DC fandom, acknowledging the deep sense of ownership fans have over these characters . "The character doesn't solely belong to you," she said. "The audience all have their own expectations and ideas of who this person is" . However, this challenge is part of the appeal. "Who am I to turn down this opportunity? I get one beautiful life," Alcock reflected. "I may as well just throw myself into something incredibly scary and incredibly exciting" .

Alcock also revealed a piece of practical advice she received from her co-star David Corenswet: "He was like, 'You’re gonna bruise.' I definitely did. 'You’re gonna feel proud of the bruises.' A hundred percent true. 'And you’re gonna hate the harness and the suit by the end of it.' And all of those things are true" . The physical demands of the role were significant, and she also had to learn to speak Kryptonian, a language created for the film's flashback sequences . The actress, who previously learned High Valyrian for "House of the Dragon," treated it like learning a song in another language, finding a natural rhythm to deliver the emotional dialogue .

Nogueira, who is also attached to write the upcoming "Wonder Woman" reboot for DC Studios, hopes audiences connect with the film's central message . She expressed a wish for viewers to realize that they can be "their full, messy, authentic selves and still be heroes" and that "having struggles doesn't mean that you can't be a champion for somebody else" . Alcock added a powerful sentiment: "You don't have to save the world; you can just save your own. And saving yourself sometimes is the best thing that you can do for those around you" .

"Supergirl" soars into theaters on June 26, 2026 . The film also stars David Krumholtz as Zor-El, Jason Momoa as Lobo, and Matthias Schoenaerts as the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills .