upergirl’s Explosive New Trailer Introduces DC's Answer to Deadpool

Supergirl’s latest trailer drop makes one thing increasingly clear: DC is finally on the right track toward filling a long-standing gap in its superhero lineup. That missing piece is the beloved "screw-up hero" trope, a subgenre long dominated by films like Hancock (2008) and Marvel’s Deadpool (2016). With Supergirl (2026), DC finally looks ready to offer its own definitive take.

Few superhero subgenres are as beloved as the “screw-up hero,” a category defined by deeply imperfect protagonists whose mistakes create some of the genre’s most refreshing, comedic, and relatable moments.

While films like Hancock and Marvel’s Deadpool have mastered this formula, it is an area DC has historically struggled to explore. Now, DC is not only bringing its own A-list hero into the subgenre, but is also subverting the trope in a meaningful way by making the unconventional, screw-up hero a woman, a notable departure from a space long dominated by male characters.

Supergirl Is Finally Breaking the Female Superhero Mold

A Cynical, Imperfect Kara Zor-El Marks a Major Shift for DC’s Women Heroes

In female-led superhero movies, heroines are typically portrayed as virtuous and/or outright badasses, as seen with characters like Wonder Woman and Black Widow. It's an undeniably beloved take on heroines. However, when it comes to the anti-hero space, or even hero stories where the lead is outright flawed and messy, female protagonists are far harder to find.

That gap is exactly what Supergirl (2026) is set to fill with Milly Alcock’s take on Kara Zor-El. If the trailers and her cameo in Superman (2025) have made anything clear, it is that this version of Supergirl is far from perfect and can even be described as messy, especially when she shows up at the Fortress of Solitude visibly plastered.

Supergirl’s latest trailer, which premiered during the 2026 Puppy Bowl, further reinforces this direction by signaling a darker tone similar to Hancock and Deadpool. When Kara is asked what Superman is like, she responds, “He sees the good in everyone. And I see the truth.” The line immediately establishes Kara as more cynical, aligning her outlook far more closely with heroes like Hancock than with her idealistic cousin.

James Gunn’s decision to debut Supergirl as a less-than-perfect hero in the DCU is both bold and refreshing. It gives audiences a female-led superhero movie unlike any other, and the fact that Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow serves as inspiration only further confirms how different this film will be from the genre’s usual portrayals of female heroes, making it a much-welcome change.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is set to release in theaters and IMAX on June 26, 2026.