Supergirl director on adapting DC source material: ‘I didn’t want to just do the comic book’

Image: DC Comics

When DC Studios initially unveiled its plans for a Supergirl feature film, the project was billed as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This naming convention suggested that director Craig Gillespie (known for I, Tonya and Cruella) intended to deliver a faithful adaptation of the acclaimed 2022 comic miniseries by writer Tom King and illustrator Bilquis Evely. Even after the official title was simplified to just Supergirl, enthusiasts remained confident that the film would lean heavily into the vengeful, interstellar journey and the striking, cosmic aesthetic that defined King and Evely’s original work.

However, the reality of the production is a bit more nuanced. Gillespie revealed to Polygon that his primary creative foundation was the screenplay crafted by Ana Nogueira. An actor and playwright making her big-screen writing debut, Nogueira has become a central figure in the new DC Universe, with writing credits on the upcoming Teen Titans and Wonder Woman features.

“I made a conscious choice to begin with Ana’s script,” Gillespie explained. “I focused on building a visual language around her writing, aiming to craft something that felt fresh while capturing the grit and essence of Kara’s character.”

Comic fans needn’t worry about a total departure from the source material, though. Gillespie confirmed that once the foundational narrative was set, he circled back to Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow to draw inspiration, incorporating specific visual cues from Evely’s iconic artwork. “I eventually turned to the comic for visual references,” he noted, “but I was determined not to start there, as I wanted the film to be its own entity rather than a direct page-to-screen recreation.”

Supergirl hits theaters on June 26.

Source: Polygon