Summary
When James Gunn posted a photo of Milly Alcock suited up as Kara Zor-El on Instagram, fans immediately began discussing the Coen brothers’True Gritin the comments, convinced it holds breadcrumbs about the upcomingSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowand, as wild as that sounds, they might be onto something.
Based on the comic by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, the highly anticipatedSupergirlfilm will bedirected by Craig Gillespie and released in 2026. However, it’s the story’s influences that have fans buzzing, as King has gone on record stating thatSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowwas inspired by Charles Portis’s 1968 novelTrue Grit, as well as its various adaptations. It’s not just thematic, as King has suggested he was specifically drawn to the idea of a hero aiding a vengeance-driven young girl. Swap out Rooster Cogburn and Mattie Ross for Supergirl and Ruthye Marye Knoll, and the DNA is unmistakable.
Gunn’sSupergirlWith a Gun? Not Exactly, But… It’s Not Really All That Far Off, Either
The 2021 comic run takes Supergirl—traditionally portrayed as a more optimistic, less world-weary cousin to Superman—and hurls heracross the galaxy on a revenge-fueled journey. She’s traveling with Ruthye, a young alien girl whose father has been murdered by a war criminal named Krem of the Yellow Hills. Ruthye isn’t just looking for justice; the girl is out for blood.
While Gunn himself isn’t directing the film adaptation, he’s overseeing its development as co-CEO of DC Studios and is producing the project. His fingerprints are all over it. He’s repeatedly emphasized that this Supergirl isn’t the squeaky-clean cousin from CW’sSupergirlseries. This Kara’s had it rough—born on a piece of Krypton that survived longer, witnessing death and destruction before finally reaching Earth. It’s a bleak tale that shapes how she sees the world.
The film adaptation is slated to be the second official live-action film in Gunn’s new DCU, following up the Gunn-directedSuperman,which comes out this summer and stars David Corenswet in the titular role. It’s Milly Alcock, known for playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’sHouse of the Dragon,who will take on the role of Supergirl. Gunn confirmed her casting in January 2024 and recently teased fans with a behind-the-scenes look on Instagram, causing theTrue Gritcomparisons to resurface.
Fans Are Torn About The Comic’s Influence and Gunn’s Approach
OneReddituser admitted that while they enjoyed the comic, they couldn’t shake the feeling that it was basically “True Gritin space.” Another echoed that sentiment, calling the comic “practically a sci-fi remake,” though they praised the overall work as “beautiful.” The Western’s influence will likely be notable regardless, but fans are also open to Gunn andWoman of Tomorrowscreenwriter Ana Nogueira straying from the blueprint. “This is one adaptation where I think that changes are welcome,” wrote one commenter, pointing to the creative opportunities that a shift from Western to cosmic settings allows. Some speculated those changes are already underway,citing Lobo’s (Jason Momoa) role in the film. “I think [they are] doing some changes, that’s why Lobo will appear in the movie,” one fan suggested.
IsSupergirl: Woman of TomorrowReally Nothing More ThanTrue GritIn Space?
In an article forWomen Write About Comics, Cori McCreery explores the uncanny parallels betweenTrue GritandSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, asking “how far can you go with an homage before it just becomes something more akin to plagiarism?”
According to the comic, the story begins on a harsh alien world under a red sun, where Supergirl—seeking to drown her grief—can finally get drunk. It’s a clever twist onTrue Grit’s Rooster Cogburn’s (Jeff Bridges in the 2010 adaptation) whiskey-soaked weariness: here, Kara Zor-El is similarly broken, raw, and reluctant to be anyone’s savior. When Ruthye Marye Knoll pleads for her help after her father’s murder, Supergirl doesn’t leap into action with hope or righteousness. She hesitates, grumbles, drinks—and then agrees.
From that reluctant alliance springs a journey not unlike that of young Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) and Rooster. Ruthye, like Mattie, is young, resolute, and unwavering in her desire for justice. Her narration, elevated and formal, certainly captures the seriousness of a Western epic, with a slightly more mythic twist on the precocious voice of Mattie in the novel.
Though one story is grounded in the American West and the other among the starswith a Kryptonian Superdog, the parallels are striking. Both feature young girls driven by a need for justice partnered with a reluctant, emotionally wounded warrior. InTrue Grit, Mattie’s pursuit takes her through lawless frontier land with the grizzled, drunken Rooster Cogburn. InWoman of Tomorrow, Ruthye travels across surreal, dangerous planets with a grieving Supergirl, whose Kryptonian ideals are tested at every step.
Both stories wrestle with the gray areas between revenge and righteousness. Violence has consequences—Mattie loses her arm;Ruthye loses her innocence. The mentor figures evolve through the journey, too: Rooster rediscovers his buried sense of justice, while Supergirl reclaims her hope and purpose through Ruthye’s belief in her. Thematically, each story blends coming-of-age narrative with a harsh moral landscape, butWoman of Tomorrowadds a cosmic weight to its questions and consequences.
True Gritvs.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow -A Comparison
Reddit Theorists Are Here For James Gunn’s Darker, Wilder DCU
DC fans on Reddit are practically running a film studies course at this point. Posts in r/DC_Cinematic dissect lighting techniques in the Coen Brothers’True Gritand compare them to the teaser image of Alcock. But more importantly, they’re recognizing that thestory itselfmirrors Portis’ novel beat for beat. The characters, the structure, even the emotional arc—it’s all there.
Beyond theTrue Gritcomps, these observations suggest the DC fandom is not only excited but deeply engaged and eager to see how the adaptation plays with its Western foundations. All of this discourse is a good sign that Gunn will meet or surpasshis already high bar for box office performance.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrowis slated to hit theaters on July 08, 2025, and it might be the most un-Superman Superman-adjacent film yet. With Craig Gillespie directing, Milly Alcock in the lead, and James Gunn steering the broader vision, DC’s take on Kara Zor-El is shaping up to look less likeMan of Steeland more like the Coen’sTrue Gritwith space swords.
