'Supergirl': Release date, plot, cast, and everything we know about Kara Zor-El's DCU movie

Supergirl's cameo at the end of Superman (2025)
A portion of the cover for DC Comics' "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" (Image credit: DC / Warner Bros)

For decades, that Big Blue Boy Scout from Krypton, known as Superman, has been basking in all the limelight, and it's high time some other members of the noble House of El were given their due respect. Of course, we’re talking about Supergirl, aka Kara Zor-El, the Man of Steel's flaxen-haired cousin who'll soon be showcased in her first Hollywood feature film in 40 years.

DC Studios' "Supergirl" is set to soar into theaters this summer, and we've compiled all the bits and pieces of intelligence we could find to bring avid fans an up-to-date guide. Originally titled "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," James Gunn confirmed to Rolling Stone that the subtitle had been axed, saying, "I’m sick of the superhero title, colon, other-name thing."

Recent updates

January 29, 2026: Updated with the Lobo trailer that James Gunn dropped on Instagram, as well as removing some of the rumor talk that has since been confirmed.

When will "Supergirl" be released?

a blonde haired girl sitting in a director's chair with her back to us

The "cameras rolling" shot shared on social media by DC Studios' James Gunn (Image credit: James Gunn/DC Studios)

"Supergirl" is officially slated to be released in theaters and IMAX on June 26, 2026.

That could certainly change, as studios often shuffle and shift drop dates in accordance with post-production work, reshoot delays, and sudden appearances of competing movies also choosing that specific date.

If you want to catch a sneak peek of Supergirl early, though, you're in luck, because she turns up in the post-credits sequence for director James Gunn’s "Superman" that dropped in theaters back in July 2025.

How to watch Supergirl

Supergirl (2026) poster

(Image credit: DC Studios / Warner Bros)

"Supergirl" will be launching exclusively in theaters when it drops on June 26, 2025.

While we don't have any confirmation at this time, HBO Max is the home of DC when it comes to streaming services, so we'd expect "Supergirl" to turn up on the streamer a few months after its debut in theaters.

Image

HBO Max is the home of DC Studios on streaming. You'll find a wealth of DC movies and shows on there, including hits like The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and the hilarious Peacemaker.

Plans start at $9.99 per month, but you can find a full list of options below:

Basic with ads: $9.99/month or $99.99/year
Standard: $16.99/month or $169.99/year
Premium (4K): $20.99/month or $209.99/year

Image

There are also bundles with Disney+ and Hulu that offer significant savings over buying all three services separately:

Disney+, Hulu, & HBO Max (with ads): $16.99/month
Disney+, Hulu, & HBO Max (no ads): $29.99/month

What is the plot of "Supergirl?"

Close-up of the Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow comic book cover art showing Supergirl covered in blood, sitting on an alien beach

(Image credit: DC Comics)

Layered with darker themes than previous presentations of the character, DC Studios' James Gunn has described the film as "above and beyond anything I hoped it would be. We’re excited to be moving forward on this unique take on Supergirl in this beautiful, star-spanning tale."

The hardcore storyline has been pulled from DC Comics' 8-issue limited series, "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," by veteran comics writer Tom King with Brazilian artist Billquis Evely and published from 2021-2022.

Our justice-fueled plot finds Kara Zor-El traversing the galaxy with Krypto the Superdog while celebrating her 21st birthday, when she encounters a noble young alien named Ruthye Marye Knoll, whose father was killed by the violent warrior, Krem of the Yellow Hills. Together, the pair embarks on a "murderous quest for revenge," across the cosmos, which steers Kara into an unexpected path of self-discovery as to her own origins.

When was the Supergirl character initially created?

Split image showing three covers for Supergirl comics

(Image credit: DC Comics)

Supergirl first soared in the bright four-color pages of "Action Comics #252" for a story titled "The Supergirl From Krypton" with a cover date of May 1959. She was conceived by writer Otto Binder and designed by illustrator Al Plastino. Since then, she's had many adventures in her own comic series, as well as appearing in wider DC and Justice League stories.

Supergirl was actually killed off in the comics during the infamous 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths event, before being brought back in the early 2000s.

Who's in the cast of "Supergirl?"

a blonde-haired girl sits on a couch reading a Supergirl graphic novel

The latest on-set image of Milly Alcock for "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" (Image credit: James Gunn / DC Studios)

"Supergirl" stars "House of the Dragon's" Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El. Fans of the "Game of Thrones" prequel spinoff will recall her powerful performance that brought to life the younger version of Rhaenyra Targaryen in that dark fantasy HBO series.

Joining Alcock will be Matthias Schoenaerts as the pirate assassin Krem of the Yellow Hills, Eve Ridley playing Supergirl's sidekick Ruthye Marye Knoll, David Krumholtz as Supergirl's father Zor-El, and Emily Beecham portraying Supergirl's mother Alura In-Ze.

"Aquaman" and "Chief of War" lead Jason Momoa will also make a charismatic debut DCU appearance as fan-fave character Lobo. Lobo, aka The Main Man, was created in 1983 by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen in the pages "Omega Men #3." The interstellar biker was first seen in cartoon form for the 1996 TV show, "Superman: The Animated Series." Momoa’s hulking presence should make him a breakout star when DC Studios’ Supergirl' arrives this June.

Are there any "Supergirl" trailers?

The initial main "Supergirl" trailer dropped on Dec. 11, 2025 and carried a distinctive "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel, which might be appealing or appalling depending on your particular tastes.

Supergirl | Official Teaser Trailer - YouTube Supergirl | Official Teaser Trailer - YouTube
Watch On

Momoa just made a boisterous entrance in a new teaser as the cigar-chomping alien bounty hunter from the planet Czarnia.

This marks the first time the rowdy DC Comics character that’s equal parts Wolverine and Deadpool has appeared in live-action and Momoa seems like he was born for the snarky mercenary role.

Could this be the genesis of a future standalone Lobo flick?

Following Supergirl's cameo at the end of 2025's "Superman," James Gunn also shared a teaser poster for "Supergirl," showing the woman of tomorrow leaning against a sign with "Look Up" - the tagline for Superman - graffited to say "Look Out."

Supergirl (2026) poster

(Image credit: DC Studios / Warner Bros)

Who are the director, writer, and producers of "Supergirl?"

Craig Gillespie and Margot Robbie on set for I, Tonya

(Image credit: LuckyChap Entertainment)

Directed by Australian filmmaker Craig Gillespie ("I, Tonya," "Cruella"), "Supergirl" is produced by DC Studios' James Gunn and Peter Safran as a major component of their rebooted DCU. It will be the second high-profile tentpole release following this coming summer's "Superman" spectacle.

The script was penned by "The Vampire Diaries"' Ana Nogueira, with contributions by comic book writer Tom King and talented artist Bilquis Evely, whose "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" comic was the foundation for this ambitious new movie.

Jeff Spry
Contributing Writer

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

With contributions from

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.