Tom King - the writer behind the originalSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowcomic and one of the architects of James Gunn’s DCU - has shared new reflections on the process of adapting the story to the big screen. TheupcomingSupergirlmovie will adapt King’s comicwith artist Bilquis Evely, which follows Supergirl and a young girl named Ruthye as they pursue a killer across the galaxy.
In a recent interview withComicBookMovie.comKing revealed that assembling the movie’s cast has been a"surreal experience"but that the project is"coming together.“However,King’s most heart-warming reveal concerns the story’s protagonist and narrator Ruthye, with the writer sharing that:
The main character is named after my little niece, Ruthye, so to go up to her and say, ‘You’re going to be in a movie’ and see her face light up… it’s one of the joys of my life. It’s exciting.
Slated for release on June 05, 2025,Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrowwill officially adapt King and Evely’s story, withMilly Alcock playing Supergirl, Eve Ridley playing Ruthye, and Matthias Schoenaerts playing the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills.
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Tom King Can’t Wait to See His Niece’s Namesake on the Big Screen
Ruthye Is as Vital to the Story as Supergirl Herself
The comicSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowhas been calledTrue Gritwith superheroes, with Supergirl and Ruthye chasing Krem across the galaxy after his pointless murder of Ruthye’s father. While the story starts out as a typical superhero story with Supergirl accompanying Ruthye mainly so she won’t get hurt while trying to hire a mercenary to kill Krem, their experiences push the characters' moral boundaries, especially as Krem hurts more people in an attempt to escape justice.
Ruthye is a stalwart character solely focused on killing Krem, andthe story acts as a dark coming of age narrative, as she is forced to leave her home to explore a vast galaxy full of new ideas and people. The narrative brings in iconic Superman Family characters including Krypto the Superdog andSupergirl’s pet horse Comet(which can adopt a human form), while also exploring how the destruction of Krypton has shaped Kara Zor-El into a different hero than her cousin Superman, since she was a teenager when she lost her entire world.
King’s Personal Stake in the Movie Is Good News for Fans
The DCU Can Redefine How Comic Adaptations Work
Movie adaptations of comic stories tend to simplify the narrative, with less room to draw on decades of prior lore, butKing’s involvement has fans excited that the movie could be unusually faithful to the critically beloved comic run. One of the most acclaimed comic writers today, King’s involvement with DC’s new movie universe is nevertheless a major step-up to a larger, more mainstream audience, and it’s no surprise that he’s finding the journey surreal, with his niece’s namesake ascending to a level of pop culture recognition he could never have foreseen.
Fans will be glad to know that King has such personal stakes in the upcoming movie, both in the hopes thatSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowwill capture the magic of the original comic, and as a vital step forward in the DCU’s first official chapter.
Source: Josh Wilding,ComicBookMovie.com
Supergirl
Supergirl is a popular DC character that made her debut in May 1959 in the pages of Action Comics #252. Many characters have taken on the mantle of Supergirl over the years, but the most popular iteration of the character is Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin. Supergirl has appeared in many comics, video games, movies, and TV shows over the years, most notably the 1984 Supergirl movie starring Helen Slater and The CW’s Supergirl show with Melissa Benoist.
