Milly Alcock is not the first actress to bring Supergirl to the big screen. In 1984, Helen Slater portrayed the Girl of Steel in a film that sought to build on the success of Christopher Reeve’s Superman series.
Asked at the Supergirl premiere whether she had seen the Helen Slater film, Milly Alcock answered simply, “I haven’t.”
Supergirl fighting in the Supergirl Trailer – YouTube, DC
The admission is likely to surprise some longtime DC fans. Despite its mixed critical reception and disappointing box office performance, the film remains an important part of Supergirl’s history and has developed a cult following over the decades. Slater’s portrayal of the character also remains beloved among many fans and helped keep Supergirl in the public consciousness long before the character returned to television and film.
In previous interviews, Alcock had also stated that she’d never seen female-led super hero movies like Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, or Black Widow either.
The comment immediately sparked conversation online. It was further amplified by Alcock’s remarks about her relationship with the superhero genre itself.
Milly Alcock Names Her Favorite Superhero Movie
Asked whether she watches many comic book films, Alcock replied, “Sometimes.”
“I’d say my favorite superhero film is The Incredibles,” Alcock added. “That film is so, so good. Both of them. Amazing.”
Notably, The Incredibles comes from neither Marvel nor DC, but from Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios.
While neither admission suggests that Alcock is unqualified to portray Supergirl, it has some fans of the Helen Slater film questioning her connection to the character’s history. For others, it raises broader questions about how actors prepare for iconic roles.
Helen Slater as Supergirl – Warner Bros.
One user wrote: “How the eff can they make a $100m+ movie and not sit down the lead actress for a few hours to educate her about the character? And how can someone accept such a high-profile role and not do this basic research herself? Is it just laziness?”
How the eff can they make a $100m+ movie and not sit down the lead actress for a few hours to educate her about the character.
And how can someone accept such a high-profile role and not do this basic research herself? Is it just laziness?— Julian Debuk Sr. (@debuk2005) June 23, 2026
Regardless, everyone involved with the upcoming Supergirl has promised that it will be very different from anything that has come before.
James Gunn Promises A Different Version Of Supergirl
James Gunn, co-chairman of DC Studios and one of the producers of Supergirl, was also at the event. He suggested that while he has seen the original film, the new story will provide a darker take on the character.
James Gunn talks “haunted” #Supergirl who is very different from cousin #Superman… which will come into play even more in “Man of Tomorrow”! #dc #dcuniverse pic.twitter.com/qRuQmV53sl
— ExtraTV (@extratv) June 22, 2026
Asked what makes the DCU film different, Gunn said, “It’s a Supergirl who’s a hero like we’ve always known her, but she’s haunted.” Reflecting on the character’s backstory, as depicted in the film, Gunn suggested those experiences have left her “rougher and tougher” than previous versions, which he described as “dainty and soft.”
“I mean I’ve liked a lot of the iterations of Supergirl, you know. I mean I think Helen Slater was great, you know,” Gunn added.
A New Take On The Character
Supergirl is not a remake of the 1984 film. Instead, it is based on Tom King’s controversial comic book series. Ultimately, Alcock not having seen the Helen Slater movie may not be particularly significant, as she is reportedly offering a very different interpretation of the character.
A screen capture from the Supergirl trailer – YouTube @dcofficial
However, for many fans, it may raise concerns about how Hollywood chooses to represent iconic characters and whether it fully appreciates their pop-culture legacies.
Whether or not she has seen Helen Slater’s performance, Alcock is now carrying the mantle for a new generation. With Supergirl set to play a major role in James Gunn’s evolving DC Universe, audiences will soon decide how her interpretation compares to the many versions of Kara Zor-El that came before.
Are you surprised that Milly Alcock hasn’t seen the original Supergirl? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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