Is the DCU Ignoring Krypton’s Legacy in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow?

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In the coming summer of 2025, James Gunn’s take on Superman will launch the film segment of the DC Universe franchise. The following year, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is set to release, delving into the story of Superman’s Kryptonian cousin, Kara Zor-El. Actress Milly Alcock from House of the Dragon will portray this character within this shared universe. Recently, there has been new casting news for Kara Zor-El’s upcoming DC film. A question arises regarding the DCU’s approach to the Superman mythology: Will we witness the exploration of Krypton in this franchise?

First off, let’s deal with the recent additions to the cast of “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”. David Krumholtz from “Oppenheimer” and Emily Beecham known for “Into the Badlands” have joined the team. They will work alongside Eve Ridley and Matthias Schoenaerts, who play Ruthye Marye Knoll and Krem of the Yellow Hills respectively. Furthermore, Jason Momoa is anticipated to make a guest appearance as Lobo, and Krypto the Super-Dog will follow his debut in “Superman”.

The details provided by THR didn’t specify if Krumtholtz and Beecham portray Kara Zor-El’s biological Kryptonian parents, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze, or her Earth adoptive parents, Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers. At this point, my guess is that they are playing the latter couple. Given that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is set in the present, it’s possible that Zor-El and Alura In-Ze might only appear through flashbacks, dreams/visions, or holograms. However, since the story begins with Kara celebrating her 21st birthday, I believe Krumtholtz and Beecham are more likely to play Jeremiah and Eliza, who would naturally be present for such an occasion before Kara embarks on her space adventure.

It seems reasonable to suppose that for the time being, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze may not make an appearance in “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”. Furthermore, while Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell portray Jonathan and Martha Kent in “Superman”, we haven’t heard any news about their Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara, joining the cast. James Gunn, who co-heads DC Studios with Peter Safran, has also stated that he won’t revisit the origin stories of Superman and Batman in the DCU, which could imply a similar approach for Supergirl.

I find it intriguing that Supergirl’s backstory isn’t delved into deeply in “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.” As a longtime DC fan who recalls Kara’s past and someone who doesn’t want a significant chunk of the screen time dedicated to rehashing her origin story, it feels odd. While I don’t expect scenes showing Krypton’s destruction or the launching of Kal-El and Kara Zor-El, I do hope the DC Universe offers some insights into what life on Krypton was like. Additionally, it would be engaging to see how actions taken by Kryptonians such as Joe-El and Zor-El are affecting the present day, not just through sending their children to Earth, but in other ways too.

The answers to my question will begin, at least partially, when “Superman” is released on July 11, 2025, and “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” follows suit on June 26, 2026. After the completion of “Creature Commandos” this month, the next DC TV shows to be aired will be the second season of “Peacemaker,” which can be streamed with a Max subscription.

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2025-01-18 05:07