DC has featured two distinct versions of Supergirl within the past three years, creating notable contrasts that fans can easily distinguish. Despite both Sasha Calle and Milly Alcock portraying the same comic book character, their interpretations under James Gunn’s vision mark a clear departure, highlighting significant James Gunn Supergirl differences in personality, backstory, and costume design.
Sasha Calle introduced Supergirl in 2023’s The Flash, a DCEU film starring Ezra Miller as The Flash and Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman. Conversely, Milly Alcock will headline James Gunn’s DC Universe (DCU) solo Supergirl film set for release in 2026, following a brief cameo in the 2025 Superman movie. The DCU reboot aims to transform the tone and approach established by Zack Snyder’s SnyderVerse and the broader DCEU, offering a fresh take on the character’s identity and journey.
Distinct Personality Differences Between Supergirl Versions
A major point of divergence lies in the personality traits portrayed by Calle and Alcock. In The Flash, Calle’s Supergirl is depicted primarily as a formidable combatant with a reserved, stoic nature. She speaks sparingly, embodying a quiet determination similar to Henry Cavill’s Superman, reflecting unwavering dedication to justice with a serious, resolute demeanor.
In contrast, Milly Alcock’s Supergirl brings a more layered and humanized persona to the role. At a Supergirl press conference, Alcock described her portrayal as “incredibly flawed” and “messy,” drawing comparisons to the wit and complexity of the MCU’s Tony Stark. This version embraces imperfections and humor while grappling with personal struggles, evident in scenes where she appears carefree or disheveled, such as when Supergirl shows up drunk to collect Krypto in Superman’s cameo.
This evolution aligns with James Gunn’s DCU tone, which favors a character who is more approachable and emotionally complex rather than the traditional stoic superhero. Alcock’s Kara Zor-El uses a lighthearted, party-like exterior as a coping mechanism for deeper traumas, contrasting sharply with the solemn portrayal fans witnessed in the DCEU.
Reimagined Origins and Backstory for the DCU Supergirl
While both Supergirl versions share common roots as Kal-El’s cousin, their backstories differ markedly. In the DCEU, Calle’s Supergirl departed Krypton around the same time as Superman, sent by her parents to protect her cousin on Earth. Although she carried the trauma of Krypton’s destruction, she did not witness the catastrophe firsthand.
Milly Alcock’s take in the DCU rewrites this history, making Krypton’s demise a more personal and immediate trauma. In the upcoming film’s trailers, Alcock’s Supergirl declares,
Krypton didn’t die in a day. The gods are not that kind.
This line reflects her intimate connection to the planet’s downfall and suggests a more visceral experience of loss that shapes her character.
The DCU appears to incorporate Argo City into her narrative, a key element from comic lore. Argo was a Kryptonian city-state that survived Krypton’s destruction under a protective dome but later faced extinction due to radiation poisoning. According to the storyline, Kara was sent away by her parents, Zor-El and Allura, in a rocket to Earth to follow her cousin, surviving longer than many Kryptonians but still deeply affected by the fate of her people.
Unlike Calle’s Supergirl, whose trauma centered on human imprisonment, Alcock’s character is primarily motivated by the loss and destruction of her home world, providing a more intricate psychological foundation for her role.
Comparing the Costumes of the Two Supergirls
The costume design further distinguishes the two portrayals, reflecting their respective cinematic universes. Sasha Calle’s Supergirl in the DCEU wore a metallic blue and red suit that intentionally diverged from the classic comic book aesthetic by omitting the traditional red skirt. This design mirrored Henry Cavill’s Superman, who also did away with the iconic red trunks for a modernized look. Calle’s Supergirl featured darker hair cut short, adding to her distinct, less conventional appearance.
In James Gunn’s DCU, costume design embraces comic book tradition more faithfully. Milly Alcock’s Supergirl sports the recognizable red skirt and red boots, complementing the blonde hair and classic hairstyle typically associated with Kara Zor-El in the comics. This choice aligns with Gunn’s renewed faithfulness to comic origins, similar to how David Corenswet’s Superman retains the red underwear, restoring long-standing character elements absent from earlier adaptations.
Despite these visual differences, both versions maintain a thematic mirroring between Superman and Supergirl in their respective universes, preserving their narrative connection as cousin heroes.
Implications of These Changes in the DC Universe
The significant differences James Gunn and Peter Safran introduce with Alcock’s Supergirl illustrate a deliberate tonal and character shift within the DCU. Moving away from the more somber and stoic SnyderVerse, the DCU Supergirl embodies a flawed, humanized hero whose backstory delves deeply into trauma and survival. This reinvention broadens the scope of the character, offering audiences a fresh, emotionally complex figure for the franchise’s future.
These distinctions not only influence how fans will perceive Supergirl moving forward but also reflect DC Studios’ broader strategy to redefine its superhero universe by blending comic book authenticity with new storytelling styles. As Milly Alcock prepares for her solo Supergirl film, viewers can expect a narrative and aesthetic that contrast strongly with the 2023 DCEU portrayal, marking an important evolution for the character inside the growing DCU.
