Published Jun 6, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT
Ben Sherlock is a Tomatometer-approved film and TV critic who runs the massively underrated YouTube channel I Got Touched at the Cinema. Before working at Screen Rant, Ben wrote for Game Rant, Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop. He's also an indie filmmaker, a standup comedian, and an alumnus of the School of Rock.
Last year, James Gunn reinvigorated Superman. After a decade’s worth of grimdark Superman movies with a mopey, miserable Superman, it was refreshing to see a bright, colorful, lighthearted Superman movie with an optimistic outlook on the world. David Corenswet was the perfect casting choice for the Kryptonian do-gooder, capturing the aw-shucks Kansas farm boy just as authentically as the laser-eyed otherworldly superhuman.
Superman was the movie of the summer last year — an exciting new take on an enduring icon, inspiring hope at a time when we were all descending into despair — but it was also a fascinating introduction to Gunn’s DC Universe. Whereas Kevin Feige built the MCU from the ground up, Gunn’s DCU arrived fully formed. Superman instantly immersed us in a thriving comic book universe packed to the gills with superheroes and supervillains ranging from A-list superstars like Lex Luthor to obscure D-listers like Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific.
This summer, the next chapter of the DCU is soaring into cinemas. Although it focuses on Superman’s cousin, played by House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock, Supergirl will feature Corenswet’s Kal-El in a supporting role — and it’ll bring him into a totally different genre space.
Supergirl Is Shaping Up To Be A Jukebox Space Opera
Based on the quippy one-liners, dazzling cosmic visuals, and Blondie music featured in its trailers, Supergirl is shaping up to be a jukebox space opera in the mold of Guardians of the Galaxy. Superman wasn’t exactly grounded — it’s one of the comic-bookiest movies ever made — but, outside of a beautiful mid-credits shot, it spends its entire runtime on Earth. It’s a relatively grounded superhero adventure, set mostly in Metropolis, but Supergirl is a road trip across the cosmos.
Inspired by the modern-classic “Woman of Tomorrow” comic book storyline, Supergirl will see Superman’s cousin join forces with a young orphan on an intergalactic quest for revenge. Whereas Superman was set entirely on Earth, Supergirl might not have a single scene set on Earth. It’ll see Kara jump from planet to planet in a race against time, and it’ll be a very different movie than its predecessor. If the trailers are an accurate reflection of the film’s tone, then we can expect this to have a much darker sense of humor than Superman.
It’ll feel like Corenswet’s Superman is being translated into a totally different genre. We met him on Earth, with his familiar supporting cast, but Supergirl is a high-flying space adventure. We might even see Supes on his own home planet when the film flashes back to the tragic destruction of Krypton.
Man Of Tomorrow's Brainiac Storyline Will Be Hard Sci-Fi
Supergirl isn’t the only upcoming movie that’s shifting Corenswet’s Superman into a different genre. Superman’s own sequel, Man of Tomorrow, which is currently in production, will seemingly veer into hard sci-fi. The sequel will see Superman form an uneasy alliance with his old arch-nemesis Lex, as they team up to fight their common enemy, Brainiac. The movie’s Brainiac storyline will lean into the heaviest sci-fi elements of the comics, and the plot will probably have some sections set outside of Earth.
Between Supergirl and filming for Man of Tomorrow, Gunn’s Superman is fully leaning into the space opera/hard sci-fi side of the character. The first movie was entirely set on Earth with a political/military conflict in the background, but Supergirl and Man of Tomorrow will dig into the cosmic side of the character. So far, Superman’s space adventures have been seriously underrepresented in his movies. Finally, Gunn seems to be rectifying that.
It remains to be seen just how successful Gunn’s DCU will be, but he’s mostly made all the right decisions so far. Rather than settling into a familiar house style or status quo, he’s trying out new things with every project.
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