James Gunn’s Superman doesn’t overpromise anything for the DCU – but it does include a funny scene that tees up the franchise’s next big-screen movie: Supergirl.
Once upon a time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe followed through with its post-credits scenes; who can forget Thanos smiling at the idea of “courting death” after the first Avengers film?
Now, there’s a long line of set-ups that have been lost to the ether of development hell and changed plans. For example, Harry Styles as Starfox, Mahershala Ali’s voice cameo as Blade in Eternals, Sharon Carter being the Power Broker, and Hercules showing up at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder.
Thankfully, Gunn shows restraint with Superman, which has a couple of cheeky cameos (including Peacemaker himself in a brief TV appearance) – and one is very important.
How the ending of Superman sets up Supergirl
Near the end of Superman, Kara Zor-El – aka Supergirl, Clark’s Kryptonian cousin – stumbles into the Fortress of Solitude more than a little tipsy to collect Krypto.
Remember, earlier in the film, Clark tells Lois that Krypto isn’t exactly his dog, it’s more of a “foster situation.”
“Why did you move the door?” she asks, before Krypto catches sight of her and pounces on her. Superman tells one of his robots that Supergirl likes to party on planets with red suns, because their metabolism is too strong on worlds with yellow suns so it stops them getting drunk.
“Thanks for watching him, b*tch,” she says, and she leaves with Krypto (although the mid-credits scene shows Superman and Krypto on the moon together, so he still gets to see the pooch even when he’s off-world).
Given its earlier title (now simplified to Supergirl, a bit like the change to Superman: Legacy), it’s presumed her movie will be based on Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow comic.
The official synopsis reads: “While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) travels across the galaxy with Krypto, during which she meets the young Ruthye (Eve Ridley) and goes on a ‘murderous quest for revenge.'”
It remains to be seen whether or not it’ll take place before, during, or after Superman – or, perhaps it’ll be all three! Maybe she meets Ruthye and drops off Krypto on Earth so he stays safe while she shoots off on a revenge mission.
Supergirl could have Krypton flashbacks
Speaking to Comic Book, Gunn teased that “[flashbacks to Krypton are] always a possibility.”
“But I think those things are really integral to the two characters and the differences between them, and that Clark really does have sort of this really happy childhood,” he explained.
“I mean, he had parents who loved him in an easy-going upbringing, and it makes him the least dysfunctional of superheroes in so many ways.
“Supergirl, especially the DCU Supergirl, she’s kind of a mess. I mean, she’s had real issues growing up. And it is based on the comic where she watched person after person after person dying in front of her as her piece of the planet disintegrated.”
Her cameo in Superman is an amusing glimpse at her character, but isn’t a light accompaniment to the Man of Steel, nor is she just comic relief. The DCU will explore a darker, more troubled side to her character than we’ve seen in previous iterations.
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