FILM: Supergirl (2026): A Heroine Finally Finds Her Own Flight
For much of her existence, Supergirl has lived in Superman's giant shadow. Introduced as his cousin first, she has always struggled to stand apart from her famous male counterpart. Released in 1984, Supergirl starred Helen Slater, who embraced her role and gave an earnest performance that deserved better. Even with a strong supporting cast including Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Brenda Vaccaro, and Mia Farrow, the film couldn't overcome a schizophrenic screenplay, inconsistent visual effects, and an identity crisis. Over forty years later, DC Studios is finally giving Kara Zor-El another shot. With Supergirl (2026), they've replaced wide-eyed naivety with a battle-hardened heroine who hasn't faced obstacles without getting her uniform dirty or heartbroken. The result is an action-packed and often thrilling superhero blockbuster that gives the character her own identity separate from Superman, even if it doesn't always manage to fly.