Here's How DC Can Save Supergirl After Her $126 Million Box Office Bomb

Published Oct 24, 2026, 6:25 PM EDT Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero. With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention. Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise. Unfortunately, the DCU currently has a Supergirl problem. On the one hand, Milly Alcock's performance as Kara Zor-El is very strong, offering an entertaining take on Superman's cousin with her own distinct personality and way of doing good. However, it doesn't change the fact that her recent solo film was one of the biggest superhero box-office bombs of all time. According to reports, 2026's Supergirl grossed approximately $126 million worldwide against a reported $170 million production budget. Featuring a mix of issues, excluding Alcock's performance, the DCU's second movie failed to resonate with audiences. Naturally, the prospect of a second Supergirl movie feels pretty slim as a result, though that doesn't mean Kara's story in the DCU should suddenly end. Although her next DCU appearance is already confirmed, one still has to wonder what the future beyond holds for Kara Zor-El's Supergirl. However, the solution could actually be easy when it comes to keeping Supergirl's story going aside from a direct sequel. Supergirl Is Confirmed For Man of Tomorrow (But What Then?) Firstly, Milly Alcock is set to reprise her role as Supergirl in 2027's Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming Superman sequel from James Gunn that will reportedly see Kal-El and Lex Luthor joining forces against the major cosmic threat that is Brainiac. Having chosen to make Earth more of her home at the end of her movie, Supergirl being around to give her cousin some assistance makes sense. Likewise, it's been reported that multiple heroes will also be featured in Man of Tomorrow as well, including the Justice League, Blue Beetle, and John Stewart's Green Lantern. However, what does the future hold for Supergirl after Man of Tomorrow? After all, Supergirl's disappointing box office performance more than likely makes a Supergirl sequel a non-starter. Nevertheless, Milly Alcock still deserves more time to shine. Keeping that in mind, perhaps there's hope that Supergirl will be given even more appearances in future DCU projects, and there are actually a couple of options that could be great fits. Supergirl Needs An Ensemble For Her Future DCU Adventures One intriguing option for Kara Zor-El's Supergirl in the DCU could be given a role in the Teen Titans project that's currently in development. Depending on the team's lineup and the story that will be told, Supergirl could certainly be an interesting addition to the team. That said, a potential Legion of Super-Heroes project could be even better. Not only was the 31st-century team inspired by 21st-century heroes like Superman, but Supergirl in particular has major history with the team. In the comics, Supergirl joined their ranks in the far future and at one point even led the team. Likewise, Supergirl even had an on-and-off relationship with Brainiac 5, a fascinating prospect considering his ancestor is set to debut in the DCU as the main villain of next year's Man of Tomorrow. Ultimately, bringing Kara Zor-El into any kind of bigger ensemble feels like it would be a good call all around, and we're certainly going to get a good example of that next year in Man of Tomorrow. To that point, it'd be interesting if Supergirl ended up being willing to join up with Maxwell Lord's Justice Gang, as her cousin has been more reluctant to officially join up. Regardless of which direction James Gunn and DC Studios may choose, an ensemble could give Supergirl room to grow while likely mitigating what would more than likely be insurmountable financial risk from greenlighting a straight-up Supergirl 2. When all is said and done, DC Studios doesn't need to give up on Supergirl just because her first solo movie underperformed. Kara Zor-El can still become an important part of the wider DCU through various other projects involving other heroes alongside her. While this isn't to say that a Supergirl sequel won't ever make sense, it does seem as though Kara's best future is one where she's part of a larger team or ensemble, at least for the time being. Release Date June 26, 2026 Runtime 108 minutes Director Craig Gillespie Writers Ana Nogueira Producers James Gunn, Lars P. Winther, Nigel Gostelow, Peter Safran Franchise(s) DC Universe