A new report from The Hollywood Reporter is shedding light on what may have gone wrong with Supergirl before the film ever reached theaters.
According to THR, DC Studios’ James Gunn and Peter Safran knew for months that the movie was not landing the way they had hoped. The report says creative differences developed between Gunn and director Craig Gillespie during post-production, eventually prompting the studio to test competing cuts of the film earlier this year.
The film, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, opened below expectations with $37.1 million in box office despite a reported budget in the $170 million to $180 million range. The disappointing debut immediately raised questions about DC Studios’ new slate and whether the studio could successfully expand beyond projects written and directed by Gunn himself.
Per THR, the problems surfaced well before release. Supergirl wrapped production in May 2025, and by the fall, the studio and Gillespie were reportedly aware the movie was struggling to find its footing. A December test screening was said to be underwhelming, prompting DC Studios to become more heavily involved in post-production.
The outlet reports that the studio eventually created its own cut of the film, separate from Gillespie’s version. In March, both cuts were tested against each other in what one source described as a “bakeoff.” Neither version reportedly performed strongly, though the studio cut scored slightly higher and was ultimately chosen for theatrical release.
According to the report, test scores for the film never rose beyond the 60s for much of the process, though one insider said the movie reached a score of 70 at one point. One source told THR, “‘They were not creatively aligned’ is the polite way of describing things.”
Other insiders pushed back on that characterization, describing the tension as a normal part of the studio-filmmaker process. Multiple sources also told THR that Gunn, Safran and Gillespie respected Gillespie’s abilities as a filmmaker.
Still, the report paints a picture of a film that underwent significant post-production turbulence. Writer Jeremy Slater was reportedly brought in to help during the process, while original screenwriter Ana Nogueira remained involved. The film also underwent 9 days of additional photography, with a major focus on reworking the climactic fight.
Music was reportedly another point of friction. Both Gunn and Gillespie are known for their strong use of needle drops, and THR reports that an earlier version of the film included a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun during the final set piece. That song choice was eventually replaced by a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s The Middle in the released version.
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The film also had two editors involved. Tatiana S. Riegel, Gillespie’s longtime collaborator on Lars and the Real Girl, I, Tonya and Cruella, worked on the project, while Fred Raskin, Gunn’s longtime editor on the Guardians of the Galaxy films and Peacemaker, was brought in later.
Another source told THR that Gillespie’s cut ran 11 minutes longer and featured more of the villain Krem, played by Matthias Schoenaerts. The report says Gillespie’s version tested strongly in areas such as song choices, pacing and the villain, but the studio cut still edged it out by two points.
The finished film was not tested again before release, according to THR.
While Supergirl has become an early stumble for DC Studios, Safran has publicly maintained confidence in the studio’s long-term plan. “While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in,” Safran told The New York Times.
The larger question now is how much scrutiny the film’s failure places on Gunn, who is in the unusual position of being both a high-profile filmmaker and the public-facing co-head of a major studio division. While studio chiefs frequently become involved in post-production, Gunn’s role is different because he is also actively writing and directing DC projects.
DC’s upcoming slate includes Clayface, the more modestly budgeted horror movie centered on the Batman villain, and Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn is directing for a July 2027 release. Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II is also in production, though it remains separate from the main DCU.
For now, Supergirl stands as a major test case for the new DC Studios era — and a reminder that even with a clear plan, superhero movies are no longer guaranteed to fly.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
