Supergirl Director Unpacks Kara Zor-El and Superman’s Older-Sibling Dynamic — And Why It Matters

written by Craig Ellison

April 2, 2026 11:17 am

Supergirl Director Unpacks Kara Zor-El and Superman’s Older-Sibling Dynamic — And Why It Matters — Image credit: Legion-Media

As Milly Alcock’s Supergirl readies for takeoff, director Craig Gillespie teases an older-sibling dynamic between Kara Zor-El and David Corenswet’s Superman—putting the Kryptonian cousins at the emotional core of James Gunn’s second DCU big-screen chapter.

If you’ve been waiting to see how Supergirl will fit into James Gunn’s new DC universe, we got a pretty good peek this week—straight from the director himself. Craig Gillespie (yep, the same guy who gave us I, Tonya) is at the helm, and let’s just say, his take on Supergirl and Superman isn’t your typical superhero family reunion.

Not Just Cousins: Supergirl and Superman's Messy Family Dynamic

So, Gillespie is making it clear: even though Kara Zor-El and Clark Kent are technically cousins, you can expect way more of an 'older sibling' vibe between them in this movie. And by 'older sibling,' he’s not talking about the fun kind you go to for advice. Nope—think adversarial, some push and pull, maybe even the occasional Kryptonian eye roll.

'Even though they're cousins, you get this almost older-sibling dynamic, and that can be adversarial at times. He’s the gentle guy that wants to reach out and be patient, and she’s having to find a way and find herself.'

That's Gillespie's way of saying Superman’s going to have to play 'big bro' to Supergirl—which is a new flavor for the DC movies. Instead of Kal-El just showing off in the skies, he’ll be dealing with a Kara who’s working through her own issues, and isn’t exactly eager for anyone’s help.

A Tale of Two Kryptonian Childhoods

This whole dynamic comes down to how the two of them grew up—stuff that actually impacts who they are. Superman? Raised by a loving couple in Smallville, lands soft, and basically destined for heroism from day one. He’s got that wholesome, farmboy confidence. Supergirl, on the other hand, lived her entire childhood on Krypton and basically got tossed into Earth as a teen right before everything blew up. Instead of being slowly groomed for the whole 'saving humanity' gig, it’s more like the job landed in her lap at a really awkward time.

In case you need a quick refresher:

Kara Zor-El (Supergirl): Raised on Krypton until disaster struck, shipped off to Earth by her parents Zor-El (played by David Krumholtz) and Alura (Emily Beecham), just before the planet went kaboom.
Clark Kent (Superman): Baby escape pod to Kansas, gets the classic American Midwest childhood, learns how to be human before he learns how to be superhuman.

The end result: one hero with all the baggage of a lost world, and one who’s actually been able to settle into his powers—and life—at his own pace.

First Day Jitters: Supergirl Doesn't Even Speak English

Here’s one of those little details that makes you go 'oh, they’re really thinking this through.' Gillespie says Supergirl’s very first scene on Earth is her literally just landed—not speaking a word of English, genuinely disoriented, and only able to communicate in Kryptonian. Apparently, this was the very first scene shot for the movie, so Milly Alcock had to jump right into the deep end from day one. Not exactly the easy way to start a new franchise, but hey, you don’t become a superhero by playing it safe.

Mark Your Calendars

If you want to see how all this cousin/older sibling/planet-destroyed trauma stuff pans out, you'll have to wait a bit—Supergirl hits theaters June 26, 2026. Which, let’s be honest, gives DC plenty of time to hype up some serious family drama between Kara and Clark.