James Gunn & DC’s Creative Battle For Supergirl Movie Revealed In Damning New Report
The trouble behind the latest DC Universe movie has been revealed.
Kara Zor-El became the latest hero in the DCU’s Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” after Milly Alcock’s introduction in 2025’s Superman. However, the result of her solo adventure has led to a mixed reception, as well as a struggling battle at the box office.
In a new piece from The Hollywood Reporter, several insiders shared the many issues behind the Supergirl film, as there were seemingly creative conflicts between James Gunn and director Craig Gillespie. Per the trade, conflicts began after principal photography, as two cuts of the Kara Zor-El film were presented, one from Gillespie and one from DC Studios itself.
According to THR, Gunn and Gillespie “had creative differences over the direction of the movie,” citing that “the film never found its footing in the post-production process.” The test scores for the DCU installment reportedly “never escaped the 60s,” but a different insider claimed that the highest it ever got was 70.
Supposedly, according to one source, “’They were not creatively aligned’ is the polite way of describing things,” but THR notes that other sources claim that things didn’t get that heated. The outlet specified the following:
“Gunn, Safran and Gillespie had the normal amount of healthy friction any filmmaker and studio have as part of the process of making a movie better. And multiple sources say the duo respect the filmmaking chops of Gillespie, known for guiding Margot Robbie to an Oscar nomination for I, Tonya.”
Once filming finished in May 2025, it became clear to many involved that the Supergirl feature was struggling, and things didn’t get easier after a test screening that took place last December, with the response being “just okay.” DC Studios took more charge of post-production, in an attempt to salvage the film, even using Jeremy Slater, who had written a script for The Authority, to help.
While THR stressed that “the extent of Slater’s involvement is unclear,” he reportedly wrote scenes for a nine-day shoot for additional photography. Even though Supergirl’s screenwriter, Ana Nogueira, continued to be involved in the post-production stages, “one issue at play was the climactic fight, which was reconfigured.”
One of the biggest differences with Gillespie’s cut was that his had at least 11 more minutes of footage, including more material with Krem of the Yellow Hills. THR shared that when the two iterations were facing off with test audiences, “the scores surprisingly dropped significantly, although the studio’s inched out ahead of Gillespie’s…but by only two points.”
Their sources claim that “Gillespie’s version scored strongly on song choices, pacing and villain. Eking out a win, even a middling one, the studio chose its cut as the one to go into theaters.” However, a different “studio insider” specified that “the differences were not particularly pronounced.”
Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet?
✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story.
02
Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she?
✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner.
03
Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called?
✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness.
04
In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor?
✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman.
05
Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror.
06
After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up?
✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm.
07
As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper?
✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home.
08
This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain?
✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013).
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories.
Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record
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Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth?
As of writing, Gunn, Gillespie, DC Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery have not commented on the story. The 2026 summer adventure has currently grossed $79 million at the worldwide box office. While many Supergirl reviews have varied from mixed to negative, Alcock’s time as the Girl of Steel is far from over.
The Australian lead is set to reprise the role in Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow movie, slated for July 9, 2027, as principal photography is currently underway. Krypton’s last daughter is also being utilized in a third mystery project, according to Supergirl executive producer Lars P. Winther, who previously told THR that “So we have Man of Tomorrow, and we already know what the next movie’s going to be after that, and she’s a big part of that.”
Even if her summer entry may not have been the success DC Studios was looking for, Alcock’s performance has been praised and has quickly become a well-received addition to the DCU. Whether or not Kara will ever have a solo story again remains to be seen, but Supergirl is at least here to stay in Gunn’s franchise.
Supergirl is now playing in theaters.
Release Date
June 26, 2026
Runtime
108 minutes
Director
Craig Gillespie
Writers
Ana Nogueira
Producers
James Gunn, Lars P. Winther, Nigel Gostelow, Peter Safran
