The newly released Supergirl film has affirmed a significant and divisive plot point from James Gunn's Superman, confirming that Kal-El was intentionally sent to Earth by his Kryptonian parents not to save the planet, but to conquer it. This clarification addresses fan skepticism surrounding the revelation first presented in the Superman film.
In Superman, a holographic message from Kal-El's birth parents, Jor-El and Lara, is decoded by Lex Luthor. The message instructs their son to rule Earth, viewing its inhabitants as weak and subservient. Jor-El's directive is explicit: "Lord over the planet as the last son of Krypton," while Lara adds, "Dispatch of anyone unable or unwilling to serve you, Kal-El. Take as many wives as you can, so your genes and Krypton's might and legacy will live on in this new frontier." Jor-El concludes with, "Do us proud, our beloved son. Rule without mercy."
Despite the clarity of the recording, some audience members questioned its authenticity, speculating it could be a fabrication or a misleading message. James Gunn, speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, reiterated the recording's veracity, citing scenes within Superman that corroborated its truth.
The Supergirl movie now reinforces this narrative. During a flashback sequence depicting Krypton's final moments, the escape pod carrying baby Superman is seen. Kara Zor-El's mother remarks to her husband about the child, stating, "There goes your brother's beautiful baby boy to become a conqueror of worlds." This dialogue, whether written by screenwriter Ana Nogueira, director Craig Gillespie, or Gunn himself, firmly establishes the original message from Jor-El and Lara as canon within the DC Universe. The film's inclusion of this detail signals the DCU's commitment to its bold narrative choices, even those that proved controversial among fans.