How Supergirl's Ending Sets Up the Future of the New DC Universe

Following the success of Superman (2025), Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, expands the newly rebooted DC Universe with a story centered on Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock). More than just another superhero adventure, the film explores Kara’s emotional journey as she struggles with justice, compassion, and revenge, while laying the groundwork for the next chapter of DC Studios’ interconnected universe.

The story follows Kara as she joins forces with Ruthye (Eve Ridley) to hunt down the Brigands, a notorious intergalactic human trafficking syndicate. Their ruthless leader, Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), is responsible for murdering Ruthye’s family and poisoning Krypto, Supergirl’s beloved dog. Their pursuit eventually leads them to a unique planet that alternates between a green sun and a yellow sun—a dangerous battleground where Kara’s Kryptonian powers fluctuate dramatically. Under the green sun, she becomes significantly weaker, while the yellow sun restores her full strength.

During the film’s climactic confrontation, Ruthye escapes captivity and frees the infamous bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa). She retrieves her late father’s sword from the ship’s armory before confronting Krem on the deck. However, Krem quickly gains the upper hand and prepares to execute her.

At the last possible moment, Kara arrives wearing her classic Supergirl costume. The ensuing battle sends Ruthye overboard as Krem fires specially engineered Kryptonite darts that leave Supergirl critically weakened. Before he can finish her off, Lobo suddenly intervenes, kills his bounty target, throws Krem overboard, and detonates the entire ship.

As the vessel crashes onto the planet below, Kara is once again bathed in the energy of the yellow sun, fully restoring her powers. She rescues the imprisoned brides from the wreckage before defeating the remaining Brigands and knocking Krem unconscious.

Although the battle is over, Ruthye remains determined to kill Krem and avenge her family. Kara persuades her to walk away, arguing that revenge will not ease her pain. According to Kara, taking Krem’s life would only leave Ruthye carrying the emotional burden of that decision for the rest of her life.

Ruthye ultimately chooses mercy and leaves. However, after she is gone, Kara quietly returns to retrieve the antidote for Krypto before personally killing Krem herself. She explains that she did it for her dog and for everything Krem had done to Ruthye’s family. Watching from afar, Lobo simply applauds Kara’s decision before riding away.

Back on Ruthye’s homeworld, Krypto is successfully treated with the antidote and makes a full recovery. Kara announces that she is returning to Earth, while Ruthye decides to live with her aunt and continue her father’s legacy as a swordsmith. Before parting ways, Kara invites Ruthye to spend one final evening celebrating together.

The film concludes with Kara returning to her apartment on Earth, where she is greeted by her cousin, Superman (David Corenswet). She tells him that she has decided to stay on Earth for a while, following his advice to finally make the planet feel like home.

The ending also carries significant implications for the future of the DC Universe. Having endured tremendous loss and difficult choices, Kara is no longer simply a wandering Kryptonian searching for purpose. Instead, she embraces her role as one of Earth’s protectors. Her decision to remain alongside Superman strongly hints that the two heroes will eventually fight side by side in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, currently scheduled for release in the summer of 2027. Meanwhile, Lobo’s departure after completing his mission leaves the door wide open for Jason Momoa’s antihero to return in future DC projects.

Although Supergirl largely functions as a standalone adventure, it also serves as a crucial building block for James Gunn’s new DC Universe. Superman’s brief appearance and the film’s closing moments suggest that future installments will become increasingly interconnected as the franchise continues to grow.

The film’s leading role is portrayed by Australian actress Milly Alcock. Born in Sydney in 2000, Alcock began acting as a teenager and appeared in several Australian television productions before earning worldwide recognition for her performance as the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon. Despite appearing only during the early episodes of the series, her portrayal received widespread critical acclaim for capturing both the fierce determination and emotional vulnerability of the future queen.

The success of House of the Dragon quickly established Alcock as one of Hollywood’s most promising rising stars. In 2024, James Gunn and Peter Safran officially cast her as Supergirl in the newly rebooted DC Universe. The announcement initially sparked debate among fans, with some questioning whether her youthful appearance matched the traditional comic book version of Kara Zor-El. However, following the film’s release, many audiences praised her interpretation as a more emotionally complex, battle-scarred, and deeply human version of the iconic heroine.

Unlike Superman, who was raised in a loving family on Earth, Kara carries firsthand memories of Krypton’s destruction and years of unimaginable trauma. Those experiences often drive her to make impulsive decisions fueled by emotion rather than reason. For that reason, the ending represents a defining turning point in her character arc, as she begins to reconcile her immense power with compassion, responsibility, and a clearer sense of purpose.

Away from the spotlight, Milly Alcock has maintained a remarkably private personal life compared to many actors of her generation. She rarely discusses her romantic relationships publicly and has never officially confirmed a long-term partner. In interviews, the actress has repeatedly stated that she prefers audiences to focus on her work rather than her personal life. To date, she has avoided any major controversies, building a reputation instead for professionalism, dedication, and an impressive rise through Hollywood.

Following the success of both House of the Dragon and Supergirl, Milly Alcock is now widely regarded as one of the defining young talents of her generation. With Kara Zor-El choosing to remain on Earth at the end of the film, the actress appears poised to become one of the central figures of James Gunn’s DC Universe, standing alongside Superman and the next generation of heroes as the franchise moves forward.