"Supergirl" director Craig Gillespie on bringing his adaptation to life

Key Concepts

• Character-Driven Narrative: A focus on the internal trauma and "messy" humanity of Supergirl rather than traditional superhero tropes.
• Creative Autonomy: The DC Universe’s strategy of allowing directors to maintain individual artistic visions rather than enforcing a rigid "company style."
• Thematic Contrast: The juxtaposition of intimate, character-focused storytelling with large-scale, high-budget cinematic set pieces.
• Methodology: The use of practical effects (animatronics) alongside performance-based direction to ground fantastical elements like Krypto.

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1. Main Topics and Key Points

• A New Interpretation of Supergirl: Director Craig Gillespie emphasizes that this version of Supergirl, portrayed by Milly Alcock, is distinct from previous iterations. The character is defined by her trauma and imperfection, avoiding the "pedestal" often associated with traditional heroes.
• DC Universe Strategy: James Gunn and Peter Safran are moving away from a monolithic "company style." Instead, they are encouraging directors to treat their films as unique graphic novels, prioritizing tonal variety to keep audiences engaged.
• Production Scale: Despite the massive scale of the film, the director and lead actress describe the experience as feeling like an "independent movie" due to the focus on complex, intimate character scenes.

2. Important Examples and Real-World Applications

• Lobo’s Characterization: Jason Momoa’s portrayal of the anti-hero Lobo was heavily researched, focusing on the 1990s comic book iteration. The director highlighted the challenge of balancing Lobo’s psychopathic nature (e.g., the destruction of his own planet) with the humor and physicality Momoa brought to the role.
• The "Road Trip" Dynamic: The film features a central relationship between Supergirl and a character named Ruthie (played by Eve Ridley). The narrative arc involves Supergirl, who is initially unwilling to confront her own trauma, being forced to help Ruthie, which leads to her own inadvertent healing.

3. Step-by-Step Processes and Methodologies

• Director’s Pitching Process: Craig Gillespie secured the project by presenting 120 images that defined his visual vision for the world, based on the script by Anna Nardini.
• Directing Non-Human Characters: To capture authentic reactions with Krypto, the production utilized a combination of:
  • Director-led physical cues: Gillespie would physically act out the dog's movements on the floor to guide the actress.
  • Animatronics: The use of an animatronic dog that could breathe and blink to provide a tangible, emotive presence for the actors during intimate scenes.

4. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Humanizing the Hero: Gillespie argues that Supergirl is more "human" than Superman because she does not embrace her role as a powerful alien; she is reluctant and struggling to define her own identity.
• Creative Freedom: James Gunn’s directive to Gillespie—"Not at all"—when asked how much the film needed to adhere to the broader DC Universe, served as the foundation for the film’s unique identity. This lack of "guardrails" allowed for a more personal, auteur-driven approach.

5. Notable Quotes

• Craig Gillespie on the character: "She’s complicated, she’s messy. She’s going through a lot of trauma... she’s trying to figure out her own life and be her own version of who she thinks she is, and not be on this pedestal of what a hero is."
• James Gunn (via Gillespie) on the DC Universe: "There’s not a company style... the artists and the directors and the writers that create each one will bring their own sense to it."

6. Technical Terms and Concepts

• Animatronics: Robotic devices used in filmmaking to simulate lifelike movement and expressions, used here to create a realistic, emotive Krypto.
• Anti-hero: A central character who lacks conventional heroic attributes, such as idealism or morality; applied here to the character of Lobo.
• Graphic Novel Adaptation: The film is explicitly based on Tom King’s graphic novel, which serves as the primary source material for the film's tone and narrative structure.

7. Synthesis and Conclusion

The new Supergirl film represents a significant shift in the DC cinematic strategy, prioritizing individual director vision and character-driven, intimate storytelling over a standardized franchise aesthetic. By focusing on the trauma and reluctance of the protagonist, and utilizing a mix of practical animatronics and grounded performance, the production aims to subvert audience expectations of what a superhero movie can be. The film is positioned as a "messy," human, and emotionally complex journey that stands apart from the broader DC Universe.