The first blockbuster of the DC Universe (DCU), Superman, officially premiered on July 11 and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The film currently holds an 83% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes (with 92% audience approval) and surpassed $400 million in box office revenue within just 10 days of release.
Superman delivers a fresh take on the iconic DC hero. This version feels more grounded, more human, emotionally richer, and carries a touch of humor. Additionally, the film introduces the Justice Gang team, featuring members like Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, and Rex Mason/Metamorpho.
However, the most surprising cameo is saved for the end of the movie: the appearance of Kara Zor-El, cousin to Kal-El and the lead character of the upcoming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, set to release on June 26, 2026. That final scene somewhat spoils the plot of this next film.
Before diving deeper, let’s clarify the relationship between Supergirl and Superman. Essentially, they are cousins from the planet Krypton. When their home planet was destroyed, both were sent to Earth. However, while Kal-El’s journey was smooth, Kara Zor-El was trapped in the Phantom Zone for 24 years, during which she did not age.
As a result, when Supergirl finally arrives on Earth, she is still a teenager, while Superman is already in his thirties. Whether Supergirl is considered older or younger than Superman depends on perspective. On Krypton, she was born first, but on Earth, her biological age is much younger than Superman’s.
Returning to Superman’s ending, Supergirl’s introduction left a memorable impression on fans. She barges into the Fortress of Solitude drunk, intent on retrieving Krypto, the dog.
Kal-El guesses that his cousin had been “drinking” on a planet with a red sun. Kryptonians gain their powers from a yellow sun, so alcohol wouldn’t affect them on planets like Earth.
Kara Zor-El’s cameo is inspired by Tom King’s comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, one of the best stories for this female superhero. The comic opens with Kara drowning her aimless, dreamless life in alcohol.
This explains why James Gunn, president of DC Studios, revealed that Supergirl’s personality will be very different from Superman’s. She enters the DCU amid chaos in her life, so fans shouldn’t expect a confident, righteous, and responsible hero like Superman.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is an eight-issue miniseries released starting June 2021. It follows Kara’s space journey alongside her dog Krypto, told through the eyes of Ruthye Marye Knoll, an alien girl seeking justice for her father’s death at the hands of Krem of the Yellow Hill.
It’s very likely that the upcoming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow film will adapt this comic’s storyline. DCU’s first female superhero will appear as a rebellious soul searching for herself, constantly caught in trouble, just like in Tom King’s series.
However, there are notable differences between the comic and film versions of Kara Zor-El, especially regarding Krypto the dog.
Readers of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow know that Kara never travels to the red sun galaxy alone. Krypto is always by her side. But on the big screen, the dog stays on Earth under Kal-El’s care while Supergirl heads to a distant planet to “drown her sorrows.”
This small detail could be a major point of divergence between the film and comic versions. In the original story, Krypto plays a key role in motivating Kara to help Knoll. Only after Krypto is seriously injured does Kara realize what she must do and agrees to assist the alien girl.
Fans can trust James Gunn’s creative vision, especially after his work on Superman. The DCU will present a Supergirl who stays true to the source material while offering fresh and exciting new elements.
According to ScreenRant