Supergirl Director Explains Why He Skipped the Source Material At First
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Supergirl director Craig Gillespie revealed that he initially built his upcoming DCU film around Ana Nogueira's script rather than reading Tom King's defining comic series first, though he did incorporate key visual elements later in the process.
When DC Studios initially revealed its upcoming slate, attaching the title Woman of Tomorrow to the Supergirl movie sent a clear signal to fans. The project was widely expected to be a direct translation of Tom King and Bilquis Evely's critically acclaimed 2022 comic book series. However, as director Craig Gillespie recently shared in an interview with Polygon, his creative process took a different route. Instead of diving straight into the source material, Gillespie chose to build the film entirely around a screenplay written by Ana Nogueira.
Gillespie explained that he deliberately started with Nogueira's script to capture the specific grit and flavor of Kara Zor-El, developing visual concepts based on her writing rather than the panels of the comic. For a community that often bristles at adaptations that stray too far from beloved source material, hearing that a director bypassed the original work can raise immediate red flags. Fans value faithfulness, especially when dealing with definitive runs that define a character for a generation.
Fortunately, the situation is not as alarming as the initial headline might imply. Gillespie did eventually return to King and Evely's work, incorporating several key visual elements and specific imagery from the comics into the final production. Rather than dismissing the source material entirely, the production team simply prioritized creating a strong cinematic foundation through Nogueira's script before looking back to the comics for visual flavor. As the June 26 theatrical release approaches, players and film fans alike will soon see how this blend of original script work and comic homage plays out on the big screen.
Tags: DCU, Supergirl, Movies, Adaptations, Comics
Original article: Polygon