Please be aware that there are AR and Spoilers for “Superman” below.
James Gunn’s “Superman,” now in theaters everywhere, marks the first film in Gunn’s new DC universe, which will expand with more characters and projects in the coming years. Among them, of course, is Superman’s cousin, Supergirl.
Milly Alcock is set to star in her own film next year, directed by “I, Tonya” and “Cruella” director Craig Gillespie, with filming beginning early this summer. So, you might wonder if “Superman” sets up “Supergirl,” considering the latter will be the next film released.
It’s a good question, and the answer is yes.
Is Supergirl in “Superman?”
Yes, Supergirl appears very briefly in “Superman.” This was confirmed to be happening well before the film’s release, but the nature of her role was never disclosed. Well, now we know.
In the final minutes of “Superman,” we find Clark in the Fortress of Solitude, healing once again. As his robot helpers tend to him, we suddenly hear a loud crash in the distance. Gary, formerly number four, jokes that it looks like Clark’s cousin forgot where the entrance is.
And sure enough, Kara Zor-El comes crashing into a wall, scolding Clark for moving the door. She’s clearly drunk, if not just very hungover, which Clark immediately explains. Apparently, Kara likes to visit planets with red suns because on planets with yellow suns—like Earth—it’s impossible for Kryptonians to get drunk.
Soon after, Krypto comes running up, greeting Supergirl with the same enthusiasm and ferocity as he does Clark. It turns out that Krypto is actually Kara’s dog—which is what Clark meant when he told Lois it was more of a foster situation—and she doesn’t mind his lack of training.
So how does this set up “Supergirl”?
Although Alcock’s solo venture is no longer titled “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” it’s still based on Tom King’s comic book of the same name. And Kara’s desire to get drunk is where that story begins.
In “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1,” the story begins from the perspective of a young woman named Ruthye, whose father was murdered. When she hires a hitman to kill the man who did it, Ruthye ends up crossing paths with Supergirl, who happens to be visiting a bar so she can get drunk on her 21st birthday.
This comic book series for Supergirl also finds her disillusioned and angry, a sharp turnaround from the character we normally see, with drinking as her addiction.
So, is Supergirl’s scene in “Superman” a tease for the events of “Supergirl?” Probably. It seems unlikely that it would be a scene showing a moment later her upcoming adventures, but it’s possible!
“Superman” is now in theaters everywhere.
