The Next DCU Film Will Be Rougher, Grittier & Funnier Than Some Fans Might Expect

Screenwriter Ana Nogueira has teased what fans can expect from the DCU’s next film, Supergirl. The rebooted universe is off to a strong start thanks to the very positive reactions to Superman, as well as television shows like Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2. Next up, 2026 will feature a diverse lineup of DC titles, including Lanterns and Clayface, but Supergirl is easily the biggest title of the bunch. As shown in Superman, Milly Alcock’s version of the character is very different from what some fans might expect.

Speaking with Variety, Nogueira revealed what drew her to a project like Supergirl. The article noted that while Nogueira might not read comics regularly, she is a big fan of superhero movies, and that is what initially drew her to the project and the DCU at large. In fact, she said Supergirl was a character didn’t make much sense to her until she read Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s comic, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Nogueira discussed how the unconventional comic story leaned into Kara’s past, allowing for a “rougher and grittier, and edgier and funnier” version of the superhero.

“She watched Krypton completely be destroyed. I was always like, ‘I can’t get my head around the version of the character that is so sunny. When I read it [Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow], I was like, ‘There she is.'”

‘Supergirl’ Will Draw Heavily from ‘Woman of Tomorrow’

Milly Alcock sitting in a chair turned away from the camera on Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow set

Warner Bros.

When Supergirl was first announced, it was titled Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow before dropping the subtitle. The film’s cast of characters, which includes Krem of the Yellow Hills and Ruthye Marye Knoll, already informs viewers that Supergirl will be very much an adaptation of a specific storyline, as opposed to Superman. However, Supergirl is making some key changes to Woman of Tomorrow by including Lobo (Jason Momoa), so it won’t be a one-to-one translation.

Nogueira is now one of the key architects of the DCU. Not only did she pen the script for Supergirl, but she has also been hired to write the screenplays for both the DCU’s Wonder Woman and Teen Titans. Her script for Supergirl was so good that James Gunn had no problem moving forward with it being the second film in the DCU, despite that not being the original plan. Gunn has teased that another script is coming along nicely and is ready to be announced soon, which could be Nogueira’s Wonder Woman, a film Warner Bros. wants to fast-track.

Supergirl is a DC hero audiences know pretty well, particularly following the successful six-season run of Supergirl on The CW, with Melissa Benoist in the title role. That said, the DCU’s take on Supergirl will be very different, as teased by the ending of Superman. This is an exciting new direction for the character, one that might help distinguish Supergirl from her more famous cousin and attract a new generation of fans. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav has already teased that Supergirl is one of the pillars of the DCU, along with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, so it is clear she will have a substantial role in the franchise moving forward.