The next installment of the DC Universe is ready to take to the skies. Supergirl officially introduces us to Milly Alcock's Girl of Steel, who made a cameo appearance in last year's Superman. David Corenswet, who played the Man of Tomorrow, returns the favor here, having a guest role as Superman, with the two super cousins proving their great on-screen chemistry once again.
If you have been keeping up with the media - or even social media - this week, it's hard to avoid Supergirl. Although things were quiet on the DC movie front for a few weeks too many there, the review embargo has lifted, allowing for some reviews even more divisive than the movie is supposed to be. Needless to say, the Woman of Tomorrow is generating discussion among fans. And one of the most common questions that is being asked is: Did James Gunn direct Supergirl. The answer is no, but that doesn't mean the question wasn't justified.
Supergirl is part of James Gunn's DC Universe (even though he didn't direct it)
No, James Gunn did not direct Supergirl, and he didn't write it either. The 2026 superhero movie was directed by Chris Gillespie from a script that was written by Ana Nogueira. That's quite the formidable dream team, as Gillespie has previously directed the likes of Lars and the Real Girl, Fright Night, I, Tonya, and Cruella, while Nogueira is set to write future DCU films like Teen Titans and Wonder Woman. And yet, it still feels like a James Gunn movie. Here's why.
As DC fans know, James Gunn and Peter Safran are currently the CEOs and Chairmen of DC Studios, which means that they are building out their own DC Universe. They get final approval on which scripts go forward and they also have to make sure that each of the projects align with the vision for the overall franchise - while also standing on their own two feet. Naturally, the pair are credited as producers on Supergirl.
Taking that into account, it's not surprising that the film looks and feels like one of Gunn's projects. From its space-setting to the "punk rock" soundtrack, Supergirl feels very Guardians of the Galaxy - which is, of course, the Marvel franchise that really showcased Gunn as a force to be reckoned with within superhero movies. That specific brand of chaotic, humorous, silly, entertaining movies have become renowned with him - and he has brought it to DC with The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Superman - so when audiences recognized all of those things in Supergirl, many of them assumed that he was responsible for them.
While Gunn and Safran have been upfront about future DCU installments having their own tones - Clayface is set to be a low-budget body horror while the upcoming Lanterns series has a more serious tone, too - there is a reason that Supergirl still feels like one of Gunn's own projects: It's a spinoff of Superman, which Gunn did write and direct.
As Ana Nogueira collaborated with Gunn on the film, you can rest assured that the esteemed director's influence was felt on that script. It was important that Supergirl's tone and visuals aligned with Superman's so, for better or worse, it did it best to recapture that essence.
Supergirl has arrived in movie theaters.
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