DC Studios was reportedly aware that Supergirl wasn’t working months before the movie premiered. Following its release on June 26, 2026, the movie turned out to be a critical and commercial disappointment. And that, in turn, has led to questions about the future of the DC Universe as a franchise.
How DC Studios responded to early warning signs on Supergirl
According to an article published by The Hollywood Reporter, DC Studios had serious concerns about Supergirl long before the movie’s release and developed two distinctive cuts of the movie. Supergirl is the first DCU movie not helmed by the franchise co-head James Gunn, so a lot was riding on the project. The above-mentioned outlet cites “sources” and insiders” to report on what went wrong.
While some sources told the outlet that the scores in the initial test screening for the movie were all in the 60s (out of 100), one insider claimed that the score reached 70. The insiders also disagree on the amount of friction between Supergirl director Craig Gillespie and the studio. Some report that they were not “creatively aligned,” while others say the dispute was normal and healthy.
After production concluded in May 2025, the studio and the director reportedly concluded that the movie wasn’t working by fall that year. Subsequently, the studio developed its own cut. They brought in Jeremy Slater, the screenwriter behind the scrapped Authority movie, to help with the post-production process. Supergirl’s original screenwriter, Ana Nogueira, was also part of the process.
The Hollywood Reporter says that while the extent of Slater’s involvement is unclear, it appeared he helped pen material for an additional nine days of filming. The issues addressed during this period included the climactic fight. The outlet also reports that the music was part of the contention as well.
Additionally, the movie had two editors: Tatiana S. Riegel and Gunn’s frequent collaborator Fred Raskin. The studio cut of the movie performed significantly well in test screenings, scoring in the low 70s. However, the score dropped again when it competed against Gillespie’s cut, which was reportedly 11 minutes longer. Apparently, there was only a mere two-point difference. Eventually, DC Studios decided to go with its own cut of the movie for theatrical release.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on SuperHeroHype.com.
