In what’s easily the biggest casting decision for James Gunn’s upcoming DC Universe reboot this year, Gunn and Peter Safran have confirmed that the Australian actress, Milly Alcock, will portray Supergirl in the upcoming reboot.
Alcock, renowned for her portrayal of the younger version of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon, has been confirmed to play Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl.
The news follows a comprehensive global casting search, with Alcock securing the role over notable contenders such as Emilia Jones and Meg Donnelly.
James Gunn, the director, co-producer, and writer of Superman: Legacy, shared his excitement about Alcock’s casting on Instagram, expressing his admiration for her talent. Gunn highlighted her varied auditions and screen tests for the role of Supergirl, which convinced him of her fit for the character as envisioned by the comic creators Tom King and Bilquis Evely as well as playwright Ana Nogueira. The upcoming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, currently being scripted by Nogueira, will feature Alcock in the lead role.
While Alcock’s debut in the DCU is confirmed, the specifics of her first appearance remain uncertain. It’s speculated that she’ll appear in Superman: Legacy, which begins filming in Atlanta in the spring, but no official confirmation has been provided yet. However, it’s expected she’ll feature in a DC project before her solo feature, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, takes the center stage.
Gunn’s vision for the character of Supergirl is notably different from her previous iterations. He describes her as “much more hardcore,” having been raised in a harsh environment on a fragment of Krypton and witnessing the deaths of her loved ones for the first 14 years of her life. This portrayal contrasts with the upbringing of Superman, who was raised on Earth by loving parents from infancy. Gunn’s description suggests a darker and more intense backstory for Supergirl in the upcoming DCU narrative.
The casting of Alcock is a pivotal moment for the rebooted DC Universe, which commences with Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. This chapter includes films like Superman: Legacy, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing, along with several television series.
Superman: Legacy is currently slated for release on July 11, 2025, marking the beginning of this ambitious new phase for DC Studios.
Milly Alcock’s past credits include Upright, Reckoning, The Gloaming, Les Norton, Fighting Season, Pine Gap, A Place to Call Home, Janet King, High Life, and Wonderland. Her role as Supergirl places her among a diverse cast in Gunn’s DCU, including David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and others.
This casting choice marks a fresh direction for the character of Supergirl, previously portrayed by Melissa Benoist in the six-season run of the CW show and Sasha Calle in The Flash movie. Gunn’s decision to cast Alcock indicates his intention to differentiate the new DCU from its predecessors, offering a unique and potentially darker interpretation of the iconic character.
