Milly Alcock may still be playing Supergirl in James Gunn’s DC Universe, but a new report suggests her character’s importance to the franchise could be diminishing following the disappointing theatrical performance of her standalone movie.
The development comes just days after Gunn publicly rejected rumors that Alcock had been fired, and less than a week after fans discovered the actress had removed numerous Supergirl-related posts from her Instagram account.
Now, Cosmic Book News reports that Alcock’s appearance in the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, has reportedly been reduced. The outlet attributes the information to an unnamed insider, and DC Studios has not independently confirmed the claim.
If accurate, the development could represent an early indication that Warner Bros.’ new corporate ownership is reconsidering how prominently certain characters will feature in the DC Universe.
Supergirl’s Future Takes Another Unexpected Turn
According to Cosmic Book News, an insider familiar with the situation claims that Alcock’s involvement in Man of Tomorrow has been scaled back as Gunn prepares the film for its July 9, 2027, theatrical release.
The source stated: “Haven’t heard too much except they’ve reduced her role, and Gunn is just kitchen sinking cameos and fan service, a lot of which may not even make it to the screen.”
The allegation raises several questions, particularly because Alcock had already filmed her appearance in the sequel.
Reducing a character’s screen time during postproduction is hardly unusual in Hollywood. Directors frequently remove scenes to improve pacing, tighten a narrative, or emphasize central characters.
However, the circumstances surrounding Alcock make this particular report noteworthy.
A screen capture from the Supergirl trailer – YouTube @dcofficial
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Her standalone Supergirl movie earned approximately $126 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $170 million to $180 million. The film failed to generate enough theatrical revenue to cover even its reported production costs, before accounting for marketing and distribution expenses.
The financial disappointment leaves DC Studios with an uncomfortable decision about how much additional investment should be directed toward the character.
James Gunn’s Denial Leaves Room for a Smaller Role
On October 16, Gunn addressed rumors involving Alcock’s future, The Batman Part II, and alleged negative test screenings for Man of Tomorrow.
As That Park Place previously reported, Gunn dismissed all three allegations.
“Oh brother. You guys just have to stop listening to BS, and I’m mostly done shooting down rumors as there are so many and I’m not on here much. But all three of these couldn’t be more false,” Gunn wrote.
James Gunn introduces the trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 – YouTube, DC
His statement appeared to settle speculation that Alcock had been dismissed from the franchise.
However, there is a meaningful difference between firing an actress and reducing her character’s involvement in an upcoming production.
Gunn’s denial establishes his position that Alcock remains Supergirl. It does not necessarily contradict the new allegation that her appearance in Man of Tomorrow has been reduced. The filmmaker also revealed that he had completed his first director’s cut of the sequel ahead of schedule, making the timing of the new report particularly interesting.
There is currently no independent confirmation that any reduction occurred during editing.
Paramount-Skydance Faces Decisions About DC’s Direction
The report also arrives during a significant transition for Warner Bros., following the completion of its merger with Paramount-Skydance on October 6.
David Ellison’s leadership now oversees DC Studios, placing Gunn and fellow co-CEO Peter Safran under a new corporate structure.
Cosmic Book News claims that the new administration is particularly concerned with rebuilding the franchise’s relationship with its traditional audience.
“They especially have to win back the core male audience of DC,” an unnamed insider told the outlet.
The new Skydance Logo – SkyDance
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The source also alleged that Ellison could become more involved in decisions surrounding Man of Tomorrow, including potentially moderating Gunn’s signature comedic approach.
Neither assertion has been independently substantiated, and there is no confirmed evidence that Ellison personally ordered changes to Alcock’s role.
Nevertheless, the underlying commercial question is legitimate.
With Supergirl failing to attract sufficient theatrical audiences and DC Studios attempting to establish a sustainable cinematic franchise, the new ownership must determine which projects and characters justify additional investment.
Maintaining Alcock in a supporting capacity would allow the studio to preserve continuity without immediately committing to another expensive standalone production.
Milly Alcock’s Instagram Mystery Remains Unanswered
The latest report also renews attention on Alcock’s unexplained Instagram activity.
As That Park Place documented, the actress removed multiple posts promoting Supergirl, including her January 2024 casting announcement thanking Gunn for selecting her to portray Kara Zor-El.
Some promotional material remained accessible elsewhere on her account, meaning she had not completely erased the character from her online presence.
Supergirl – DC
Alcock has offered no public explanation for the changes.
There are perfectly ordinary reasons an actor might remove promotional content after a film’s theatrical run, including expired promotional arrangements or personal decisions about social media.
However, the combination of the film’s disappointing financial performance, the sudden removal of promotional posts, and the new report about her diminished involvement creates an increasingly complicated picture.
For now, none of those developments establishes that Alcock is unhappy with DC Studios or intends to abandon the character.
What the New Report Means for Supergirl
One important detail remains unresolved: whether Alcock’s role was actually reduced from an earlier version of Man of Tomorrow, or whether her appearance was always intended to be relatively limited.
Gunn previously described the sequel as primarily a story about Superman and Lex Luthor, cautioning audiences against expecting substantial appearances from supporting characters.
That creative direction could explain why Supergirl receives limited screen time without requiring any broader change in DC Studios’ plans.
A clip from Supergirl – DC
Still, the timing of the allegations is difficult to overlook.
Alcock’s standalone film disappointed financially, her social media activity generated questions about her relationship with the franchise, and Warner Bros. is now operating under leadership that must evaluate the commercial viability of its properties.
The new report does not prove that Supergirl is being phased out of the DC Universe. It does, however, introduce more uncertainty about the character’s future.
Until Gunn, Alcock, or DC Studios provides additional clarification, the actress remains attached to the franchise, while the extent of her involvement in Man of Tomorrow remains an open question.
For Warner Bros., the larger challenge is determining whether Supergirl can become a commercially viable character after audiences largely stayed away from her first standalone adventure.
Do you think Supergirl will be a main player in Man of Tomorrow? Sound off and let us know!
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