DC Studios, under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, reportedly experienced significant creative differences with director Craig Gillespie during the production of the recent Supergirl film. These disagreements led to the studio testing separate cuts of the movie, a process that occurred just months before its theatrical release.
Sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter indicate a fundamental misalignment between DC Studios' vision and Gillespie's approach. The film reportedly struggled to achieve strong test scores, with one metric failing to break 70 out of a possible 100 points. While some level of friction is common in filmmaking, one source described the situation as "not creatively aligned."
Concerns about Supergirl's direction were reportedly apparent as early as the fall of 2025, shortly after filming concluded in May of that year. Following a lukewarm reception at a December 2025 screening, DC Studios intervened, developing its own version of the film with the assistance of writer Jeremy Slater.
Multiple test screenings were conducted throughout late 2025 and early 2026. Although initial screenings yielded scores in the low 70s, DC Studios mandated the creation of two distinct cuts: one by Gillespie and another by the studio. Details of the divergences remain unclear, but reports suggest Gillespie's cut was approximately 11 minutes longer and placed a greater emphasis on Matthias Schoenaerts' antagonist, Krem.
The comparative testing of these two versions saw a dip in scores. Ultimately, the studio's cut outperformed Gillespie's by a narrow margin of two points and was selected for theatrical release in late June. This decision meant that any further input from Gillespie on the film would require him to strongly advocate for changes.
One anonymous filmmaker not involved with Supergirl commented that while studios testing competing cuts is not unusual, the extent of the investment in this process signals a strong conviction from the studio regarding specific aspects of the film. The music selection for Supergirl also proved to be a contentious point.
Gillespie had previously stated that Gunn made the final decision on the film's soundtrack, a claim corroborated by The Hollywood Reporter's sources. These sources also revealed that a February screening featured Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" during a pivotal moment, a choice Gunn also reportedly made before opting for a cover of Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle," a decision that has since drawn criticism from audiences.
Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock in the titular role, premiered on June 26. Despite its recent release, the film is facing a challenging box office performance. Reports suggest Warner Bros. and DC Studios could incur a loss exceeding $100 million. IGN's review of Supergirl awarded it a 6/10, noting that "Milly Alcock’s great take on Kara Zor-El gets lost in the spare parts from other movies used to assemble her story."