Supergirl: Behind the Scenes Drama and Creative Clashes in the DC Universe
Supergirl, the latest installment in James Gunn's DC Universe, has faced challenges at the box office and with critics. While Milly Alcock's portrayal of Kara received praise, the film struggled to find its footing. Reports suggest that internal creative differences between director Craig Gillespie and DC Studios may have contributed to the movie's disjointedness.
According to sources from The Hollywood Reporter, DC conducted test screenings for two different cuts of Supergirl, one from Gillespie and another from the studio. The creative clash between Gillespie and Gunn led to test scores that hovered around the 60-70 range on a 100-point scale. After filming wrapped in May 2025, a December screen test prompted DC to take control of post-production and create its own version of the film.
DC enlisted Mortal Kombat II writer Jeremy Slater to make revisions to the movie, including changes to the climactic battle scene and the soundtrack. The final film's use of a cover of Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle" received criticism, as Gunn had initially pushed for a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Ultimately, DC's version of Supergirl, which scored slightly higher in test screenings, made it to theaters.
Despite the challenges faced by Supergirl, the DC Universe is moving forward with upcoming projects like the horror movie Clayface and a sequel to Superman scheduled for 2027. The possibility of a Director's Cut of Supergirl, featuring additional footage and a different creative vision, remains uncertain but could be a future consideration.